Gryphon Life
Outdoor Education
The goal of the Outdoor Education program at Glenlyon Norfolk School is to provide our students with the outdoor travel and living skills needed to develop self-reliance in the wilderness and stewardship for the natural world.
Our Outdoor Education program allows our students to take full advantage of our location on the beautiful west cost of Canada. From launching kayaks off the beach of our own Junior School Campus to surfing on the wild west coast of Vancouver Island to winter camping on nearby mountains, our staff design these adventures to allow students to make the most of our unique region.
Beginning with Nature School in Junior Kindergarten, Kindergarten and Grade 1, our students are truly encouraged to extend their learning by exploring the natural world. As they move through the school, students are given the opportunity to go on hikes and eventually overnight camps, some of which involve travel in a kayak or canoe. In the Middle School, winter trips are introduced where students might try snowshoeing for the very first time.
Each successive experience builds on the skills acquired in the previous one, and many involve an element of community service be it through trail maintenance or invasive species removal.
Each successive experience builds on the skills acquired in the previous one, and many involve an element of community service be it through trail maintenance or invasive species removal.
In Grades 11 and 12, students have the opportunity to choose Outdoor Education (OE) as a credited physical education elective, which requires them to participate in one OE trip each term. The outdoor education program is also a good fit for students wishing to work towards the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
As part of the course requirement, students are expected to keep a working journal to document their activities and the skills they have learned. Please enjoy these video entries by a Grade 12 ORL student for a wonderful glimpse of her experiences in the program.
