Place-Based Learning

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Cariboo-Chilcotin School District trustees sported their Take Me Outside for Learning shirts at the BC School Trustees Academy to show their support and enthusiasm for this priority in our district.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/c739b255-e1fe-4860-99af-0e6b7578c17b" alt="Trustee Show of Support cheryl lenardon" width="484" height="363" style="width:484px;height:363px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Cariboo-Chilcotin team at First Nations Education Steering Council (FNESC) got to hear from Niigaan Sinclair about Truth and Reconciliation in education in Canada. It was meaningful for our team to see Phyllis Webstad and Orange Shirt Day honoured alongside the achievements of the great Murray Sinclair.</span></p><table class="editor-table"><colgroup><col><col></colgroup><tbody><tr><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/bab5f82e-e402-4c0c-a283-08756d8f6aa0" alt="Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day at FNESC1 cheryl lenardon" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th><th class="editor-tableCell editor-tableCellHeader" style="width: 350px; background-color: rgb(242, 243, 245); border: 1px solid black; vertical-align: top;"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/53cabbc0-9430-489b-abe3-4d7ad498315e" alt="Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day at FNESC2 cheryl lenardon" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p></th></tr></tbody></table><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Cariboo-Chilcotin School District is honoured to have the story of how we are intentionally growing place-based learning across our district in the BC School Superintendents Association journal InspirEd. We are engaging leaders, teams, and students in activities and experiences beyond the walls of the classroom. We are working with partners to build capacity, equip schools, and expand opportunties. It is good work that we are proud to share. https://flip.matrixgroupinc.net/bcsb/2025/fall/#page=21</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/46504310-d6c5-4a39-b065-39ef953392b2" alt="InspirEd 2025 cheryl lenardon" width="563" height="316" style="width:563px;height:316px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As part of Take Me Outside Week, our primary students embraced the outdoors with a creative twist inspired by the book Not a Stick by Antoinette Portis. After reading the story together, students ventured into the forest to find their own “not a stick.”</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">With imagination as their guide, a simple stick became so much more — “This is not a stick! This is a telescope!” or “This is not a stick! This is a skateboard!”</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Through this playful, place-based activity, students connected with nature, practiced creative thinking, and explored how outdoor learning can spark imagination and joy in unexpected ways.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/b3037482-ca44-4cc0-88e6-199a55429bb4" alt="Creativity Outdoors 2 kimberley ikebuchi" width="443" height="590" style="width:443px;height:590px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Today our students took their library time outdoors! Surrounded by fresh air and vibrant fall colours, the intermediate students enjoyed their novel reading while the primary students gathered for story time in our outdoor classroom.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As part of Take Me Outside Week, it was a wonderful reminder that reading can happen anywhere!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/bb0a59bd-7d1f-431d-9a86-3210a5d826a5" alt="Outdoor Library 2 kimberley ikebuchi" width="395" height="526" style="width:395px;height:526px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As part of Take Me Outside Week, our class took our math learning outdoors! Students explored the natural world around our school to create repeating and growing patterns using leaves, rocks, sticks, cones, and other found objects.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/f3c7c3d9-8ae2-43f5-b2dd-3dc3df613f83" alt="Outdoor Patterns 2 kimberley ikebuchi" width="418" height="557" style="width:418px;height:557px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Recently our Grades 4–7 students had opportunity to visit Gavin Lake Forestry Education Centre. The three-day experience brought learning alive in ways a classroom simply can’t. Through hands-on exploration, students built skills from observation to inquiry—navigating trails, learning about forest science, and reflecting on what they saw. They developed both hard skills such as orienteering and canoeing, and soft skills including teamwork, reflection, and perseverance, all while deepening their connection to the natural world. Thank you to our sponsor Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/81a49823-1a1b-4673-9dc4-813f428995d6" alt="Gavin Lake Archery kimberley ikebuchi" width="315" height="420" style="width:315px;height:420px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Our class enjoyed a lovely fall walk to explore the changing colours of the season and collect leaves from around our school grounds. Back in the classroom, students used their collections to create individual fall leaf books, connecting their outdoor learning to literacy. Through this activity, students practiced reading colour words while celebrating the beauty of our local environment — a perfect blend of nature and learning!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/b4466a49-06aa-49d2-81e5-8c40d5a18cf6" alt="Fall Learning 2 kimberley ikebuchi" width="405" height="540" style="width:405px;height:540px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Students spent the day outdoors digging in the soil and planting bulbs through the Bulbs4Kids program. The excitement of getting their hands in the earth made this a joyful learning experience, and a wonderful example of place-based learning that connects students to the land and to the cycles of nature around them. As we move through fall and winter, we look forward to the promise of spring, when the flowers will bloom and remind us of both the changing seasons and today’s engaging work.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/2220c0bc-892e-4943-94d8-595c6fbf967d" alt="digging kimberley ikebushi" width="514" height="517" style="width:514px;height:517px;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Our primary students got their hands dirty the first week of school as they harvested the carrots they planted last spring! Being outside together gave students a chance to connect their learning to the land, experience the seasons full circle, and celebrate the rewards of working (and learning!) outdoors.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/a7b6e709-2104-4726-a13a-9ba4b33f5aca" alt="carrots kimberley ikebuchi" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit;display:inline-block"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We welcomed our local community paramedi to teach a hands-on "Stop the Bleed" training session to our senior students.