The Waterloo Region District School Board runs five day-use Outdoor and Environmental Education (OEE) Centres.  Each year we provide immersive, contextual and authentic opportunities to learn about nature and the environment to over 1,000 classes from Grades 1-12.  For over fifty years OEE has been at the forefront of environmental education in Waterloo Region.

The Blair and Wrigley Corners Centres are located in Cambridge, Laurel Creek and Camp Heidelberg are in Waterloo.  In addition, we have a portable classroom at the Huron Natural Area in Kitchener which we use for events, specialized programs and when our staffing capacity permits taking additional class visits.  To learn more about our sites please visit our ‘About us’ page.

We also run several events through the year connected to environmental sustainability, offer educational community science opportunities, support schools with their EcoSchools applications and run our Monarch Waystation initiative.  To become involved in events or participate in system wide programs follow us on instagram, subscribe to our News page, or join our google group!

 

We envision a world in which people feel connected to the earth, share a responsibility to understand and value the environment, and are empowered to protect the systems that support life.

During the school year we host day trips for classes from the Waterloo Region District School Board.  For a list of activities we offer please visit our Programs page.

We take requests for trips each year in May and June.  If you would like to request a trip for you class please visit our Booking a trip page for more information.

 

Outdoor and Environmental Education Objectives:

1) Deliver high quality programs and services for students, teachers and the greater community of the Waterloo Region District School Board

  • Offer training, resources and other services to educators in support of environmental education
  • Provide support and resources for schools developing and sustaining schoolyard naturalization
  • Develop innovative ways of delivering services and programs

 

2) Use the natural environment as a context to support the Ontario curriculum

  • Promote the use of environmental themes within classroom units
  • Encourage teachers to conduct lessons using schoolyard naturalization areas and local natural sites 

 

3) Promote knowledge, skills and attitudes which foster an environmentally responsible citizenry

  • Develop attitudes founded on respect for life, which contribute to positive environmental decisions and actions.
  • Develop knowledge of natural history, ecology and our place in nature
  • Help students recognize the impact of human actions on the environment
  • Encourage students to think critically, solve problems, and make decisions
  • Use teaching strategies which address a range of learning styles
  • Encourage students to form and express opinions on environmental issues
  • Provide opportunities for students to develop knowledge and skills to engage in outdoor recreational activities
  • Model environmentally responsible actions

 

4) Foster cooperative partnerships with others in the community who support our vision

  • Cultivate partnerships leading to long term stability, security and innovation
  • Respond to environmental issues in the community

 

“The Waterloo Region District School Board recognizes, current educational thought emphasizes the importance of outdoor education as a holistic method of education used to enrich the school curriculum through effective utilization of the natural environment.”

—WRDSB Policy 6004
OUTDOOR EDUCATION/ OFF CAMPUS EDUCATION

“It is the policy of the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) to promote the development of environmentally sound values by modeling appropriate practice, by supporting environmentally sound activities and by supporting a comprehensive environmental education program.”

—WRDSB Policy 2000
ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES