CONNECTING with Nature
One of Crofton House School ’ s core values is citizenship — one that is not just about people , laws and governments but also about the land and natural world we call home .
In support of students ’ ongoing engagement with citizenship , a connection to nature supports learning in and out of the classroom and encourages environmental stewardship .
“ Citizenship is also about recognizing the responsibility we all have as citizens of the Earth . Nature is used as a learning tool to strengthen students ’ sense of stewardship to the community and develop their sense of active citizenship ,” Ms Hare , Teacher , Ivy Compass Program , Junior School , said .
Even our youngest learners in the Early Childhood Education ( ECE ) Centre are encouraged to learn about their relationship with nature ! In partnership with the Junior School Ivy Compass Program , ECE educators design aspects of learning for their students to celebrate and investigate the unique natural spaces on campus .
“ Nature plays a role in almost everything we do , and we connect many curricular areas to nature ,” Ms Locke , Teacher , Junior Kindergarten , ECE , said . “ If you take a moment to look at the design of the ECE Centre , it ’ s been inspired by the natural world .”
Junior and Senior Kindergarten students observe and explore nature to see how they can connect and contribute to spaces they share as a community . Key outdoor areas like
The Woods and the Mini Woods help students observe seasonal changes and recognize different plants and animals — elements of the science curriculum .
“ As a class we spend plenty of time exploring the outdoor spaces on campus , noticing the seasonal changes and developing a relationship with place . With the students , we are aiming to foster a sense of wonder , curiosity and love for the natural world in hopes that they build environmental stewardship as they grow . It ’ s amazing to see the students get so excited and curious about nature !” Ms Doolittle , Teacher , Junior Kindergarten , said .
In the Senior Kindergarten classes , learning begins with an introduction to life cycles using seeds and plants and progresses to larger ecosystems and habitats , such as forests , and larger organisms like owls and grizzly bears ; students even learn about the breakdown of those cycles , including habitat loss and human impacts on wildlife . “ These concepts help us have conversations about environmental stewardship , conservation and community action with our students ,” Ms Beauchamp , Teacher , Senior Kindergarten , ECE , said . “ We teach through local examples that give students those direct connections and help them understand how they have agency when caring about nature .”
A collective vision by Junior School and ECE educators is to regenerate campus spaces and resources to promote community stewardship . For example , the ECE sandpit was repurposed into a community garden , providing hands-on gardening and stewardship experience for the kindergarten classes . Students can see life cycles in action and tend to flora from seed to plant .
Part of fostering citizenship on campus is also the meaningful community partnerships created . One such collaboration is with ethnobotanist T ’ uy ’ t ’ tanat Cease Wyss , an Indigenous matriarch of the Skwxwu7mesh , Sto : lo and Hawaiian peoples , who integrates social responsibility framed within the First Peoples Principles of Learning . Her teaching supports the focus on Indigenous ways of knowing in the kindergarten curriculum .
“ Cease comes to campus to conduct nature walks where students develop an understanding of the many plants and trees found in The Woods as a measure of our region ’ s natural ecosystems . She also instructs on the land ’ s connection to Indigenous culture and how local flora can be used for food and medicine ,” Mrs McAllister , Teacher , Senior Kindergarten , ECE , said .
This holistic approach to learning , from Indigenous ways of knowing to environmental stewardship and everything in between , encourages students to consider the interconnectedness of all things . From ECE onwards , it prepares students to be active citizens who value their connections with their community and care for the natural spaces they collectively live and learn in .
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