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The session emphasized the importance of acting quickly and effectively in emergency situations. Students learned how to respond to severe bleeding, a vital skill that could one day save a life. With gauze, gloves, and determination, students practiced proper wound-packing techniques—using oranges as stand-ins for real-life scenarios.</span><br><br><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We are grateful to our many valued community partners who play an active role in supporting student learning and well-being.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/308284b0-6b6d-48f6-adec-9e948e861276" alt="Community Paramedic 2 kimberley ikebuchi" width="415" height="311" style="width:415px;height:311px"></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, our primary students stepped outside the classroom and into the sunshine and fresh air for a fun and hands-on math activity: Playground Polygons! Armed with sidewalk chalk and masking tape, learners explored geometry in a creative and active way. Using the schoolyard as their canvas, students worked to create a variety of polygons — from triangles to hexagons — turning math into vibrant, collaborative art.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/860decce-69db-4e89-87a8-853156cd0ea8" alt="Outdoor Learning in Action Playground Polygons" width="706" height="529" style="width:706px;height:529px"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Students at Tatla Lake School embraced the outdoors as part of the Take Me Outside Winter Challenge! Sponsored by Take Me Outside, the challenge encouraged students across the country to connect with nature and stay active outside during the winter months.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">As part of our place-based learning focus, students completed a variety of outdoor activities, tracking their time spent outside on our official Take Me Outside activity tracker. From outdoor art and reading to nature walks and winter games, the challenge helped our students deepen their connection to the land while fostering collaboration, creativity, and a love of the outdoors.</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">We’re excited to share that by submitting our completed tracker, Tatla Lake School was randomly selected as a winner—and received a gift card to the Take Me Outside store!</span></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">This initiative is just one example of how SD27 schools are using local, outdoor environments as rich learning landscapes to inspire curiosity, wellness, and stewardship in our students.</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/54ec216e-b078-4e6b-9a8e-14e18b268770" alt="Take Me Outside Winter Challenge" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph"><img src="/images/b4d60e43-bb50-47d1-ac4e-1f3a5dbdb38c" alt="Take Me Outside Winter Challenge" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p></div></div><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><br></p>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Our school is proud to bring place-based learning to life through a weekly cross-country skiing program, supported by the Tatla Lake Ski Club. This initiative connects students with the outdoors while promoting physical activity and an appreciation for nature. A series of loop trails that total over 30 km in length are found just minutes from our school!</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/1758265f-0311-592a-a53f-4462d432fff8" alt="g98i49gd.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/d10f3883-2ad0-572c-95de-03c888a542ad" alt="kz488j7x.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p></div></div>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Students recently participated in a Wild &amp; Immersive learning experience at Tatla Lake, where they explored their local environment through hands-on activities and practical skill-building. They identified animal tracks like wildlife biologists, honing observation skills while discovering the behaviors and habitats of local species. Fire-building activities challenged students to use flint and steel and bow drills. Crafting makeshift snowshoes highlighted resourcefulness and connected students to traditional methods of navigating snowy terrain. These activities not only taught essential survival skills but also fostered critical thinking, collaboration, and adaptability. The day’s highlights included moments of teamwork and reflection, such as gathering around a campfire to share bannock and roast marshmallows. This 'Wild' experience demonstrated the power of place-based education to inspire and build curiosity.</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/8e25c532-d8cf-5e69-86e6-0f36b098d4a7" alt="rs4jke0s.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/2f2cd731-c494-57dd-989b-894ae69d8123" alt="g0aydare.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p></div></div>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Our grade 5-7 class spent three incredible days at Gavin Lake Forestry Camp, coinciding perfectly with Take Me Outside Day! The camp's outdoor school program provided an enriching learning experience, allowing students to engage in activities like archery, canoeing, beaver habitat exploration, and orienteering. This immersive environment encouraged fun while fostering educational growth in ways that go beyond the traditional classroom. As always, Gavin Lake proved to be a highlight for staff and students, offering students a deeper connection with nature and a memorable learning adventure.</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/8c2b7a08-46f4-5e9e-a131-9138fd2176b9" alt="wgo5p4zo.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/e2b5c516-ad0f-538f-8e4c-ba0f87176104" alt="zgjm4uv7.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p></div></div>

<p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Our school enjoyed a fall harvest field trip to a local garden, where students had the opportunity to dig up root vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, and beets. The harvest was a hands-on way for students to learn about where their food comes from and the importance of local farming. The vegetables gathered will be used for both our Thanksgiving dinners and the school lunch program, supporting our goal of providing nutritious, locally sourced meals to students. Thank you to the Porter family for your generosity!</span></p><div data-lexical-layout-container="true" style="grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; display: grid;"><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/b339df1a-fa77-54da-abc6-2cd959a8a446" alt="yli8fvy8.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p></div><div class="editor-layoutItem"><p class="editor-paragraph" dir="ltr"><img src="/images/ee2241d9-a47c-504b-91f0-e3c02871f740" alt="xbzit5fq.jpg" width="100%" height="inherit" style="width:100%;height:inherit"></p></div></div>