IMPACT 2035
Grounded in Nature, Inspiring Teenagers to Lead
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES | 2025 to 2035
OUR VISION—to inspire teenagers to be leaders who care, connect and contribute.
OUR MISSION—to challenge and enable students to reach their individual potential in mind, body and spirit
OUR VALUES—Lakefield College School’s progressive and caring community is committed to a process of learning and growth in an environment that embraces and instills the following eight values: Development of the Whole Person; Individuality; Learning; Joy; Inclusive Caring Community; Trust; Service; and Environmental Responsibility.
OUTDOORSEVERYDAY AUTHENTICLEARNING
Feel a deep connection to nature— and carry a lifelong sense of appreciation and responsibility for the environment.
Be ready for the world— equipped with the skills, experience and resilience to pursue personal paths and thrive amid change.
Inspiring teenagers to be leaders who care, connect and contribute
Understand the power of community— valuing inclusivity, reconciliation, and belonging, building meaningful relationships, and making a difference locally and globally.
COMMUNITYFIRST
in a school of enduring strength— where inspired staff, engaged alumni and parents, and a strong endowment ensure Lakefield remains accessible, innovative, and thriving for generations.
TrustSTRENGTH&PERMANENCE
Four Strategic Priorities Guide Us
Lakefield has always been guided by our Vision, Mission and Values— and those remain constant as we look to the future.
FORWARD “
For 146 years, Lakefield College School has been a place where young people discover who they are, challenge themselves, and build lifelong connections. Rooted in nature and community, we are known for our immersive approach to education: academic excellence that fosters real-world preparedness, learning that takes students beyond the classroom, a global community that fosters belonging, and a commitment to helping teenagers grow in mind, body, and spirit. These strengths define the Lakefield experience and continue to inspire generations of students and families.
Guided by our enduring Vision, Mission, and Values, our last strategic plan, Vision. Direction. Focus. | 2019 - 2024 led us through growth, resilience, and transformation. Now, as we look to the next decade, we are ready to build on that momentum.
Impact 2035 is our bold plan for the future. It’s designed to ensure that every Lakefield student is prepared not just for university, but for life. It is rooted in our legacy of learning in nature and inspired by research on what teenagers need most: connection, purpose, and the skills to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Where We Come From
We transformed our academic program with a rigorous foundation and innovative approaches including increased Harkness and Advanced Placement offerings, interdisciplinary learning, and a new daily schedule.
We brought our regenerative farm to life, blending outdoor education and green industries with environmental responsibility and deepening students’ connection to nature, wellbeing, and sustainability.
We strengthened community through our expanded Circle of Care and House ecosystem ensuring every day and boarding student feels a sense of support and belonging.
We embraced innovation: from the thoughtful integration of artifical intelligence (AI) to a renewed focus on mental health and balance for teenagers.
We expanded access through financial aid up to 100%, welcoming talented students from all backgrounds.
New community dining hall: interior detail
We launched LCS Summer Academy & Programs, expanding opportunities to access the Lakefield experience year-round, from ages 4-18.
We renewed our campus, from residences, community and dining hall spaces to fitness, learning and innovation facilities, ensuring our students and staff have inspiring places to live, learn, and thrive.
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These achievements, made possible through the generosity and commitment of our community, have positioned Lakefield as one of Canada’s most distinctive independent schools. Impact 2035 takes us further.
OUR IMPACT for 2035
Every Lakefield Student Will:
Be ready for the world— equipped with the skills, experience and resilience to pursue personal paths and thrive amid change.
Feel a deep connection to nature— and carry a lifelong sense of appreciation and responsibility for the environment. Understand the power of community— inclusivity, reconciliation, and belonging, building meaningful relationships, and making a difference locally and globally.
Lakefield Will Be Known As:
Innovative in the education of teenagers—
A champion of nature-based and experiential learning
A model of relationship-based learning and partnerships
A school of enduring strength— sustained by inspired staff, engaged alumni and parents, and a strong endowment ensuring Lakefield thrives for generations
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Every student prepared for life through authentic learning, a deep connection to nature, the strength of community, and the enduring support of Lakefield.
Algonquin Expedition, 2025
Authentic Learning
At Lakefield, learning is immersive and happens through experience. Teenagers are encouraged to dive in, reflect, and grow, building knowledge, skills, and values that prepare them to make a difference in their communities. Guided by caring faculty and supported by a close-knit school, every student is challenged to discover their strengths and shape their own path. With the outdoors woven into daily life, and a balanced program of academics, co-curriculars, and enriched leadership opportunities, students develop resilience, adaptability, and curiosity, ready to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
A rigorous and engaging academic experience enriched with Advanced Placement (AP), Harkness discussions, and interdisciplinary opportunities will continue to challenge and inspire every student.
Innovative curricular and co-curricular programs will spark curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving, equipping students with the mindset and skills to thrive in a changing world.
Technology, including the thoughtful use of AI, will enhance learning while preserving independent thinking and human connection at the centre of every experience.
Student-led Harkness discussion
Personal growth pathways will support each student on their individual journey toward lifelong skill development, reflection, and self-awareness
Expanded real-world learning opportunities such as internships, campus projects, jobs, and life-skills modules will prepare students for life beyond school.
Comprehensive leadership programs will ensure every teenager the chance to lead in ways that reflect their strengths and passions.
