Nature School Programs
Camp Kawartha Environment Centre Nature School Programs
where learning meets the great outdoors!
Nature School is an enrichment program for children between the ages of 4-17. We explore the beautiful Trent Nature Sanctuary through inquiry-based learning. Each week, we build knowledge and skills, and forge bonds with Nature and friends. Through lessons, adventures, exploration, games & play, projects, arts, drama and more that appeal to a variety of learning styles, this program provides repeated exposure & experience that inspires & helps young people develop a robust connection with the living world.
We are currently offering 6 programs split between age ranges:
Ages 4-7 = Forest Explorers
Ages 8-13 = Woodsy Wednesdays; Forest Fridays; Forest Adventures
Ages 13-17 = Rootwood
Registration is split between Fall, Winter and Spring Seasons
Nature School Programs 2024-2025
Programs run weekly or bi-weekly throughout the school year (September-June) at the Environment Centre in Peterborough (2505 Pioneer Road).
Mondays: Forest Explorers (Ages 4-7)
Description: Join us each week as we explore and get to know the natural world! Full of adventures, games, lessons, weekly themes, and more. Forest Explorers fosters a love of Nature and a sense of belonging in our youngest students. Connecting with Nature at a young age helps to forge a lifelong bond with the beauty, joys, wonders, and well being found in the outdoors!
This program runs weekly from September 9, 2024 – June 16, 2025 from 9am – 3pm.*
Fall Session: $924 (14 weeks) Sept.9/24-Dec.16/24
Winter Session: $528 (8 weeks) Jan.6/25-Mar.3/25
Spring Session: $792 (12 weeks) Mar.17/24-Jun .16/25*
*No Nature School Easter Monday or Victoria Day Monday
Or save money by registering for the full year up front!
Full year: $2040 (34 weeks)
Please note: Children must be a minimum of 4 years old on their first day of Forest Explorers. Our staff are not able to assist children with toileting, or changing clothes. Please be aware that children attending Forest Explorers must be toilet trained, and have the ability to change their own clothing when necessary.
Tuesdays: Rootwood (Ages 13-17)
Description: Rootwood focuses on the integration of key nature connection practices and philosophies to foster the independent growth of participants. While this experience has been designed for youth who have ‘graduated’ through our younger programs, new participants may be welcome depending on experience and space available (please inquire).
This program runs weekly from September 10, 2024 – June 17, 2025 from 9am – 3pm.
Fall Season: $990 (15 weeks) Sept.10/24-Dec.17/24
Winter Season: $594 (9 weeks) Jan.7/25-Mar.4/25
Spring Season: $924 (14 weeks) Mar.18/24-Jun.17/25
Or save money by registering for the full year up front!
Full year: $2280 (38 weeks)
Bi-weekly option available in registration portal.
Saturdays: Forest Adventures (Ages 7 to 12) New Monthly Program!
Description: New this year, Forest Adventures is a Nature School experience on the weekend! Join us one Saturday a month as we immerse in, enjoy and learn about the wonders of Nature – it’s Environment Centre summer day camp all year round!
Each month, we build knowledge & skills, forge bonds with Nature & friends, and enjoy the best of what each season has to offer. Through lessons, adventures, exploration, games & play, projects, arts, drama and more that appeal to a variety of learning styles; this program provides repeated exposure & experiences to inspire & help young people to develop a robust connection with the living world.
Bring a friend and let our amazing staff open new doors to the Land!
This program runs monthly from April 26- June 28, 2025 from 9am – 3pm.
Spring Season: $196 (3 days) – Apr. 26/25, May 24/25, Jun. 21/25
Interested in other school year programs? Check out our PA Day Program!
Wednesdays: Woodsy Wednesdays (Ages 8-13)
Description: Woodsy Wednesdays is a weekly ‘Nature Immersion’ experience in which students learn to deeply appreciate, understand, and feel at home in the natural world. Learning about Nature and caring for the Environment is a lot like learning a language in that it happens over time, immersed in the outdoors in all seasons and weather and through a wide variety of experiences.
This program runs weekly from September 11, 2024 – June 18, 2025 from 9am – 3pm.
Fall Session: $990 (15 weeks) Sept.11/24-Dec.18/24
Winter Session: $594 (9 weeks) Jan.8/25-Mar.5/25
Spring Session: $924 (14 weeks) Mar.19/24-Jun.18/25
Or save money by registering for the full year up front!
Full year: $2280 (38 weeks)
Bi-weekly option available upon request, please inquire.
Wednesdays: Forest Explorers (Ages 4-7)
Description: Join us each week as we explore and get to know the natural world! Full of adventures, games, lessons, weekly themes, and more. Forest Explorers fosters a love of Nature and a sense of belonging in our youngest students. Connecting with Nature at a young age helps to forge a lifelong bond with the beauty, joys, wonders, and well being found in the outdoors!
This program runs weekly from September 11, 2024 – June 18, 2025 from 9am – 3pm.
Fall Session: $990 (15 weeks) Sept.11/24-Dec.18/24
Winter Session: $594 (9 weeks) Jan.8/25-Mar.5/25
Spring Session: $924 (14 weeks) Mar.19/24-Jun.18/25
Or save money by registering for the full year up front!
