Member Directory
Greenbelt Academy and Early Learning Centre
Who we are:
We are a licensed Nature-based Preschool and Kindergarten program for children ages 18 months - 6 years. We offer a one day a week Forest Friday program as well as PD day camp and Summer Camp for children ages 4 - 10. We have been offering programs in Grimsby since 2017. We have been at our current location, 130 Main Street East, since September 2019.
Community Goal:
To be an influential part of the growing movement to connect children with nature and to educate the community about the benefits to not only the individual child, but to the community as a whole.
Mission:
Education rooted in nature to inspire in our students a deeper connection to the community around them.
Vision:
Every child is given the opportunity to learn about their world through daily access to extended time in nature. Quality educators facilitate an emergent curriculum that reflects the needs of the whole child and meets the demands of the world in which we live.
What we offer:
We are happy to announce that our preschool and kindergarten programs were accepted into CWELCC (Canada Wide Affordable Childcare); our involvement in this program means that our rates will continue to reduce to make our programs more affordable. This allows us to provide nature programming to more families in our community. We also accept subsidies through the Region for families on the lower socioeconomic scale. Contact us for more information 905-931-0447.
Licensed Preschool Program(s) Description:
Our preschool outdoor learning program provides children from ages 18 months - 2.5 years and 2.5 - 4 years with opportunities to engage with nature on a regular basis. Our full-day child-led, inquiry-based program will focus on developing social, physical, cognitive, creative, and emotional well-being while fostering a connection with the world around them. Our preschool program will prepare our students for Kindergarten, following a Forest School Curriculum as well as referencing the Ontario Kindergarten Curriculum. We offer small class sizes (1:5 and 1:8 ratios) which provides educators with the opportunity to connect with and build upon children’s learning in our enriched child-led environment.
Licensed Kindergarten Program:
Our days vary throughout the week with two afternoons (Mon/Wed) and one full day (Fri) immersed in Nature. During our time in the Forest, teacher-directed science workshops are offered, which are guided by place-based learning. Free play is an important aspect of our program and children are given time each day to explore and engage freely (in the Forest and at our home base). Throughout the week, teacher one-on-ones and mini-workshops including music & drama, foreign languages, geography, history, health & wellness, art, and S.T.E.A.M are offered. We regularly have experts from our community join us to share their skills and inspire us with new experiences. We value being connected to our community and encourage parent participation and volunteers to join us in our programs.
We also offer PA Day Camps & Summer Camps- Please visit our website for more information.
Why we started:
We recognized a need in our community for a program that fosters the child and nature connection and offer opportunities for regular, unstructured access to the outdoors. We, as Educators and advocates for nature and well-being, collaborated to create an environment that could support this connection and provide quality education that addresses the needs of the whole child.