Toronto District School Board announces closure of this outdoor education centre

A Toronto District School Board sign is shown in front of a high school in Toronto on Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

The Forest Valley Outdoor Education Centre first opened its doors to students in 1967, when a partnership was struck between the then North York District School Board and Bertram David Fine.

Since 1967, the school board has leased the land during the school year for educational programming.

However, the Toronto District School Board confirmed this week that it will end its lease Forest Valley Outdoor Education Centre and the Etobicoke Outdoor Education Centre. The board said it will also close the Warren Park Outdoor Education Centre.

‘It has become my life’s work’

Rich Scott, an outdoor education specialist at the Forest Valley Outdoor Education Centre for 30 years, says his job has been directly affected by the TDSB’s recent staffing cuts.

According to Scott, outdoor education centres offer an experience not found in a typical classroom, while still being tied to Ontario’s Educational Curriculum.

Before their visit, teachers choose a program tailored to their class, and Forest Valley staff organize the day accordingly.

Available programs are offered to kindergarten, elementary, and high school students.

Scott emphasized how important outdoor education centres are for students who are from backgrounds where access to this education is harder to come by.

“This government is choosing to take opportunities away from those underprivileged students.”

Scott said he attended the education centre as a child, growing up in the community.

“I could see the outdoor education centre from my apartment building as a child, I always joke when my brothers weren’t forcing me to play road hockey, I would go down to the valley,” Scott said.

“I can see no more important work for me, when you see the joy of kids connecting with the natural world.”

TDSB budget cuts to blame

“With tens of millions of dollars in maintenance and repairs required, we have made the difficult decision to close one outdoor education centre and end the leases at two others,” said a spokesperson from the TDSB.

“We continue to recognize the importance of outdoor education and will be able to work with a variety of external sites to offer opportunities to our students should demand exceed our remaining centres.”

TDSB officials also said it will end two in-school programs at two locations as well: the Toronto Urban Studies Centre and the Island Nature Science School.

On Tuesday, the board announced that 218 jobs will be lost.

City councillor reacts

In an emailed statement to CTV News, Toronto city Councillor Lily Cheng said she was “devastated” by the news of the upcoming lease ending.

“The slated closure of multiple outdoor education centres, including Forest Valley in North York, is devastating news for so many parents,” said Cheng.

“As our city is increasingly urban and students have fewer opportunities to interact with nature, outdoor education centres are critical for student well-being, learning about nature and mental health.”

Cheng said that her kids attended Forest Valley, and that she is also concerned that city outdoor education centres might be left to “atrophy,” and that she is exploring what options the City of Toronto might have to leverage and preserve these sites.

According to the TDSB, Mono Cliffs Outdoor Education Centre and Hillside Outdoor Education Centre will remain open.