Outdoor classrooms, cutting-edge technology, and experiential learning will help students connect profoundly with God’s creation.
This year at Nanaimo Christian School we're focusing on giving students more access to hands-on learning, especially outdoors. Our deep hope is that they “Look Up!” from phones/devices, explore God’s creation, and learn in meaningful real-world ways.
How outdoor learning makes a difference
"I have a very unique class this year that requires a lot of opportunities to move, be vocal, and learn in different ways. As a result, we have incorporated into our literacy and math blocks each day opportunities for students to work outside. Sometimes they go to the gazebo by the parent cottages to do things like build their words out of play-doh, other times they go to the forest to do things like write their words in the dirt with sticks.
"Students also go outside and play a math game to reinforce skills that they are learning with the added freedom of moving their bodies and not keeping their voices at a whisper level. Other times they do things like show numbers using sticks and rocks, or write equations with sidewalk chalk. Although we developed these ideas with some specific students in mind, all of the students in our class get the opportunity to do them, and all of them benefit!
"Being outside helps them to regulate their bodies and allows them to be more focused when they are in the classroom. It also helps them to explore how nature can be incorporated into our academic skills like writing and math. Although we added these regular outdoor activities out of necessity, now that I have seen the benefit of them, I don't think I would go back to our old way of doing these things."
-- Kim Kirkbride, Elementary Vice Principal & Teacher
Benefits of outdoor learning
Research on learning in nature has revealed several positive benefits: stress reduction, decreased anxiety, improved social connections, stronger connections to nature, enhanced learning outcomes, and engagement in indoor classes. (Source: UBC)
2024-25 annual giving campaign
Our school's 2024-25 annual giving campaign is centered on discovery—discovering God's unique and wonderful plan for each individual and His purpose for the world around us. We are dedicated to transforming our campus into an even more dynamic place of discovery, where learning comes to life with more hands-on opportunities. We plan to invest in outdoor classrooms, cutting-edge technology, and experiential learning opportunities that help our students connect profoundly with God’s creation. From expanding our school gardens and eco-learning spaces for younger students to significant investments in middle and high to do outdoor learning well, we aim to empower every student to explore, create, and investigate God’s sovereign world.
Read more about the giving campaign and what's needed.
Trusting for God’s provision
Over the past five years we’ve seen $600,000 in generous gifts from our community that have contributed to other similar initiatives – including a playground and the purchase of a 4-acre field across the street – that are part of our long-term campus plan to create more outdoor and hands-on opportunities for students. We are trusting in God’s provision once again now.
The goal: $80,000 by June 30, 2025
Please pray and consider giving. Your gift toward outdoor learning spaces, programs, and equipment (read more) will boost engagement in learning and transform kids’ mental and physical health. Your gifts are tax deductible as NCS is a registered charitable organization.
DONATE online or e-transfer to accounting@ncsnanaimo.com
(indicate "outdoor learning")
Did you know
As a level-one funded school, NCS receives 50% of the student grant given to local public schools. Tuition isn’t enough for what is needed. NCS relies on generous giving to cover some costs associated with programs, services building utilities, maintenance and facility upgrades.
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