Designed and delivered by the passionate instructors @ The Guelph Outdoor School
• Games, music, & nature-based challenges to support for positive interactions in the school yard and recess.
• Supports teachers and classrooms during learning blocks for meaningful, safe, and inspired learning outdoors.
• An effective, equitable, and cost-effective boost for social. developmental, and academic outcomes school-wide.
• Unique and effective mental health initiative for the whole community
Program details:
A team of two Guelph Outdoor School instructors, for the whole day at your school, once a week. 30 weeks, rain or shine, from early Oct to mid June
No bus or no parent volunteers needed
Every Raccoons program is tailored to the needs of each school community, each teacher and classroom
GOS Instructors work with teachers and their classes, to meet academic, social, and classroom culture goals
Classroom teachers effortlessly book the program for specific learning blocks in advance
Origins: The Guided Recess
The Raccoons program by Guelph Outdoor School is inspired by The Guided Recess, a program delivered by Wild Earth, an outdoor immersion organization in New York.
We’re grateful to Wild Earth for leading the way with innovative programs like this AND for their support in helping us custom tailor the program idea to Guelph schools. We’ve made some changes to our version, where Raccoons instructors are working directly with teachers and their students to use the out-of-doors to raise the levels of student engagement, health and well-being, focus, creativity, positive interpersonal relationships, social-emotional learning and vibrant classroom culture.