We’re excited to celebrate the growth of the Pine Project’s partnerships with TDSB schools. This year, we are collaborating with Rose Avenue Junior Public School and Thorncliffe Park Public School to bring outdoor learning to 725 students across Grades 1 to 6. Together, we’re helping more kids access meaningful time outdoors: building comfort, confidence, and a sense of belonging in local green spaces.
Throughout the fall and winter, students have been learning through play, exploration, and hands-on discovery. They have investigated seeds and leaves, used magnifying glasses to look closely at insects and the tiny signs of life all around them, and built shelters designed to withstand wind and rain. As the weather shifted, students tracked animal signs in snow and ice, learned how animals prepare for winter through migration, hibernation, and adaptation, and worked together to build snow structures and tunnels. These shared adventures spark joy and deepen students’ connection to the natural world. As one student exclaimed, “I will come here 200 more times, I’m having so much fun!” Another held up a leaf to the light and declared, “The leaves are my friends.”
Over time, instructors and teachers have noticed students becoming more curious, more excited to explore, and increasingly comfortable outside. The outdoors is becoming a welcoming space where students feel at ease and ready to try new things. That growing confidence is beginning to ripple beyond the school day, with students talking about returning to the park with their families. As one teacher shared, “They’re developing a sense of place, belonging and wonder for the outdoors, and it is allowing them to explore their local community in new and meaningful ways.”
Outdoor learning has also been bringing classroom concepts to life while strengthening skills and nurturing a lasting love of learning. By observing seasonal change firsthand, asking questions, solving problems together, and learning through movement, students are deepening their understanding of science and the environment in ways that feel tangible and real. As one teacher reflected, “Our science unit has come to life as we learn about daily and seasonal changes and observe living and non-living things. It has increased our students’ comfort connecting with nature.”
A big thank you to the Chawkers Foundation, Tippet Foundation, Robert Kerr Foundation, Gloria Baylis Foundation, Bickle-Wilder Foundation, Cogir Foundation, J.P. Bickell Foundation, and the Frederick & Douglas Dickson Memorial Foundation for making this work possible. Together, we’re helping more students build confidence and connection outdoors, strengthen skills that support well-being and learning, and develop a relationship with nature that can last a lifetime. We can’t wait for the many adventures still ahead this school year!