Our Vision, Mission, and Values

Our Vision

A world where all people build deep, lifelong connections to nature and community. Through accessible outdoor learning and mentorship, Guelph Outdoor School  fosters resilience, belonging, and a recognition of our interdependence with and responsibility to care for all life.

Our Mission

Guelph Outdoor School  aspires to provide accessible, immersive, nature-based education that nurtures curiosity, connection, and stewardship. We offer transformative programs that support youth, families, and educators in developing skills for resilience and well-being. Through play, mentorship, and experiential learning, we cultivate a thriving community where people of all ages feel safe, valued, and inspired within the natural world.

Our Values

The Land

The Guelph Outdoor School holds an ever-present acknowledgement that we operate on stolen Indigenous land. It is imperative that, as a community organization, we hold this recognition every day in our hearts and in our minds. We recognize that GOS is situated on the traditional territories of the Chonnoton/Attawandaron and part of the Dish with One Spoon covenant. In time, through the “Between the lakes treaty” (Treaty 3) which was redrawn and resigned on December 7th, 1792, this territory is now understood as the treaty territories of the Mississauga’s of the Credit. We acknowledge that the lifeways and skills that were developed and practiced by First Nations communities were knowingly repressed by colonial forces yet sustained and revitalized by the traditional communities who practice them. We are reminded always that what we engage at outdoor school are not simply skills — but living and evolving technologies, and indigenous lifeways steeped in rich cultural history. GOS honours these First Nations communities not as pieces of the past but as a part of our present and future building of reciprocity, healing, and justice.

A land acknowledgement is more than a historical blanket statement. It is from our hearts, with intention and meaning. We continue to find ways to honour and acknowledge the Indigenous stewards of the land we are working on. We cannot do the work of nature connection without doing the work of decolonization/uncolonization and reconciliation.

Nature Connection and Gratitude

  • Nurturing rich understanding and respect for the natural world, fostering a lifelong relationship with nature.

  • Developing awareness - using all the senses - to understand our impact on the land and waters and all our living kin.

  • Cultivating gratitude for the land, community, and awe-inspiring experiences.

Interconnectedness and Relationships

  • Recognizing the interconnectedness of all life.

  • Emphasizing care for each other, ourselves, and the land.

  • Building strong, meaningful connections within the community.

  • Being in integrity and reciprocity with the Indigenous communities from which many of our program practices come.

Equity and Accessibility

  • Committing to mutual aid and financial accessibility.

  • Committing to identifying and addressing systemic barriers.

  • Expanding outreach to unrepresented communities.

  • Creating systems that make GOS more accessible, prioritizing efforts to include people of all ages living with disabilities. 

  • Ensuring diverse learning styles and backgrounds are valued and celebrated.

Integrity, Respect, and Inclusion

  • Fostering a culture of respect and integrity in all interactions.

  • Prioritizing diversity and recognizing its essence as a core value.

  • Ensuring inclusion is at the heart of all programming and decisions.

Support for Staff and Sustainable Work

  • Valuing lived experience and the expertise of staff.

  • Providing livable wages, benefit packages, and year-round financial stability.

  • Creating a healthy work environment that mimics natural systems, visible through distributed, horizontal and less hierarchical patterns

  • Providing leadership in the sector and offering long-term career pathways

Resilience & Climate Justice

  • Remaining transition-aware, responsive, and relevant to community needs.

  • Prioritizing climate justice as an integral part of outdoor education.

  • Embracing adaptability and resilience in all aspects of programming.

Awe, Curiosity, and Risk Taking

  • Encouraging a sense of awe, wonder, and continuous learning.

  • Celebrating risk-taking and experiential learning as vital growth tools.

  • Embodying core routines inspired by biomimicry and the Coyote’s Guide philosophy.