Child and Youth Programs

Some of the best learning takes place outside the classroom.

There's nothing quite like the great outdoors. The Bonnenfant Y Outdoor Centre (BYOC) offers a wide variety of overnight or day programs for students of all ages. This includes high school classes and groups, university groups, sport teams, and community organizations. You may choose a pre-packaged program or you can design a program from the many options available to suit your group’s needs. Whether it's nature exploration, leadership education, or outdoor adventure programming, the BYOC will bring out the best in your students.

Our Outdoor Education program is designed to get kids active and learning outdoors with curriculum-guided programming. Our instructors are a combination of Ontario certified teachers, outdoor professionals, and university and college students who are passionate about outdoor education and experiential learning. Teachers can combine programming streams to achieve cross-curricular objectives while students can interact with their environment in ways that they can’t in a class room or school yard. With fresh air, open skies, and the natural environment, BYOC is an ideal place to learn and grow with friends.

School Programs

The Bonnenfant Outdoor Centre (BYOC) offers a wide variety of curriculum-driven, outdoor, and nature based programming to meet your needs. Whether it’s a grade one characteristics of living things unit or a high school science class, our experienced instructors and certified teachers will work with you to design and deliver a high-level supplemental school program that will educate and inspire.

We also have the ability to come and deliver an experiential style lesson or series of lessons at your school. Please contact the BYOC to discuss this opportunity further.

See a full list of school programs (PDF) offered at BYOC, and visit curriculum links (PDF) to find out how each of our programs relate to the Ontario Curriculum.

Youth Team Building and Leadership

This program option explores how groups develop and interact. Your one day or multi-day program consists of a series of fun, exciting and challenging activities that are designed to promote cooperation, communication, adaptation and trust. Groups meet both physical and intellectual challenges that are designed to stimulate an approach that values the abilities of each individual, but relies upon the interaction of the group for successful completion.

The activities take place both indoors and out, and provide opportunities for group members to:

• Solve problems as a group

• Get to know the unknown/unfamiliar strengths of oneself and others

• Communicate and adapt in unfamiliar situations and surroundings

• Rely on and trust one another in order to be successful in the challenges

• Resolve potential conflict positively and productively

• Test, confront and surpass perceived limitations

• Accomplish tasks that initially seem unachievable

The Instructor then takes the skills learned and applies these skills to "real life" situations back at work, school or on the rink, field or court. All activities are debriefed during a conversation facilitated by our trained program staff, but driven by your group members.

Customized Activities and Programs for your Group

A schedule will be created working with the Outdoor Centre Director to meet the specific goals and needs of your group. Click here (PDF) for a list of possible program options.

Challenge by Choice

During all activities, individual participants are in complete control of their own level of involvement. Although participants might be gently encouraged to challenge themselves, we do not believe in persuading participants. Those who choose to participate to a lesser extent will discover that there are many other roles to play, regardless of level of physical involvement.

Booking

If you're interested in booking our facility, please fill out our online booking form and we'll be in touch after reviewing your needs.

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Contact

For more information about where BYOC is located, and to get in touch with any additional questions, please contact us.

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