Ray Shepherd Elementary class recognized by city for green learning
Classes from across the district are being recognized by the City of Surrey for their outdoor learning efforts as part of the city’s Stewardship Stories.
The city initiative is intended to encourage classes to get out into nature, while also promoting stewardship and care for the environment. It’s something kindergarten teacher Ellen Petersson has been doing for the past five years at Ray Shepherd Elementary.
“A few years ago, I had a parent volunteer who wanted to share her knowledge about the forest next to our school,” explained Petersson. “After that I continued taking my students to the nearby forest once a week for outdoor learning, scavenger hunts and to observe and learn about local plants, seasonal changes and more."
Petersson said when the pandemic hit and classes were encouraged to spend more time outdoors in order to limit the spread of the virus, she began spending even more time outside with her kindergartners.
Now, the outdoor excursions have become part of their daily curriculum and the class heads outside every day, rain or shine.
“We have only missed three days due to heavy wind. The children have a snack, go out for recess and then we stay outside and go into the forest.”
Activities range from learning about the environment and discovering the creatures living in the woods, to scavenger hunts and math activities using materials found in the forest.
“The students are curious and full of wonder, and always excited for the days in the forest,” she said. “Our outdoor classroom provides a different space to learn.”
On top of the change of scenery, the outdoor learning is also accompanied by some time spent with local seniors, nicknamed ‘GrandFriends’.
“We have four GrandFriends who join us every day,” said Petersson. “They walk with us to the forest, help with the activity and walk back to school with us. They love chatting with the children and doing the activities.”
The outdoor time spent with local seniors is an offshoot of the GrandFriends program Petersson started more than 10 years ago, when she would bring her students into a nearby extended care facility to spend time with the senior residents there. Since the pandemic began, those visits are no longer possible, but meeting outside was still an option.
Petersson says the benefits of the outdoor program are numerous.
“Coming back each day from the forest, my students are more settled for the afternoon,” she said, adding that the outdoor time allows them to have a constant connectivity to nature that is much needed. “Learning outdoors, learning how to stay healthy, appreciating nature, spending time together make learning interesting, it creates healthy habits and gives so much to each individual.”
Learn more about the environmental exploration programs at Surrey schools with the Stewardship Stories interactive map here.
See below for the full list of Surrey classes recognized by the city for their outdoor learning:
- Ms. Gill, Leadership Team, Green Timbers Elementary
- Ms. Benjamin, Grade 1, Sunrise Ridge Elementary
- Ms. Coca, Grade 1/2, Martha Currie Elementary
- Ms. Whintors, Grade 2/3, Maddaugh Elementary
- Ms. Mason, Kindergarten, Don Christian Elementary
- Ms. Gill, Leadership Team, Green Timbers Elementary
- Ms. Petersson, Kindergarten, Ray Shepherd Elementary
- Ms. Colp, Grade 4/5, Brookside Elementary
