The cold temperatures and occasional snow flurries didn't stop a group of preschoolers from hanging out at FortWhyte Alive on Monday.
In fact, the kids were happy to spend the day outside as they have every Monday for the last month and a half.
It's the weekly setting for their forest school - a day-long outdoor learning adventure -- offered by several preschools across Canada and now Seven Oaks Child Day care Centre in Winnipeg.
“They're having an opportunity to come out and explore and really they're just learning how to be in nature,” said Brigitte Insull from the centre.
There have been a few minor scrapes and falls. But teachers say the kids are coming away from each class -- stronger and more independent than they were before they started forest school.
"At the beginning they'd run, fall, and look to an adult for help. Now they run, fall and stand up and brush themselves off, and keep going. So as adults, we've had to stand back a little bit,” said Jody Watson, director of education with FortWhyte Alive.
The kids help each other succeed and direct their own learning, rather than the adults deciding what they should focus on.
"They're learning through their own experiences. Not because an adult has come here and said, Oh look - it's fall. Let's pick up some leaves. Here's some glue and a piece of paper, and you can glue,” said Insull.
And eventually, teachers hope it will all result in kids with a real connection to nature.
Forest schools aren't offered routinely by preschools in Winnipeg, but Seven Oaks Child Day Care Centre hopes that will change.
For more information and resources, visit: http://www.forestschoolcanada.ca/
