Reducing Financial Barriers:

Sliding Scale, Mutual Aid, Exchange @ GOS

Capitalism does not permit an even flow of economic resources. With this system, a small privileged few are rich beyond conscience, and almost all others are doomed to be poor at some level. That's the way the system works. And since we know that the system will not change the rules, we are going to have to change the system. - Martin Luther King Jr.

The core work of the Village Hearth Initiative & Guelph Outdoor School is to promote Nature Connection through mentorship, outdoor immersion experiences and culturally regenerative practices. We learn from nature, the many ways that we all might interact with one another in regenerative ways. One way is through a system we call “economics”. The Village Hearth Initiative takes seriously the impacts of our economic choices, and we are proceeding down a path of re-imagining the ways our relationship to economics might serve all Life. There are many forms of capital that can enrich people and community. We invite you to join us in a commitment to investing in a regenerative economic system that uplifts the potential for exchange to enrich all of life.

‘Use What you Need, Give What you Can’

Take a look below at what we’ve got in place to make nature immersion programs more available for everyone

Indigenous participants are invited to attend all Guelph Outdoor School programs free of charge if they so choose.

This is a self-serve option. Choose the discount level you feel best about. Simply register for your chosen program and at checkout., type GOLDENROD + any multiple of 10, all in one one word, up to 100. E.g. GOLDENROD10 for 10 % Off • GOLDENROD70 for 70% Off.

To waive the entire tuition fee, enter GOLDENROD100.

is in place to offset social and systemic barriers to wealth accumulation based on racial and/or ethnic identity, and are in place specifically for Black, Indigenous, and families of colour.

This is a self-serve option. Simply type GOLDENROD at registration checkout, and add a multiple of 10, all in one one word, up to 100. E.g. GOLDENROD10 for 10 % Off • GOLDENROD70 for 70% Off

are in place to support families and organizations who experience barriers to wealth accumulation that are not based on race or ethnicity.

This can mean: single parent households, low-income families and participants with mobility, physical, emotional,or mental challenges, or simply families who have been significantly affected financially by Covid-19.

Sliding Scale is a self serve option up to 25 percent.. Simply type DANDELION at registration checkout + a multiple of 5 at the end, anywhere between 5 to 25, all one word.

For example: DANDELION5 for 5 % Off • DANDELION15 for 15% Off.

 Free to Grow

The Children’s Foundation of Guelph and Wellington provides financial support to families at certain income levels. You can check the CFGW website here to see if you qualify and/or apply here. If you have any difficulty with the process, contact us at GOS 519-400-3968 or email to admin@theguelphoutdoorschool.com.

Sliding Scale can also slide UP! Guelph Outdoor School fee options are designed to recognize, anticipate, and correct disparities in access to wealth. If you are inspired by the GOS committment to making programs available for everybody, and you’d like to contribute financially, you have options:

Add a donation at Checkout • Become a one-time or monthly donor • Become a Local Business Sponsor