Wolseley takes the Outdoor Challenge

Students and staff at Wolseley School took their learning to the great outdoors as part of a school-wide challenge.

The school was one of several in Winnipeg School Division that recently completed the Outdoor Challenge. Classes were held outside for an entire week in June, with students also enjoying outdoor sports, art projects and investigating nature.

“This is a full week of outdoor education. Our students get to explore what our neighbourhood has to offer, as well as what nature has to offer,” said Wolseley Principal Brian Rogowsky. “This also coincides with National Indigenous Peoples Day this week, so this has been a beautiful way to build community.”

Activities at Wolseley included daily exploration times, when students rotated through various recreation stations run by staff and parents. 

“Every day, we’ll meet on our school field and form a big circle. Our teachers will say what free activities they are doing that day, and we can decide to go to whatever one we want,” said student Charlie Reimer.

Some of the activities included a campfire songs station (where students sang along with a ukulele), juggling, plaster carving, gardening in the school’s peace gardens, scavenger hunts, a nutrition centre, relay games, bubbles and more.

“My favourite activity has been the scavenger hunt,” said student Taya Dukes. “There are letters hidden around the whole area and we have to find all of them. All of the letters will spell out a word.”

Charlie said her favourite exploration time activity was playing with Oobleck. Oobleck is made from one part water, one-and-a-half to two-parts corn starch and food colouring. The resulting mixture forms a non-Newtonian fluid that has the properties of both a liquid and a solid.

“When you try to squeeze or hit it, it feels like a solid, but if you stop squeezing it turns to liquid in your hand,” she said.

Perhaps the biggest challenge of the week was dealing with Manitoba’s unpredictable whether; Rain or shine, students met the challenge with sunscreen, rain gear and plenty of enthusiasm.

“The weather does present a bit of a challenge at times, for example yesterday we had downpours at certain points, but we’ve just adjusted and made it work,” Mr. Rogowsky said. “Of course if there were thunderstorms, we would go inside…safety first.”

Mr. Rogowsky added that the entire school staff, volunteers and parents made the outdoor week possible.

“Everyone has come together to plan this and make it work. It’s a passion of our school to use the outdoors as much as possible in our learning, and we do that throughout the year as well.”

For students who may be trying the Outdoor Challenge in the future, Taya had the following advice: “Bring sunscreen, wear a hat, bring lots of water and just have fun!”