Upon launching my United States list, there were quite a few requests for a Canada-based list as well. So, here you go! Obtain information, share with others, network and enjoy! Let’s continue to spread the awareness of outdoor education as well as all of it’s astounding benefits!

Interested to know more about outdoor education? Forest schooling is outdoor based education, usually in the woods or forest, and geared towards children. The purpose is that children reap the benefits of the outdoors while learning through a play-based approach at the same time (often times, they don’t even realize they’re learning!). Nature-based schools and outdoor-based schools are also popping up and increasing in popularity as well as awareness! The benefits of all three types of education are often immense, helping children with motor skills and balance/coordination all the way down to social-emotional perks as well as providing immunity benefits. Most forest schools are geared towards children ages 3-6, but I’ve seen programs for babies & toddlers and their caregivers as well as for older children emerge lately as well, which is fantastic! Many nature-based and outdoor-based schools seem to go K-12th grade!
The forest school educational approach & movement originated in Scandinavia and has made its way through Europe and recently into Canada and the United States. Upon its growth, it has been touching many other parts of the world as well! Outdoor-based and nature-based schooling has followed suit and tend to model very similar approaches. As a quickly growing wholesome & nurturing educational movement with lifelong benefits, I encourage you to check it out!

Below you’ll find a current list of forest schools, outdoor-based and nature-based schools throughout Canada. *This list will be updated daily!* Please help me to grow this list! If you know of any additional schools or programs that are not listed, even if they are just starting up, please comment with a link to the school’s website as well as its name and location and I will gladly add it to the list! Homeschooling pods or groups and childcare are most certainly welcomed as well.

Naturally Katey Presents:

The Ultimate List of Forest Schools, Outdoor-Based & Nature-Inspired Schools of *Canada*

* = minimal to no cost programs or schools

Alberta

Wild Wonders Nature Play of Cochrane

Calgary Changemaker School of Calgary

Green Circle Preschool of Edmonton

Free Forest School* of Bow Valley

Free Forest School* of Edmonton

Free Forest School* of Foothills County

Free Forest School* of Wood Buffalo

The Waldorf Independent School of Edmonton (WISE) of Edmonton

Wild Child Alternative Education of Bragg Creek

Timbernook of Calgary

Edmonton Forest School of Edmonton

Upstream Forest School of McHugh Bluff

Wee Wild Ones of Bridgeland & Fairview

Gold Bar Preschool of River Valley

Rewild Your Child PreK Nature Program of Sherwood Park

Nature Kindergarten at Elk Island Catholic Schools of Sherwood Park

St. Albert Nature School of St. Albert

Nature-Based Kindergarten at Parkland School Division of Stony Plain

Common Diggs of Calgary

Growing Roots of Cochrane

Elements Forest School of Alberta

Paramount Academy of Springbank

Bear Family Children’s Center of Spruce Grove

Briar Patch Family Life Education Centre of Sherwood Park

Calgary Waldorf School of Calgary

Rediscover Play of Water Valley & Bragg Creek

Rosedale Playschool of NW Calgary

Tiny Wild Wonders of Medicine Hat

British Columbia

Fresh Air Learning of Vancouver & North Vancouver

Hand-in-Hand Early Years Nature Education Program of Comox Valley & Campbell River

