Outdoors Club
The ultimate one-day-a-week Forest & Nature School experience.
Each week, we step into a full day guided by the rhythm of the seasons and the steady pull of curiosity.
The land is always changing—and so are the children within it. What begins as exploration becomes familiarity, then confidence, then connection. As they move through the landscape, they begin to notice more, try more, and understand where they fit within it all.
This is more than time spent outdoors. It’s a growing relationship—with the land, with each other, and with themselves.
From the Trailhead into the forest, across open fields, through the garden, and back again, Forest Schoolers return to the same places in new ways. Spaces that once felt wide and unknown begin to feel grounded and lived in—shaped by movement, memory, and experience.
Our Approach
At Elements Outdoors, our approach begins with the child.
We take the time to truly know each child—their pace, their strengths, their hesitations, and the way they naturally move through the world. With educators who are present, engaged, and responsive, children are supported in ways that feel both steady and empowering.
Our days are shaped by a simple rhythm: explore, build skills, and create. Within that rhythm, children are given space to try, to problem-solve, to lead, and to grow.
The land plays an essential role in this process. Forest, field, and garden are not just backdrops—they are active participants. They offer challenge, invite curiosity, and create endless opportunities for discovery.
This approach creates something that cannot be rushed or replicated indoors—a sense of belonging. And from that place, confidence, resilience, and connection begin to take root.
Outdoors Club Layout
A rhythm built to grow with children, season by season.
Outdoors Club is guided by a simple, intentional structure that allows children to move, explore, and grow in a way that feels both supported and expansive.
Each day follows a steady rhythm—one that children come to recognize and rely on. Within that rhythm, there is room for curiosity to lead, for challenges to emerge, and for confidence to build over time.
At the heart of Outdoors Club is a three-part flow:
Explore · Skill · Create
Explore
We begin by stepping into the land.
Children move through forest, field, and stream—observing, wondering, testing, and noticing what is changing around them. This is where curiosity is sparked and questions begin.
Skill Building
From there, we slow down and go deeper.
Children are introduced to practical, hands-on skills connected to the season and environment—fire building, tool use, navigation, cooking, shelter building, and more. Skills are practiced, repeated, and strengthened over time.
Create / Project
Learning comes to life through doing.
Children build, design, and create using what they’ve explored and practiced—whether that’s constructing, crafting, problem-solving, or working together on shared challenges.
NEST ™ Framework
How the month unfolds
Each month follows a natural progression using our NEST ™ framework—guiding how children engage with the land and their learning over time with a different focus week to week.
N — Notice
Awareness · Curiosity · Observation
Children begin by slowing down and paying attention to the land. Observing seasonal changes, explore their surroundings, and start to ask questions about what they see, hear, and feel.
E — Engage
Movement · Exploration · Participation
Children step more fully into the environment. Through games, challenges, and active exploration, they test ideas, try new things, and interact more deeply with the land.
S — Strengthen
Practice · Skill-Building · Confidence
Skills are introduced and practiced with intention. Children build confidence as they develop practical outdoor skills and begin to take more ownership in their learning and discovering what they are capable of.
T — Together
Connection · Collaboration · Shared Experience
Learning comes together through shared experiences. Children collaborate, create, and reflect as a group—building relationships with each other and a stronger sense of belonging within the community.
Rooted in Relationship
At every stage, our approach remains grounded in connection.
Children build relationships with the land as they return to familiar spaces that begin to feel known. They build relationships with each other through shared experiences, challenges, and accomplishments. And most importantly, they build a stronger relationship with themselves—gaining confidence in what they can do and who they are becoming.
What NEST ™ Does
The NEST ™ framework allows growth to happen naturally.
Children are not rushed. They are not pulled from one activity to the next. Instead, they are given the time, space, and guidance to fully engage, to try, to adjust, and to succeed.
Over time, this leads to something deeper than participation—
it leads to capability, resilience, and a true sense of belonging.
Who is Outdoors Club for?
Ages: 4–13 years old
Schedule: Wednesdays | 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Location: 2529 Freeman Rd, Sydenham
Format: Drop-off Program
Season: September – June
Outdoors Club is for children who are ready to move, explore, and experience the world beyond four walls.
It’s for kids who are curious about how things work, who like to build, test, and try again. Kids who enjoy being outside in all seasons—climbing, creating, getting messy, and figuring things out as they go.
It’s also for children who may need more space—space to move their bodies, take healthy risks, and grow their confidence in a setting that meets them where they are.
Whether your child is naturally adventurous or still finding their footing, Outdoors Club supports each child in developing independence, resilience, and a strong sense of self.
Register Today
Registration Opens April 1, 2026 for September 2026 programming. All sign ups will be placed onto our waitlist. Registrants will be notified by June 1,2026 about acceptance into programs.