The Grove Diploma will celebrate the full spectrum of the Lakefield experience, recognizing skills and competencies gained across Authentic Learning, Outdoors Every Day, and Community First
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A Lakefield education stretches teenagers to discover their best selves and prepares them for university, work, and life.
Outdoors Every Day
Lakefield’s 315-acre waterfront campuses are among the largest of Canadian boarding schools, giving teenagers daily opportunities to challenge themselves, build confidence, and find joy in nature. Our campuses and Northcote farm are living classrooms, where students grow mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually while deepening their connections with, and responsibility to, nature and the outdoors.
A four-year curriculum of outdoor experiences will be designed around the unique needs of teenagers, ensuring every stage of their journey includes meaningful time in nature and the chance to grow through challenge, reflection, and leadership.
A commitment to sustainability will guide us in becoming a more environmentally responsible school, with practices that show what it means to care for the environment, now and for the future.
Our Summer Camps & Academy will maximize our campus and facilities to deliver immersive outdoor learning, adventure, and leadership experiences that strengthen community ties and expand access for new students.
Qhuinzee (shelter) building
Ice fishing preparations
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Nature
offers balance, resilience, and creativity, gifts Lakefield students will carry for life in their learning, their leadership, and their wellbeing.
Northcote farm will grow as a hub for sustainability, regenerative agriculture, and food literacy, giving students hands-on opportunities to connect with the land and engage with the wider community.
Research collaborations in outdoor education and sustainability will bring fresh expertise to Lakefield, enriching student learning, advancing regenerative practices, and opening new opportunities for innovation.
Leave No Trace camping
Community First
Relationships are the cornerstone of the Lakefield experience. Our students, parents, alumni, and friends form a diverse, global network bound by shared values. Within this community, teenagers are surrounded by teachers, advisors, peers, and mentors who guide, challenge, and inspire them. These connections help them build confidence, compassion, and a sense of responsibility to contribute to a better world.
The House model of belonging will ensure every student finds a home at Lakefield—a place of friendship, mentorship, and support that strengthens bonds across day and boarding life.
Reconciliation through community partnerships will help students engage with Indigenous communities and perspectives in authentic and meaningful ways.
House-aligned service partnerships will provide regular opportunities to serve, learn, and contribute, building leadership, empathy, and a commitment to the wider community.
Parents and alumni are valued as active partners, sharing their experience, offering mentorship, and strengthening the global network of support that surrounds Lakefield.
A culture of lifelong connection will continue to define Lakefield, as students and families form friendships and networks that last far beyond their time at The Grove.
By surrounding students with care, guidance, and opportunities to give back, we strengthen the circle of care that helps teenagers develop confidence and compassion “
Strength & Permanence
Behind every transformative experience for teenagers is the strength of Lakefield’s people, campus, and resources. By investing in our faculty, renewing our facilities, and sustaining our endowment, we ensure that students benefit from inspired educators, an exceptional small-school environment, and an education that remains accessible to families from all backgrounds. These commitments give Lakefield the permanence to thrive for generations.
We will attract and retain exceptional staff by investing in their growth and wellbeing, because inspired educators inspire students.
We will preserve the humility and beauty of our small-school environment that inspires learning and leadership, while renewing our campus with facilities that balance tradition and innovation, including residences, the dining hall, wellbeing spaces, classrooms, and an ingenuity lab.
Our endowment will grow, making Lakefield one of Canada’s most accessible independent schools and ensuring talented students from all backgrounds can join our community.
LCS members of specialized Outdoor Education Team
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Lakefield’s strength lies in its people, its place, and its enduring spirit, a foundation that will sustain generations of students.
Parents, alumni, and friends continue to be vital partners, sustaining Lakefield’s impact for generations through philanthropy, engagement, and programs such as Lakefield for Life and Together For Lakefield that keep our global community connected.
A renewed Master Campus Plan will guide long-term investments based on need, including a new residence, health centre, and staff housing, so that students and staff have inspiring spaces to live and learn.
Our 150th anniversary in 2029 will be a moment to celebrate our history and share our story in ways that honour the past, present, and inspire the future.
Annual alumni reunion at The Grove
LCS alumni, parents, and students, competing at Regatta Day 2025
A CALL TO COMMUNITY
Impact 2035 is more than a plan, it’s a promise. A promise that Lakefield will continue to offer an education unlike any other: academically excellent, immersive, relationship-driven, and grounded in nature—inspiring teenagers to lead in ways that honour their unique needs and prepare them to care, connect, and contribute.
Our future is bright, but it depends on all of us— students, families, alumni, staff, and friends—to bring this vision to life. Together, we will ensure that Lakefield continues to inspire teenagers to be leaders who care, connect, and contribute for the next 150 years and beyond.
Impact 2035—Grounded in Nature, Inspiring Teenagers to Lead. “
OUR VISION
To inspire teenagers to be leaders who care, connect and contribute.
OUR MISSION
To challenge and enable students to reach their individual potential in mind, body and spirit
OUR VALUES
Lakefield College School’s progressive and caring community is committed to a process of learning and growth in an environment that embraces and instills the following eight values: Development of the Whole Person; Individuality; Learning; Joy; Inclusive Caring Community; Trust; Service; and Environmental Responsibility.