Langley Forest School of Langley

Roots & Wings Montessori School of Surrey

Whistler Waldorf School of Whistler

Woods & Waves Outdoor Learning of Vancouver

Nanaimo Forest Kids of Nanaimo

Little Nest Forest Fairy Kids of Bowen Island

Nature Programs at School Board 46 of Gibsons

Tofino Nature Kids of Tofino

Tree Of Life Nature Playschool of Victoria West/Esquimalt

Terra Nova Nature School of Richmond

Outdoor Kindergarten at St. James & St. Ann’s School of Abbotsford

Wisdom of the Earth of Salt Spring Island

Victoria Nature School of Victoria

West Coast Forest School of Saanich

Thriving Roots Wilderness School of Victoria

Nature House Preschool at Parkside Academy of Duncan

Cowichan Preschool of Duncan

Wolfpack Wilderness School of Sooke

Countryside Preschool of Saanichton

Strawberry Vale Preschool of Victoria

Squamish Waldorf School of Squamish

Sidney Cooperative Preschool of Sidney

Little Cabineers Childcare of Coldstream

Secret Garden Daycare of Vernon

Lakehill Preschool Cooperative of Victoria

Metchosin Preschool of Metchosin

Oak Bay Preschool of Victoria

Painted Turtle Early Childcare Centre of Metchosin

Blue Heron Montessori of Victoria

Growing Together Daycare* of Duncan

Owl and Feather Childcare Center of Victoria

Little Wild Early Learning of Victoria

Lexie’s Little Bears Daycare of Victoria

Reggio Early Learning Center of Victoria

Childgarden Preschool & Discoveries of Port Moody

Time To Grow Learning Center of Victoria

Brentwood Preschool of Burnaby

Naturally Montessori of Victoria

Sooke Montessori Jr. Kindergarten of Sooke

Vancouver Waldorf School of North Vancouver

Friendly Forest Preschool of Anmore

Rainforest Learning Center of North Vancouver

Frog Hollow Reggio-Inspired Learning Center of Vancouver

Eagle View Child Development Center of Squamish

Mighty Oaks Nature School of White Rock

Hazelwood Early Learning Centre of Port Coquitlam

Conscious Kids Care of Maple Ridge

The Farm Playschool of Sooke

Precious Seeds Montessori House of Surrey

Absorbent Minds Montessori of Burnaby

Hazelmere Acres Preschool & Daycare of Surrey

Pebble Lane Early Learning of Surrey

Bright Beginnings Infant/Child Care of Coquitlam

Little Seedlings Early Learning of Black Creek

Rainbow Daycare of Mission

Elements Early Learning Centre of Vernon

Sunrise Waldorf School of Duncan

Nelson Waldorf School of Nelson

Wild Wonder of Abbotsford

School District 42 Environmental School* of Maple Ridge

We Think Outside of Okanagan

Manitoba

Field and Forest Nature School of Winnipeg

Forest School at FortWhyte Alive of Winnipeg

Momenta of Winnipeg

Manitoba Nature Education Program at Canada Nature Conservancy of Manitoba

New Brunswick

Tir Na Nog Forest School of St. John & Sussex

Elmhurst Outdoors School Programs of Erbs Cove

Down By The Brook Forest School of Fredericton

Cedar Brook Early Learning Centre of Fredericton

Newfoundland

Cloudberry Forest School of St. John’s

Sapling Forest School of Corner Brook

Nova Scotia

ForestKids of Hammonds Plains

Roots & Boots Forest School Society of Upper Tantallon & Fall River

Wild Child Forest School

Ashley’s Family Home Daycare of Wellington

South Shore Waldorf School of Blockhouse

Ontario

The Village Montessori of Georgetown

Westdale Children’s School of Hamilton

Amy’s Quality Home Child Care of York

Halton Waldorf School of Burlington

Happy Heart Childcare of Ottawa

Discovery Child Care of Barrie

Little Lions Waldorf Daycare & Kindergarten of Thunder Bay

Seedlings Happy Home Daycare of Ottawa

Forest & Nature School at Emmanuel at Brighton of Waterloo

Mulberry Waldorf School of Kingston

Little Seedlings Daycare of Armstrong

Free Spirit Forest and Nature School of Collingwood, Wasaga Beach & Meaford

London Waldorf School of London

Kinderforest of Ottawa

The Nature School at Kortright Center for Conservation of Woodbridge

The Nurture Lot of Toronto

The Guelph Outdoor School of Eden Mills

Natural Pathways Forest & Nature School of Harrow

Ottawa Waldorf School of Stittsville

Nature Connect of Waterloo

Ottawa Forest and Nature School of Ottawa

Toronto Waldorf School of Thornhill

Red Tailed Hawk Forest School of Blue Mountains

Edge Hill Country School of Durham

Wildflowers Forest School of Waterloo

Cambridge Farm & Forest School of Cambridge

Greenbelt Academy and Early Learning Centre of Grimsby

Evergreen Neighborhood Nature Play* of Kitchener

Waldorf Academy of Toronto

One Forest Montessori School of Kitchener

Hardwood Nature School of Peterborough

Garden Gate of Ottawa

Norfolk Forest School at Nature’s Calling of Simcoe

The Owl’s Nest Holistic Alternative School of Palmerston

Barrie Forest and Natural Learning School of Barrie

The Happy Wanderers of Orono

Keewatin Public School of Kenora

Oro-Medonte Forest School of Barrie

Blueberry Creek Forest School & Nature Centre of Tay Valley

At Last Forest Schools of Orangeville, Goderich, Owen Sound, Haliburton, Saugeen Shores, Kemble Farms, Saugeen Valley & Kincardine

Balls Falls Nature School of Welland

Nature School Niagra of St. Catharines

Timbernook of Port Stanley

Timbernook of Peterborough

Tiny Forest Academy of Tiny

Kingston Forest & Nature School of Kingston

Norfolk Forest School of Simcoe

Headwater Hills Montessori School near Orangeville

Quebec

Wakefield Children’s House of Wakefield

Le Lion et la Souris of Montreal

École Rudolf Steiner de Montréal of Montreal

Les Arterres of Wakefield

Centre de la Petite Enfance L’Oiseau d’or of Sherbrook

Grandir en Nature CPE STE-ROSE of Laval

Garderie Nature of Chicoutimi-Nord

Assoiffés de Nature – Pédagogie par la nature of Montreal

Grandir en foret of Quebec

La Nyctale et la Renarde, herboristerie et connexion avec la nature of Saint-Jean de l’Île d’Orléans

SDG Semer pour demain of Sainte-Christine d’Auvergne

Chelsea Forest School of Chelsea

Forest Hill Junior Outdoor Classroom of Saint Lazare

Saskatchewan

Sage Creek Prairie School of Swift Current

Timbernook of Saskatoon