Educational programs in nature – In June, Behind the Scenes of Outdoor Adventures

Behind the Scenes of Outdoor Adventures

Dear Families,

Behind every adventure the children experience, there are adults who are learning, collaborating, and getting involved.

When children build a fort, marvel at a flower, splash their friends during a water game, or explore a forest trail, everything seems to happen naturally.

Yet behind each of these moments lies a great deal of preparation, thought, and collaboration. Educators, camp counselors, families, and partners work together to ensure that children can have enriching, safe, and—above all—memorable experiences!

This month, I’d like to give you a little peek behind the scenes. You’ll see how summer camp counselors prepare to guide children in nature, how the educational teams continue to bring wonderful adventures to life at our centres, and how an entire community comes together around a shared goal: to provide children with an environment where they can grow, explore, and thrive.

I hope you enjoy reading this and have a wonderful summer filled with family adventures!

Mathieu Lambert
CPE Forest Project Coordinator and Outdoor Education Advisor, Carrefour francophone.

Before the adventures begin, there are those who prepare for them

Right now, summer camps are in session. Hundreds of children are out exploring trails, building forts, playing in the rain, or taking on new challenges outdoors.

But before all that, there are the camp counselors.

Once again this year, Érick and I had the pleasure of offering them a half-day of training to provide them with some tools that, we hope, will enable them to confidently support the children throughout the summer.

One topic that always sparks a lot of discussion is the difference between risk and danger.

Instinctively, we sometimes want to avoid all risk. Yet when a child climbs a tree trunk, crosses a small stream, or walks on uneven ground, they develop much more than just their motor skills. They learn to assess a situation, make decisions, discover their abilities, and sometimes even surprise themselves.

Our role, therefore, is not to prevent these experiences, but rather to remove genuine dangers and make way for challenges tailored to each child.

We also discussed several situations that camp counselors might encounter this summer: exploring a natural environment, reacting calmly when encountering a wild animal, or turning a walk into an adventure.

And as if the weather wanted to be part of the training, a light rain began to fall in the afternoon. Rather than going indoors, we continued our activities outside.

With a few spare parts, some branches, and plenty of imagination, the camp counselors set out to build shelters, create opportunities for play, and experience firsthand what the children will enjoy this summer.

Our favorite part of the day? Without a doubt, the little zip line set up in the woods! At that moment, we could see that a strong sense of group cohesion had developed. It was a lovely way to wrap up this training by reminding everyone that before we can help children have new experiences, we sometimes have to be willing to experience them ourselves.

This little moment actually sums up our vision of the outdoors quite well: learning together, encouraging one another, and daring to step gently outside our comfort zones.

The feedback we received confirmed that what we shared during this half-day session will be useful during summer camp. Several camp counselors told us they were leaving with a new perspective on the outdoors and on how to support children as they take calculated risks.

When Learning Comes to Life in Our Centres

Every visit to the centres reminds us that the most meaningful learning often comes from the simplest moments.

At Découverte des tout-petits, the beautiful June weather provided the perfect opportunity to reconnect with the children—now in kindergarten—for a big day of water play. For the youngest children, it was also a joyful occasion as they reunited with friends who had attended the centre just last year.

Beyond the splashing and bursts of laughter, this day reminds us of something important: the bonds formed in early childhood can last long after the children move on to school.

Lise Paquette, the centre’s supervisor, shares:

“Today, we had the chance to have a lot of fun with our kindergarten friends by participating in several water activities. It was also a great opportunity for our daycare friends to reconnect and have fun with their friends from last year. We had a wonderful time filled with laughter and fun!”

At Boréal des tout-petits, outings for infants are also continuing to grow in popularity.

Last month, I introduced you to the new stroller designed for infants. Today, I’m pleased to share with you some wonderful photos taken by Lynda Jones during an outing in nature.

Looking at the photos, one thing stands out: little ones don’t need to go far to have great adventures. Everything becomes a source of discovery when we’re willing to slow down with them. This is certainly one of the most beautiful lessons young children teach us.

A community that grows together

In addition to outdoor activities, June was also marked by two major gatherings of the Francophone community. The first was particularly symbolic.

June 17 marked the launch of the celebrations for the 75th anniversary of the Carrefour francophone! Throughout the year, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in various events that will allow you to discover—or rediscover—what has made, what makes, and what will make the Carrefour francophone de Sudbury.

For 75 years now, the Carrefour francophone has been bringing Francophones together around cultural, community, and educational projects. But what is the connection to the CPE-in-kind program?

In his speech, Stéphane Gauthier noted that the Carrefour francophone was born out of a desire to unify and bring together the Franco-Ontarian community. As I listened to him, I couldn’t help but draw a parallel with our work with children.

If we want children to grow up in a united and welcoming community, it also starts with the projects and programs we build together. Every day, we create opportunities to meet, collaborate, learn from one another, and grow together. Children, families, educators, program leaders, and partners are all part of this same community.

Ultimately, the great outdoors is much more than just an outdoor activity—it is also a wonderful way to build connections!

I invite you to take a look at some photos from this wonderful celebration.

Celebrating Our Francophone Community

A few days later, it was Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day’s turn to bring families together at Collège Boréal.

What a pleasure it was to see familiar faces, meet new ones, and chat with the many Francophone organizations in attendance.

The day was filled with a host of activities and performances, as well as the infectious energy of Pierre-André Muila, who got young and old alike dancing.

We also discovered a promising project led by Collège Boréal in partnership with the Conseil scolaire du Grand Nord: the creation of a new soccer stadium that will benefit the entire community!

These events remind us that children also grow by seeing adults celebrate their language, culture, and community.

Have a great summer, everyone!

Looking back on this past June, I realize that all these stories ultimately have one thing in common.

Whether it is training program leaders, supporting toddlers as they explore the world, celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Carrefour francophone, or sharing a moment together on Saint-Jean’s Day, it all starts with people who choose to share their knowledge, collaborate, and help children grow together.

That os exactly what we hope to continue fostering through the CPE en nature program.

Thank you to all the educational teams, families, partners, and volunteers who make these adventures possible! Thanks to your commitment, the children have daily experiences that nurture their curiosity, confidence, and love of nature.

I wish you all a wonderful summer, filled with discoveries, shared moments, and beautiful family memories.

See you soon!

Mathieu Lambert
CPE Forest Project Coordinator and Outdoor Education Advisor, Carrefour francophone.

Découvrez un FrancoFait chaque mois

FrancoFaits : des faits issus de la recherche sur le vocabulaire et la langue en contexte minoritaire, présentés par Chantal Mayer-Crittenden, orthophoniste et professeure à l’Université Laurentienne

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.