Wildernook Fresh Air Learning

That's 9 weeks of Wildernook summer camps in the books! This summer was a huge success with so many wonderful adventures. We dip-netted, caught dozens of crayfish, played in the mud, and climbed to the tip-top of trees. We collected more sticks that we can count. We made recycled paper, and created process based art using charcoal from our fire. We ate marshmallows, fire-popped popcorn, and roasted potatoes.

We enjoyed the City of Saskatoon spray pads and playground programs on the hot days. We whittled, build forts, and took the Hug a Tree and Survive program with Sask Search and Rescue.

We loved meeting and adventuring with these campers this summer. Each brought such excitement and creative ideas to our camps, and we loved being able to set the stage for you to play.

Huge thanks to Claire, Erin, Elsa, Ella, and Zoe for making this summer camp season a huge success.

Keep playing, creating, and building outside friends! We'll be out there too visiting the ladybugs under the leaves, delighting in the autumn colours, and yes, busting up the icy puddles!

We knew we were Elsa fans when we first interviewed her in the fall of 2021. We just didn’t anticipate what a big part of Wildernook she’d become!

To say we’ve become attached to her is an understatement, but we are also so very proud and full of admiration for the experienced, perceptive, responsive and compassionate educator she’s become.

Elsa worked her last day of Wildernook camp and we are all excited for her start of her fall teaching placement with and eagerly await the next instalment of her teaching stories.

Elsa, you are a true gem and we are so very grateful to work, giggle and share stories alongside you the last few years.

Nature based schools in Saskatoon and area you may want to keep on your radar - highly recommend!

Story of the stick.

This camper found an enormous stick and was quite disappointed when it would not fit into their car to take home. They wrote “leave here” on the stick and hid it overnight.

The next day, he came with a plan and spent a long time working out how to break it into pieces. He took them home with plans to tape it back together again.

We love the so sweet and innovative ideas these campers come up with!

Thanks for sharing your kiddos with us and have a fabulous long weekend 🌞

Who’s ready for a Punch Buggy Party!? We’ve got a few pop-up 1/2 day camp options to invite your kiddo to:

- 1:00 - 3:45 p.m. on Tues. Aug. 6, Weds. Aug. 7, Thurs. Aug. 8.

- Ages 4 - 12 (we have a range of seat heights on the bus)

These half day camps utilize a delightfully fun children’s pedal bus as our mode of active transportation to visit scenic play spots along the Meewasin trail. .

Punch Buggy Campers will burn energy, spread joy and take part in playful trailside activities.

Registration includes a Punch Buggy kids’ hat (option to skip the hat for families registering in consecutive days).

Space is limited to seat availability on the bus. Be sure to register at wildernook.com soon if your kiddo would like to join the Punch Buggy Party.

Meeting friends on warm days.

Discovering the wild spaces and biodiversity that exist here in the city.

Summatime Playventures Camp was a huge success last week, with big kudos to leaders and for adjusting the plans in response to the smoke and heat.

Call out to École Canadienne-Française (ECF) families!

We’ve bundled Outdoor PD Days to serve Francophone families with kids attending ECF in Saskatoon. The ECF school calendar differs from other Saskatoon school divisions.

These full day, primarily outdoor day camps are designed to be a convenient way to build nature immersion and outdoor learning into your child’s week. Wildernook’s outdoor education programming promotes respect for our natural environment, skill development and a sense of well-being in nature. Our leaders look for opportunities to help develop nature connection, confidence, self-esteem, social skills, physical ability, and independence. This program is led by a certified teacher, with additional Outdoor Education and/or Forest School training.

Location: YXE Parks (e.g. Gabriel Dumont Park, Meewasin Park, Victoria Park, Diefenbaker Park, etc.)

2024-2025 School Year Dates:

Fri, Nov. 8
Fri, Nov. 29
Fri, Jan. 31
Mon, Mar. 10
Thurs, April 3
Fri, April 4

Registration for this 6 pack PD Day bundle is now open at https://www.wildernook.com/day-camps/ecf-pd-day

Note: we will not be running PD Day on September 30th, Indigenous People’s Day. We may open up a couple of single day options provided we have both sufficient registrations and space remaining.

Thank-you ECF families for getting your registrations in early to help us know our numbers.

Wildernook Worm Patrol on the case!

“It feels like soggy spaghetti” one child squealed.

This team had heaps of fun working together on this rainy day mission.

They named themselves the worm patrol, and the local worm population has them to thank for their rescue and relocation efforts 🪱

The school day is looking compact this week! Here’s what you can expect with Forest School After School Programs while the early dismissal job action is in effect:

🌳 We’ll pickup registered kids (drop-ins available) at the new early dismissal time (80 mins early).
🌳 Parent pickup will shift to 4:00p.m.(2hr program), but we will offer the option to extend to 5:00p.m. (3hr program) by adding an hour through our online drop-in bookings.
🌳 We’ve made plans to access alternate shelter or washrooms off school grounds and within walking distance should we need to use them.

NEW! We’re adding a Monday pop-up Forest School After School program at Albert Park with the option to register for 2hrs or 3hrs. With sufficient interest from students in Brunskill and/or Ecole Victoria schools we will offer an after school pickup and walk-over service.

Registration for drop-ins and adding the one hour extension is at https://wildernook.com/dropins

Thanks! And lastly:

As teachers, teacher candidates and facilitators we believe our public education system should be properly funded to address class size and complexity. We also understand the need for caregivers to complete their workday as well as the benefit for children to continue with scheduled nature play and learning time with us.

This spring is serving up lush spring mudventures.

What a treat it is to delight in all the sensory glee that mud and puddles offer.

Splash 💦

It’s looking like there won’t be any strike days in the short term (yay teacher action!), so let’s plan ahead for the next PD Pay, on June 3rd.

This Outdoor Skills Day is a full day camp at Meewasin Park for ages 7-12. We also have half day Pop-up Nature Play option which is great for younger kids of families who are only looking for a half day.

These Outdoor Skills PD Days are a single day version of our popular full week summer Outdoor Skills Camp.

Register to hold your child’s spot at https://wildernook.com/day-camps/outdoorskillspd