Register for the Tiffin Nature Program today!
Geared towards pre-K and children in kindergarten, our nature program will help your children gain knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the natural world and our amazing planet.
Tiffin Nature Program is hosted at the Tiffin Centre for Conservation, just 15 minutes outside of Barrie, Angus and Innisfil, and 25 minutes from New Tecumseth.
Children can attend Tiffin Nature Programming once a week, on a half day/whole day basis.
This program focuses on child-led, open-ended and play based learning. Children learn about risky play, and develop a better understanding of their relationship with the land.
Fees
Tuesday Half Day Program (9:30 am - 12:30 pm): $132.60 per child
Thursday Half Day Program (9:30 am - 12:30 pm): $132.60 per child
Thursday Full Day Program (9:30 am - 3:30 pm) : $255.00 per child
Parents have the option to stay for the half day program. The full day program is drop off only. Each program will have 1 educators for 6 children.
We are now offering trial classes:
Parents and children are able to attend any session that works for their schedule, pending program staff availability.
Full Day Program: $35.00 per child
Half Day Program: $20.00 per child
Registration
Please register through a computer
Registration is currently not available for mobile devices. Please register on a desktop or laptop using Google Chrome. Also, please enable pop-ups. Click here for more information about enabling popups
If you are having trouble registering, please email outdoored@nvca.on.ca with and we can help you complete the registration and payment.
Location
The Tiffin Nature Program is based out of the Tiffin Centre for Education. With 300 acres of forest to explore, the home base of the Tiffin Nature Program will be at the Forest Cabin, but depending on the children's interests, we will go to the Free Play Forest, Picnic Pavillion, explore in the trails and more!
Risky Play
We recognize that there is immense value in play that is exciting and challenging, which allows children to grow their skill sets and see themselves as capable people. There can be minor injuries with such play, however it is through these opportunities that children learn how to regulate themselves, assess risk, and learn their limitations.
Click here for more information about Tiffin Nature Programming
Schedule
There are six sessions available for registration:
Tuesdays 9:30 am - 12:30 pm (Ages 2.5 – 5)
Start Date | End Date |
September 20, 2022 | October 25, 2022 |
November 1, 2022 | December 6, 2022
|
March 28, 2023 | May 2, 2023 |
May 9, 2023 | June 13, 2023 |
Thursdays 9:30 am - 3:30 pm (Ages 3 - 6)
Start Date | End Date |
September 22, 2022 | October 27, 2022 |
November 3, 2022 | December 8, 2022 |
December 15, 2023 | February 2, 2023 |
February 9, 2023 | March 23, 2023 |
March 30, 2023 | May 4, 2023 |
May 11, 2023
| June 15, 2023
|
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the program structured?
There will be at least two educators running each program with as many as 14
children. All staff have completed their
Vulnerable Sector Check and CPR Level C
with First Aid.
At times we may have a volunteer and/or a
high school co-op student helping with the
program. Volunteers and co-op students do
not work unsupervised and volunteers over
the age of 18 have also completed their
Vulnerable Sector Check.
Children will not be further organized by
age within the group as children will be at
different developmental levels and we
would like them to feel comfortable with
the activities they chose. As we will be
running the program with 2 educators
working together, at times we can be in
close proximity with two activities. That
way, students at a different level or risk
threshold will have ample choice.
We are a strength-based program, in that,
we highlight what we all do well. Focusing
on deficits only focuses on the negative,
and our nature program focuses on the
positive. So, if children have challenges, we
will focus on what they do well, which will
help them develop a positive attitude about
themselves.
Risky Play
We recognize that there is immense value
in play that is exciting and challenging,
which allows children to grow their skill
sets and see themselves as capable people.
There can be minor injuries with such play,
however it is through these opportunities
that children learn how to regulate
themselves, assess risk, and learn their
limitations.
Risky activities will be introduced gradually,
by trained staff, when the time is
appropriate. These activities will be
supervised closely and can include slack
lines, small zip-line, climbing trees, making
fire with flint and steal, and working with
wood.
Tools for working with wood can include:
potato peelers, loppers, small hacksaws,
bow saws and sheath knives. All tools will
be kept in a safe location and returned
after their use.
Free Play Forest - The Hive
The Hive is a favorite place for our
youngest visitors as they can freely explore
the wonders of the forest.
Defined by a cedar rail fence, The Hive
offers a contained space for free play in
nature. As a build-it-yourself loose parts
playground, students transform The Hive
using child-size rails, logs and planks. It is
a place for imagination, exploration and
problem solving through open-ended play.
Food Policies
We do not provide food or drinks for
programs and due to the potential for a
life-threatening situation, we ask that
snacks and lunches do not include nuts.
We also ask that participants not share or
trade food.
Washrooms
While accidents can happen, we expect
that the children enrolled in this program
have already been toilet trained. There
are 2 outdoor washrooms available, which
are automated, heated and with running
water.
Refunds and Cancellation
Please note that the program may be
cancelled at any time due to Covid-19
restrictions. If programming is already
underway that day, there will not be a
refund for the day. If the cancellation
occurs the day before programming, or with
longer notice, a refund will be issued.
If your child misses a session, there won’t
be a refund.
If you need to cancel the full 6 week
session, we will retain 25% of the fee to
cover the admin costs, as long as 2 weeks
notice is given. This will allow us time to fill
the spot.
Label All Items
To help us get all your child's belongings
home at the end of the week, make sure
their names are on all personal items.
Leave Valuables at Home
Leave valuables at home. These have a
habit of falling out of pockets and getting
lost in the
woods! If
campers do
bring
valuables
we are not
responsible
for them.
Photographs and Video - Media Permission and Privacy
Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority considers your child’s privacy to be a serious
matter. All steps possible will be taken to protect your child’s privacy. During registration,
you will be asked to accept or decline our photo permission waiver. It states;
The Nottawasaga Conservation Authority will assume that permission is given for pictures and
video to be taken during any program or activity, to be used to promote conservation
education and/or recreation. As well, as part of our process to become an accredited Forest
and Nature School Program, we are required to create video documents of our journey learning
how to best guide your children.
If you are okay with both scenarios mentioned above, please accept and grant us permission.
If you are not okay with giving permission, we will respect your privacy when you do not click
on the accept and grant us permission.
If you would like more options, do not click to accept and upon completing registration you can use the more fulsome request with multiple options which is sent automatically.