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MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre - Profile

Background

This Centre was named after William MacSkimming, who was the Director of Education for the Ottawa School Board at the time that the Centre was initiated in 1967. The MacSkimming Outdoor Centre is located in the east end of Ottawa on Hwy. 174.

The MacSkimming “outdoor classroom” consists of 420 acres, 254 acres of which is designated Migratory Bird Sanctuary. The property boasts waterfront and a small Island on the Ottawa River. The site comprises three excellent examples of ecosystems ideal for environmental-education purposes: river wetlands, forests, and open agricultural fields.

The MacSkimming Centre has 56 buildings spread across four Field Centres. The Pioneer Village includes an Inn (with washrooms and showers), an 1870's schoolhouse, a two-story log house for residential use, six sleeping cabins, a sugar shanty, and a stable. There are 4 main buildings at Forest Edge: a field centre with 2 classrooms, an outdoor classroom, and a small building occasionally used as overflow indoor space. A low-ropes course has been recently added near this site. There are barns, a chicken coop, an equipment trailer, a 2-story log office building, a classroom, and a machine shed at the Agricultural Area. The waterfront area consists of a large barn for canoe storage, several large docks, and a new outdoor classroom used for wetland education programming. Trail's End Field Centre boasts a recently renovated 2-level building with classroom and meeting space upstairs and sleeping accommodations in the lower level. Near-by is Osborne House, a small log building used for classroom space.

Evolution of the Centre

The MacSkimming Outdoor Centre opened in 1967 as a school within the Ottawa Public School Board, complete with a principal and teachers on staff. The centre provided agricultural, natural science, and environmental education programs.

Over time, the Centre's programs evolved and expanded to provide curriculum-based, experiential learning in science, geography, Canadian History, Leadership and outdoor skills for students across the Ottawa School Board and later the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. The Centre's programs are now open to other boards and schools, community groups and members of the public.

Since amalgamation of the Ottawa and Carleton Boards, the Centre has offered a wide range of programs and activities for students and community groups. Rental facilities at MacSkimming offer gathering space within a tranquil setting within close proximity to the City core.

Types of programs offered

MacSkimming Outdoor Centre provides both curriculum based and adventure programs for students and community groups. Centre staff strives to provide quality, safe, progressive hands-on learning experiences in the natural surroundings.

The Centre is fortunate in having an extraordinarily diverse site, including waterfront property, agricultural fields, pine plantations and upland forests. Students at all levels may participate in on-site study of any or all ecological systems found in the outdoor classroom. Some examples of ecology-based programs are Into the Woods, Predator/Prey, Wetland Studies, and Soil Studies.

Application of theory is an important component of Wayfinding and Orienteering, where students learn about map reading and are provided with a safe, supervised experience in applying these skills.

Group Dynamics Workshops and Challenge Valley Low Ropes programs focus on nurturing leadership skills and self-awareness.

Outdoor Skills currently include canoeing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and survival skills. Canadian History teaches students about earlier times through the Fur Trader or Life in Early Canada programs held in the Pioneer Village.

All MacSkimming programs are designed to:

• complement and extend Ontario curriculum

• immerse participants in nature's outdoor classroom through direct experience

• promote an appreciation and understanding of basic ecological processes

• nurture understanding, respect and appreciation for self and others

• stress the basic attitudes necessary for safe, progressive outdoor experiences throughout all seasons.

The Centre has provided learning opportunities in other ways as well. International students and teachers have visited the Centre. Student teachers from colleges and universities often spend extended time at MacSkimming, developing and delivering programs. Coop students at the secondary level and Katimavik participants have served as visiting staff at the Centre, learning about the field of environmental education.

Community adult and family programs have recently included birding, cross-country skiing, canoeing, wild plants, nature photography, survival skills, astronomy, orienteering, furniture making, and snowshoeing.

Personnel

The Centre employs four full-time instructors, one full-time office assistant, one Supervisor of Maintenance, two custodians and a shared full-time Coordinator. The Centre Coordinator reports to the Principal of Continuing Education.

email inquiries? please contact us at: outdooredcentres@ocdsb.ca