Educational programs in nature – In September, discover the magic of compost!

What if it wasn't JUST waste?

Autumn is settling in, with its golden colors quickly sprinkling our surroundings and its generous harvests. The leaves on the ground remind us that everything in nature follows a cycle.

This month, let’s stay with the theme of nature and harvests by talking about composting. It is a simple but very important action.

It is a word that children are hearing more and more often. But what does it involve? Can a carrot peel really be transformed into rich, living soil?

In this newsletter, we invite you to get your hands dirty, or almost! You will discover three types of composting, their differences, their benefits, and also how they can become incredible educational tools.

We will also tell you about the Village des tout-petits early childhood centre in St-Charles, where children are currently discovering a surprising electric composter and whose garden is overflowing with vegetables.

Whether in a bin, a garden, or even a classroom, waste is useful and can become a learning opportunity.

Happy reading, everyone!

Mathieu Lambert
Daycare Forest Project Coordinator – outdoor pedagogical leader, Carrefour francophone.

Three types of compost, three different ways of transforming matter

Worm composting

As its name suggests, worms are found inside this composting system. They work tirelessly to transform organic matter into humus.

And what is humus? It is simply soil that comes from the decomposition of plants: black, living, fertile soil.

This process is slow, sometimes taking several weeks or even months, but it is also very educational: children can observe and feed the worms and discover their role in the soil.

Thanks to this method, they become aware of the cycle of life, learn how to adjust humidity, and have the chance to see this dark matter gradually, slowly appear.

It is a wonderful way to learn patience and develop respect for the natural balance.

Composting in bins

Next comes composting in bins, which are often found in gardens. Green waste such as peelings, leaves, and grass clippings are placed in these bins, as well as drier materials such as small pieces of cardboard, dead leaves, and branches.

Here again, children can participate in the process: they can add waste, mix it, and observe how it changes. The smells change, as do the colors. As with vermicomposting, this process gradually teaches them how nature balances things and how, over time, it creates fertile soil. And yes, it takes time: between 3 to 12 months!

It is also important to note that this type of composting is not necessarily suitable for all regions. In Sudbury, for example, the regular presence of bears in the city means we have to be vigilant. An outdoor compost bin filled with food scraps could unfortunately attract these curious visitors looking for an easy meal. This is therefore not a recommended option, especially near areas frequented by young children.

In urban areas or school settings, we often turn to other solutions that are safer and just as educational. This is the case with electric composting!

Electric composting

Let’s talk about electric composting, an amazing and incredibly effective solution. It is the one that the children at Village des tout-petits are discovering right now.

This small, discreet but ingenious device transforms food scraps into humus in just a few hours! Depending on the model, it takes between 2 to 8 hours for peelings, bread crusts, and vegetable scraps to be dehydrated and ground down into compost that can be reused in plants or gardens.

The most impressive thing is how fast the process is. While other methods require patience, here the results are almost immediate: the children can see the next day what has become of what they set aside.

But that is not all. Electric composting opens the door to many educational discussions, for example: on food waste, the transformation of matter, or the use of technology to benefit the environment.

It is also an excellent way to show that, even in urban areas or educational centres, it is possible to take concrete action to reduce our ecological footprint.

And since it works indoors, without odor and without the risk of attracting animals, it becomes an ideal choice for our local reality!

All these composts have one essential thing in common: they connect children (and adults!) to the cycle of life.

We do not throw away, we transform. We do not eliminate, we return to the earth.

What if these actions became habits from an early age?

No matter which method you choose, composting, whether slow or fast, offers children a unique opportunity to understand natural cycles. It reconnects them to the soil, to matter, and to the idea that what we think is finished can actually become the beginning of something else.

When compost also feeds reflection

What specific learning can composting support?
Think about areas such as language, math, scientific observation, motor skills, etc.

How much time do we allow for slow processes in our educational activities? How can we encourage children to value experiences that do not yield immediate results?

How do children perceive their connection with nature when they participate in eco-friendly activities?
What effects do you observe on their behavior, language, and initiatives?

Is food waste a topic we discuss with children? If so, how?
How could we reinforce these discussions in a way that is appropriate for their age?

We invite you to explore these questions with us in the next catalog.

Meanwhile, in the early childhood centres of the Carrefour francophone

Bean harvest underway!

The children at Carrefour des tout-petits are discovering the joy of picking the vegetables they have watched grow all summer long! Sown in the spring, these beans were planted, observed, and watered with care by the children. A real learning garden!

Sunflowers taller than they are!

At Boréal des tout-petits, children love seeing the giant flowers they planted a few months earlier. By taking care of their sunflowers, they learn that nature takes time to grow. These sunflowers not only beautify the space, they also feed the bees and insects in the neighborhood!

What if it all started with what we thought we had to throw away?

Through these simple actions, children discover much more than just what composting is.

They learn to slow down. To observe change. They discover that every action counts and that nature takes its time. That what we often call “waste” can become a source of life and learning. Just like recycling, which could also be explored with children.

In our early childhood centres, these discoveries are slowly becoming part of everyday life.

Thank you to all the educational teams who make this possible every day through their commitment, creativity, and sensitivity.

Let’s continue to plant these seeds—they have everything they need to grow!

See you soon,

Mathieu Lambert
Daycare Forest Project Coordinator – outdoor pedagogical leader, Carrefour francophone.

Le Carrefour francophone souhaite offrir ses remerciements

Nos partenaires de projet : PLAYLearnThink, Collège Boréal, Centre éducatif des Premières Nations, Métis et Inuit et la Pavillon Shkode (Cœur du feu);
nos partenaires de recherche : Centre d’innovation sociale pour l’enfant et la famille et notre bailleur de fonds : Emploi et Développement social Canada.