Our mission at Keewatin Public School is to create an outdoor learning program which is inquiry-based, child-centered where all students foster their curiosity and develop great ideas in a play-based, outdoor environment with students spending their time playing and learning in, with, and through nature. We hope to instill in our students a love and appreciation for nature and to treat nature with respect and care.

About Keewatin Public Schools Outdoor Learning Environment

In September 2018, Keewatin Public School unveiled a new outdoor learning environment to support quality, outdoor learning experiences for our students. The new outdoor learning environment, based on the four elements of earth, wind, water and fire, provides children with the ability to explore and learn outside in a space designed to foster their learning. Students at Keewatin Public have access to the Mink Bay Trail system which is a 4.3 km long trail located in the heart of Keewatin and is accessible at the back of our school yard. We have three designated areas that we currently use for our outdoor learning environment. The first location, Mitig Creek is about a 5 minute walk from the school and is located near a small creek surrounded by fiddleheads and various trees (white birch, poplar, black ash, white spruce, black spruce, white pine, tamarack, jack pine, and balsam fir). The second location, Zhingobiing Grove is about a 10 minute hike and is completely surrounded by our boreal forest. The third location, The Backyard is in our backyard behind the school. These locations provide a natural beauty and serenity that allows students to enjoy, explore, and love nature up close.

Check out our Forest School photo gallery!