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Elementary education runs wild in View Royal

Eagle View elementary school’s playground upgrades to naturescape area
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Eagle View elementary students Jenna Peterson

Students learn better and build stronger connections to both the outside world and each other when they have access to natural play and education environments, studies say.

In this spirit, Eagle View elementary, located in View Royal but a part of the Greater Victoria School District, is working towards “naturescaping” the school’s playground to offer students greater connection to the natural world.

The school has a wooded area which has been open to students for over a year now. The area is a hit with students.

“They love it,” said parent advisory committee, green committee chair Gillian Petrini. “The creativity and imaginative play is just amazing, so we just want to enhance that area.”

Part of the naturescaping project is to preserve the wooded area and improve it with wood chip trails, snake rail fencing and native species of plants.

The project is expected to further enhance student outdoor learning experiences, along with a lot of fun.

“Their imaginations just run wild,” Petrini said. “It just opens them up for endless possibilities and creativity.”

The first work party will start in on the project on Wednesday, May 22. The event is not open to the public, but will involved staff, students and parents from the school.

“The students are all a part of this, so there’s a big stewardship piece to this as well,” Petrini said. “It’s important … to connect children with the outdoors, and to preserve and protect this amazing natural play-space for the future.”

While the work party is closed to the public, project organizers are always interested in funding partnerships or donations.

For more information contact Petrini at gpetrini@shaw.ca.