Full year: $2280 (38 weeks)
Please note: Children must be a minimum of 4 years old on their first day of Forest Explorers. Our staff are not able to assist children with toileting, or changing clothes. Please be aware that children attending Forest Explorers must be toilet trained, and have the ability to change their own clothing when necessary.
Fridays: Forest Fridays (Ages 7-13)
Description: Forest Fridays is a biweekly ‘Nature Immersion’ experience in which students learn to deeply appreciate, understand, and feel at home in the natural world. Learning about Nature and caring for the Environment is a lot like learning a language in that it happens over time, immersed in the outdoors in all seasons and weather and through a wide variety of experiences.
This program runs bi-weekly from Sept 13, 2024 – June 13, 2025 from 9am-3pm.
Fall Season: $552 (8 weeks) Sept. 13/24 – Dec.20/24
Winter Season: $345 (5 weeks) Jan. 10/25 – Mar.7/25
Spring Season: $414 (6 weeks) Mar.21/25 – Jun.13/25
Or save money by registering for the full year up front!
Full year: $1254 (19 weeks)
“I thought my sons teachers Amanda and Anna were just great – they seemed to genuinely enjoy spending time outdoors learning with these kids and I know my son felt very comfortable and at home there as a result.”
“…this is our kids’ FAVourite thing, hands-down. We go to Forest Fridays at the Camp Kawartha Environmental Centre. The kids there are 5 and up. If your 8 yr old is having the hardest time, maybe just send him. It might just be the clincher. All the kids there love that day better than any day anywhere else they go.”
“You must be doing good because it is pouring rain and (our daughter) is really excited to be here! She said, ‘Yay! We get to run around in the forest in the rain!”
“CKEC Nature School is amazing: lots of time in nature, lots of games, & lots of learning. I can’t recommend it enough!!”
FAQs
What is Nature School?
Nature School is an enrichment experience for students who might be looking for a different learning environment. Each week, we build knowledge and skills, and forge bonds with Nature and friends. Through lessons, adventures, exploration, games & play, projects, arts, drama and more that appeal to a variety of learning styles; this program provides repeated exposure & experiences that inspires & helps young people develop a robust connection with the living world.
Where are you located?
The Camp Kawartha Environment Centre is located at 2505 Pioneer Road, Peterborough, Ontario.
What does a typical day look like?
Every day is different as we change our programming to reflect the natural seasons, although we do follow a general structure. We begin with a morning circle to check in and go through our plan for the day, followed by a quick snack. We then head out to our first program of the day, break for lunch, and then continue onto another activity before returning to the centre for a closing circle.
What are the drop-off and pick-up times?
Drop-off is between 9am and 9:15am, pick-up is between 3pm and 3:15pm.
(Creative Critters drop-off is between 9:30-9:45am)
Does Nature School run in the rain and snow?
For the most part, Nature School takes place outside, all year round. The only time that we use the Environment Centre building is when the weather is dangerous, or with the younger kids who are still getting used to being outside.
What are your teacher qualifications?
Our educators are experienced teachers, some teacher certified. All of our staff are First Aid Certified and have gone through Vulnerable Sector background checks.
How do I sign my child up for Nature School?
You can choose from multiple options depending on the learning goals and needs of your family. You can sign your child up for weekly or bi-weekly programs as well as the options to pay upfront for the whole year at a discounted rate, or by selecting one season at a type. New this year, we offer installment plans!
Sign up through the registration portal or contact sarah@campkawartha.ca (705) 652-3860 ext. 201.
If you are interested in a program that has reached capacity, please join the waitlist or contact us directly.
Please note that we do require minimum registration to run each program. If we do not reach sufficient registration, we may need to reconfigure, postpone, or cancel the program.
Do I have to sign up for the entire year?
New this year, you can sign up for the entire year – and save money!
If you’re not sure about the full year commitment, we offer signing up one season at a time – Fall, Winter, and Spring.
Do you offer installment plans?
New this year, we offer installment plans using credit card or automatic bank withdrawals.
Camp Kawartha Environment Centre, 2505 Pioneer Road, Peterborough
The Camp Kawartha Environment Centre is one of Canada’s most sustainable buildings. The programs take place within the Trent University Nature Areas, which represents over 200 acres of wild and semi-wild areas, including a variety of ecosystems in which we are fortunate to play, learn, climb, observe, and explore!
Acknowledgement(s): We remember, acknowledge, and seek to honour that the beautiful Trent Nature Areas are on the traditional territory of the Michi Saagig Anishinaabeg. This is the area governed by Treaty 20. The First Peoples of this area have, in the past, and continue to today, to care for this place, the land, and all our relations human & non-human alike. It is a privilege, and responsibility to enjoy, work, learn, play, share, and live here and it is part of our mission to better understand this place, the history, and the People, as well as to play a role in caretaking the Land and in beginning to reconcile.
Feel free to contact us with any further questions!
Acknowledgement(s): We remember, acknowledge, and seek to honour that the beautiful Trent Nature Areas are on the traditional territory of the Michi Saagig Anishinaabeg. This is the area governed by Treaty 20. The First Peoples of this area have, in the past, and continue to today, to care for this place, the land, and all our relations human & non-human alike. It is a privilege, and responsibility to enjoy, work, learn, play, share, and live here and it is part of our mission to better understand this place, the history, and the People, as well as to play a role in caretaking the Land and in beginning to reconcile.