Our Mission
Parry Sound Forest School strives to provide a child-centred, inquiry-based experience where our learners can develop greater:
resilience,
perseverance,
communication and social skills,
the ability to navigate risk safely,
and to form personal connections to many facets of the Georgian Bay Biosphere.
Through this personal connection with nature, we strive to foster an ethic of care towards our local environment and ultimately towards living a more ecologically sustainable life.
Weekly programs are broken into 3 semesters - Fall, Winter & Spring. Each run one day a week throughout the school year.
Spring Programs
run from March 23 - June 19
Registration opens Friday, January 30, 8:00am
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Rangers
For children aged 10+, this program acts a a supplement to regular schooling or homeschooling. It offers challenging outdoor play and learning activities.
THURSDAYS
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Saplings
For children ages 6-12, this program acts as a supplement to regular schooling or homeschooling. It includes hikes and snowshoe adventures, camp fire skills, wild edibles, wood craft and more.
TUESDAYS
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Chickadees
For children ages 4-6. This program offers opportunities for the growth of so many skills!! Language, numeracy, gross and fine motor, socialization, self regulation, and so much more!
WEDNESDAYS
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Sprouts
This is a half-day introductory program to Forest School, for children ages 3.0+, geared to younger learners. If your child is not quite ready for a full day of Forest School, this program is for them!
WEDNESDAYS
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Forest Families
This program is designed for infants, young children and their caregivers or parents. It is an opportunity to spend time in the forest together with an experienced forest educator.
MONDAYS
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Forest Friends After School
Forest Friends offers your child after school care in the outdoors. Wood working, nature art, hiking, flashlight tag, campfires, knot tying, snowshoeing, sliding and so much more await.
EVERY AFTERNOON
Supplement classroom learning with hands-on outdoor experiences.
Offered in English and French
Upcoming Events
Animal Tracks & Sign Certification
by Cybertracker North America,
hosted by Parry Sound Forest School
February 28 - Mar 1, 2026
The Cybertracker Track and Sign Certification is an internationally applied, professional-level certification used to promote wildlife tracking and knowledge.
The Tracker Certifications emphasize practical tracking and the development of reliable field skills.
TWO SPOTS LEFT
Paddling Film Festival World Tour 2026
hosted by White Squall, in support of Parry Sound Forest School
Friday March 27, 2026
5:30 social hour
7:00 films
Bushcraft Skills Weekend
Saturday and Sunday,
May 2 -3, 2026
Join Alexis Burnett, seasoned Naturalist, Tracker and Nature Connection Mentor for two days of workshops designed for outdoor educators and other interested adults.
Workshops will include bushcraft skills involving working with rawhide to create a variety of projects (cordage, baskets, rattles), fire by friction (bowdrills), other cordage projects (making rope using natural materials) & bird language.
We gratefully thank donors who have donated to Parry Sound Forest School, giving children the gift of nature play and connection for healthy growth.
There are still many families hoping to access forest school with the help of donations. Please consider donating.
