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Forest School Nature Enrichment Program

Reignite Your Childs Connection with Nature

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For 42 years, Mansfield Outdoor Centre has inspired generations of children to explore, question, and fall in love with the natural world through our camp and outdoor education programs. Parents and teachers tell us time and again how transformative those moments have been, how confidence grew, curiosity bloomed, and stress melted away.
 
But one field trip a year is no longer enough.
 
Today’s children spend more time sitting than ever before, indoors, on screens, disconnected from the living world around them. The results are undeniable: shorter attention spans, increased anxiety, and fewer opportunities for hands-on learning.
 
It’s time to change that.
 
As author Richard Louv warned in Last Child in the Woods, “Nature Deficit Disorder” (NDD) is real, and it’s growing. But the good news is, the cure is simple. 
 
The Mansfield Forest School Nature Enrichment Program was created to give children the consistent outdoor experiences they need to thrive. Each week, students step outside the classroom and into a world where learning feels alive.
 
Through exploration, teamwork, and play, they strengthen not only their bodies but their creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

2026/2027
Registration Launching August 1st 2026

THE PROGRAM

A dynamic series of outdoor learning days designed to enrich and extend the Ontario Provincial Curriculum. Guided by Ontario Certified Teachers, each day focuses on a different S.T.E.A.M. discipline, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, or Mathematics, brought to life through hands-on exploration in nature.
Students will:
  • Investigate local ecosystems to uncover scientific principles
  • Use technology to collect and analyze real field data
  • Design and build engineering projects
  • Express learning through creative outdoor art
  • Apply mathematical reasoning to solve real-world challenges in the forest
Each day blends academic learning within nature, encouraging curiosity, teamwork, and resilience. Whether launching rockets in the meadow or painting watercolours by the pond, students discover how learning connects to the living world around them.
At Mansfield, every trail becomes a pathway to discovery.

SEASONAL SEMESTERS

Our Forest School follows the changing seasons, giving children the opportunity to experience the forest through autumn colours, winter snow, and spring renewal. Families may register for an entire semester, select a partial semester, or attend individual days as space permits.

Autumn Semester
September 25 – December 11, 2026
12 Friday sessions

Winter Semester
January 22 – March 12, 2027
8 Friday sessions

Spring Semester
April 2 – May 21, 2027
8 Friday sessions

Program Hours
Drop-off: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Pick-up: By 4:30 PM

Age Groups

Children are grouped by age to create meaningful learning experiences and encourage age-appropriate exploration.

Grades 1–3
Grades 4–6

ENROLLMENT

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Choose the registration option that best fits your family’s schedule.

Full Semester Registration
$55/day + HST

Attend every Friday within your chosen semester and experience the full progression of seasonal learning.

Partial Semester Registration
$65/day + HST

Need more flexibility? Register for a selection of days within a semester.

Examples:

6 of the 12 Autumn consecutive sessions
4 of the 8 Winter consecutive sessions
4 of the 8 Spring consecutive  sessions

Single-Day Registration
$75/day + HST

Perfect for families wanting to experience Forest School before committing to a semester, or for occasional attendance. Single-day registrations are available based on program capacity.

Please note: Full and partial semester registrations receive priority.
Single-day registrations are subject to availability and may not be available once a semester reaches capacity. Availability for single-day registrations will open September 1 and is subject to availability.