Field Days at Blue

ALLISON KENNEDY DAVIES

My backpack is stuffed full of snacks and kids' water bottles. Two pint-sized hikers have decided to join me for the day, one on my left and one on my right. They make frequent stops to point out a variety of rocks, plants and tiny critters. They ask a multitude of random questions, to most of which I answer, “What do you think?” The replies are endearing and hilarious. Although our uphill progress on the Village Way hiking trail is comparable to that of a garden snail, these kids and their grown-ups are calm, content and happy to be outside. And I can’t help thinking this is exactly what our little learners need right now.

Prior to the pandemic, the team at Blue set out to develop a school fieldtrip program that would take kids out of the classroom and into the nature and excitement found around Blue Mountain. The field-trip program was brought to life by BMR staff with the intention of making it an easy choice for educators. Consultants were engaged who had direct experience in the field of education, public and private school boards, curriculum development and lesson planning.

“Blue Mountain embarked on a project to align our recreation offerings and our unique outdoor environment with the school curriculum,” explains Jennifer Allan-Cummings, Hospitality Marketing Manager with BMR. “We wanted to establish Blue as an inclusive, year-round location for school trips linked to the Ontario curriculum, global competencies and skills, as well as current education initiatives.”

Although field trips may be paused for public schools, Blue Mountain is ready to welcome back the yellow school buses with inclusive, affordable and customized school group programs from Kindergarten to Grade 12 and beyond. Year-round activities are aligned with subject areas including mathematics, science and technology, social studies, literacy and language, art, health and physical education. A web portal has been created for teachers with the aim of providing an effortless option for organizing school group trips. Ready-made teaching notes, lesson plans and links to online resources are available for educators to ensure that the Blue experience supports what is being taught in the classroom. Trained and certified staff guide students through activities, ensuring the resort and activity-specific safety protocols— and those outlined by related teaching associations—are maintained.

ALLISON KENNEDY DAVIES

The school field-trip day will be guided by the principles of safety, accessibility and inclusivity and fill in as an outdoor extension of the classroom and curriculum. Multitudes of activities are available year-round, including those best-known—hiking and biking during the green season and skiing or snowboarding in the winter. Attractions like the climbing wall, Cascade Putting Course and Ridge Runner Mountain Coaster are also an option. (Fun fact: the Ridge Runner operates in the colder months, too.) The mid-mountain attractions will have students climbing, hanging, zip-lining and belaying on the Woodlot Low Ropes, Canopy Climb Net Adventure and Timber Challenge High Ropes.

Teachers can select activities that complement what is being taught in their classroom, and support the interests and skills of the group. Lesserknown adventures available include the Geocache Challenge, wilderness survival skills and guided snowshoeing. The little ones can enjoy nature games like lynx relay race and wolves vs. deer, followed by community circle and reflection. Or how about a competitive game of “I spy” in Blue Mountain Village? Fun for the kids and their grown-ups.

We live in a time when students are learning online and spending not just hours but whole days in front of a screen. This is one reason why physical and outdoor education and experiential learning is so important. It builds on the fundamentals taught in the classroom while getting kids outside. The outdoor activities at BMR work to improve physical fitness, build confidence and nurture friendships. But they also support the development of the “softer skills” such as critical thinking, problem solving and decision making while fostering an appreciation for the natural and cultural history of the Niagara Escarpment, Georgian Bay and the surrounding area.

In these challenging times for so many of us, especially students, let’s provide a sense of safety, security and well-being by bringing them outside with classmates for a day of education and play. We hope our kids can get back to these outdoor adventures with their peers soon. –Laura Raimondi

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