The Renfrew County District School Board has announced a partnership with the Re-Nature Foundation, focused on constructing outdoor learning spaces for students.
Board CEO Kristen Niemi said spaces will be constructed at the board’s Kindergarten to Grade 6 elementary schools and where the board owns the property.
This includes Madawaska Valley District School, Killaloe Public School, Palmer Rapids Public School and Eganville and District Public School.
Niemi said the outdoor spaces will house different types of shade trees, and natural sitting areas for whole group instruction, small-group instruction and individual learning in pairs.
She said the board wants to embed outdoor learning into the curriculum using the spaces, building on what is already happening in the schools.
“When I arrived here in Renfrew County District School Board and visited all the schools, I noticed two things. Educators already here have a huge passion for outdoor learning and environmental education, and secondly, our schoolyards are beautiful,” she said.
Niemi said the project aligns with the board’s strategic priorities, including Indigenous education, which has ties to outdoor and land-based learning.
She added planning for outdoor learning this fall is underway, and they expect construction on the outdoor learning spaces to start in spring and summer of 2027.
