Squamish Nature Learners

Parents, students, and educators had a great time at Alice Lake last week for our end of year camping trip! What a wonderful way to end a year filled with connection, growth, and explorations.

Hope you can join us on Wednesday for our open house!

Wonderful Worms 🪱

Last week we took a deep dive into the world of worms! Through hands-on exploration, students investigated worm anatomy, life cycles, and their important role in healthy ecosystems. From observing the clitellum and learning that worms are hermaphrodites, to exploring worm castings and gently holding living worms, this inquiry invited curiosity, sensory exploration, and scientific thinking.

These experiences connect directly to the BC Curriculum through life science, observation skills, questioning, and understanding how living things interact within ecosystems. By getting up close with nature, children build empathy, critical thinking, and a deeper connection to the living world around them. 🌱✨

Curious about nature-based learning? Looking to enrol your child for the 2026/27 academic year?🌿✨

Join Squamish Nature Learners for our Spring Open House at Legacy Park on Wednesday, June 3rd, from 3:00–5:30 PM!

Come explore our yurt and outdoor classroom, connect with current families and staff, and learn more about our program and approach to learning in nature. We’ll also have refreshments and food to enjoy while you visit 🍓☕️

Whether you’re actively searching for a program or simply curious to see what we’re all about, we’d love to welcome you into our community.

📍 Legacy Park (1046 Raven Dr.)
🗓 June 3rd
⏰ 3:00–5:30 PM

Please share with anyone who may be interested 🌲

The group engaged in science through exploring the changing colours of purple cabbage!

With curiosity leading the way, we explored how boiling red cabbage creates a natural pH indicator — a special liquid that changes colour depending on whether something is acidic or basic. The children made predictions, mixed different household materials, observed reactions, and asked thoughtful questions about why colours changed from pinks and purples to blues and greens.

Using items like lemon juice, toothpaste, baking soda, vinegar, and water, children explored:
🔬 Scientific inquiry and experimentation
🌈 Cause and effect through colour-changing reactions
🧠 Prediction, observation, and critical thinking skills
🗣️ Language development through discussion and hypothesis-making
✍️ Literacy and documentation through recording observations
🤝 Collaboration and problem-solving together

Experiments like these bring the BC Curriculum to life through hands-on, play-based learning that encourages wonder, exploration, and confidence in asking questions about the world around us.

Sometimes the best learning happens when children say,
“Wait… why did it turn pink?!”

This spring, our classroom has been buzzing with learning. 🐝🌱

From gently observing mason bees at work to planting seeds with tiny hands, children have been discovering how living things grow, connect, and depend on one another. What may look like play on the surface is deeply connected to the BC Curriculum through inquiry, literacy, science, environmental stewardship, and social-emotional learning.

Over the past few weeks, we have been:
🌼 Learning about pollinators and the important role mason bees play in healthy ecosystems
🌱 Exploring how plants germinate by planting and caring for seeds
🥕 Learning how to harvest plants sustainably and remove invasive plants
🌿 Creating seed balls to support native flowers and pollinator habitats
🐝 Playing pollinator games that build cooperation, movement, and ecological understanding
📚 Reading stories and nature books to spark curiosity, imagination, and discussion
🔤 Incorporating literacy and spelling through our daily “letter of the day” activities

By combining storytelling, movement, science, art, and hands-on exploration, children are learning through real experiences that are meaningful and memorable. Outdoor education allows learning to come alive — rooted in wonder, relationship, and connection to the land. ✨

WE ARE HIRING!

Squamish Nature Learners is growing, and we’re looking for passionate, caring educators to join our Early Years and School-Aged Programs.

🌿 What we’re looking for:
• Experience working with children (ECE, education, or outdoor leadership backgrounds)
• A genuine love for the outdoors in all seasons
• Interest in inquiry-based, play-based, and land-based learning
• Strong communication and teamwork skills

🌿 What we offer:
• A supportive, collaborative team environment
• Meaningful work connecting children to land, community, and culture
• Opportunities to grow your skills in outdoor education
• Daily time outside in beautiful Squamish landscapes

📍 Location: Squamish, BC

To learn more about our program and what we are looking for, check out our website!
https://www.squamishnaturelearners.ca/career

There are moments that stay with us—this was one of them.

We recently gathered in community for a welcome pole ceremony, where Squamish Nation (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw) Elders blessed the totem pole and shared their knowledge, presence, and care. What began months ago as an idea grew into something deeply meaningful through many hands and hearts.

The children helped carve, paint, and install the pole, working alongside Squamish Nation carver Art Harry (See Appl-tun), families, and community members. The students saw what it means to contribute to something lasting—to be part of story, tradition, and relationship in action.

We are deeply grateful to the Squamish Nation Elders for guiding this moment, and to everyone who gave their time, energy, and resources to bring this project to life. Thank you TD - Friends of the Environment Foundation and Fortis BC for helping fund this work, we would not have been able to complete it without their support! Thank you to the many community members and families who supported along the way.

This pole stands as a reflection of the long-standing relationship between Squamish Nature Learners and Squamish Nation (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw), and our ongoing commitment to decolonization and reconciliation. Our learning is grounded in traditional teachings, and through building strong, everyday connections to the land.

Hello! Please consider supporting our little forest school. We are hosting a raffle with a cash prize of $2,026, Whistler ski passes, Whitecaps tickets and more! Here’s the link to purchase tickets - it’s very easy and you don’t have to create a login!

If you’re out of the province and want to support the raffle message us directly!

Thanks ❤️🌷🌱

https://squamishnaturelearners.rafflenexus.com/a/qr-code?fbclid=IwdGRleAReEFFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeD_iVCA0Jxm1SgIaJVyfeIQvvGKj49Fac8V0oUEOM12KvDfBCF_x2Kf72f8I_aem_EDuHjmvKubICHbb8OC1fng

Squamish Nature Learners 2026 Fundraiser Raffle