While it may sound ironic for an outdoor school to go online, the Guelph Outdoor School is doing just that to support children who are dealing with the pandemic.
“It really is one hour online for a richer week offline,” says Guelph Outdoor School program director Chris Green about the Raccoons Online program which will kick off next week.
“Raccoon Online programs are based on mentorship and have responsible adult mentors on the call with these kids.”
With all their programs named after local animals, Green says the name Raccoon came to mind because raccoons are across the country, visit every backyard and are known to be adaptable, clever and resilient which is what their program is all about.
He says the program for children ages 7-13 is designed to increase awareness, knowledge of places, focus, self-esteem, and competence with assignments that encourage children to connect with their surroundings to find adaptive ways to thrive in any given situation.
“And the joke is that they always wash their hands,” says Green.
“The raccoons are like our role models. We’re trying to bring out our inner raccoons. They’re in every backyard, washing their hands, washing their food and also really know backyards. They know where the food is, know where the escape routes are.”
The Raccoons Virtual Opening Circle provides a chance for children to share stories, sing songs and share what they’re grateful for. Their weekly activities include sketchbooks, gardening projects, Plant ID and animal tracks, calling grandparents and elders, learning stories, tracking the moon cycle and finding constellations.
With each class limited to 15 children, Green says the classes are relationship-based where teachers ask them questions and give them prompts that encourage them to experience their surroundings with a new perspective.
The program has two sessions, at 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, that allow children across time zones to gather together online.
“We can hear from kids where they are and what their circumstances are where they’re at home 'stuck' for lack of a better word,” said Green giving the example of a child talking about the plants that grow in between concrete if he/she has a parking lot as a backyard.
Green says it was challenging to make the decision to provide online classes for the Guelph Outdoor School because the entire concept of the program is to be outdoors.
He says the program offers a unique opportunity for children across cities and provinces to connect with each other and share experiences that might not be local to them but still relevant to their understanding of the world.
“The other part is busting the myth of the urban disconnect and busting the myth that just because you have a parking lot in your backyard, you can’t have a meaningful relationship with the natural world,” says Green.
