MOUNTAIN LIFE - Blue Mountains | Winter 2021

32 Sarah is passionate that “every kid deserves a chance to experience the forest,” and sets aside a portion of each enrolment fee for a sponsorship fund. She credits nature with helping her through a difficult time in her life, and wants all children to have that same chance to “forget about hardships and just enjoy being a kid.” Carlin and Debbie Val were both teaching outdoor programs in the public school system when they discovered Forest Schools. Craving a more authentic and personal way to connect with their students, a tour of European schools in 2016 solidified their goals, and they returned home to establish their own At Last Forest School in Owen Sound. Aspiring to teach 12 students that fall, they opened registration and within a number of weeks had 50 eager kids enrolled. Parents in outlying communities soon clamoured for programs closer to home, and to meet those needs At Last expanded to eight locations, from Kincardine to Orangeville. For Debbie, their Forest School is all about children getting out and doing . “Out here in the woods they can touch it, smell it—everything is so hands- on. They create their own knowledge, based on questions about what they’re interested in the moment, not later when it comes up in the curriculum.” “Although it’s child-directed, our teachers are kind of co-conspirators of play. A teacher might be interested in something—say they like to repair clothing, so they bring their repair kit. Naturally the kids are curious about what their teacher is doing. If they’re interested enough, maybe it becomes a big part of their learning over the next few weeks. But if the interest isn’t there, we follow what they’re into at the time.” Debbie’s thoughts about her many outdoor-education teachers holds true for the seven (and counting) outdoor schools in our area. “They’re all so different and unique, but the things they share in common is passion for kids and passion for outdoors. If I’m going to learn from someone who’s passionate about it, I’m going to learn that much more, and it’s going to be that much more fun. Everyone can understand and relate to that.” “Once [children] know more about wilderness, they’re going to love it and want to protect it.“