Metro Vancouver Fieldschool

Wednesdays: Park-to-Park Rangers

Every Wednesday, a new park, a new adventure.

Designed for ages 4–7 & 8–11, this early-learners & primary-ages program treats Metro Vancouver as a living outdoor classroom. Each week, the group explores a new park, trail, beach, or green space and learns how to move through the city with curiosity and confidence. So kids practice real-life skills, reading simple maps, navigating transit safely, spotting landmarks, taking care of their gear, staying aware, and making sound decisions together.

Every park becomes a lab for trying new things, biking, slacklining, parkour, frisbee, disc golf, geocaching, stream and wildlife investigations, simple science and STEM experiments, seasonal ecology, and just good old-fashioned outdoor play. The aim is to spark a sense of belonging outside and learning through play.

How will my kid progress from now to June? 

⮕ The city becomes familiar territory, and the kids start to see themselves as capable young explorers.

⮕ The "world outside" becomes safer, more exciting and full of wonder than the "world of screens" setting them up for long-term success and healthy practices in their life. 

⮕ They build foundational skills that easily translate to outdoor adventure, from our North Vancouver Fridays to our monthly weekend camping trips (yes, we welcome younger learners who are ready). 

Thursdays: The Art of... Something

Every Thursday, exploring self-expression through the lens of community, movement and adventure

The Art of... the Art of... if you could place any word at the end of those three dots, what would you add?

How about the Art of Motion... self-expression through parkour, of course. The Art of Craftsmanship? Yes, we'll be meeting with a carpenter, and yes, we'll be building a go-kart. The Art of... Frogs? Ok, that sounds a little more Fieldschool.

Designed for learners who benefit from more novelty, movement, more time outside, smaller social environments and different ways to express themselves. Rather than rushing between activities, we keep the day intentionally simple. Fewer transitions. Longer experiences. More time to play, create, move and connect.

• • Create — art, building, photography, design, music and hands-on projects
  • Move — walking, biking, parkour, games and outdoor challenges
  • Connect — exploring our community, developing friendships and learning how we fit into the world around us

Yes, we do actual fine arts as well (the Art of Art, I guess) with Zohar at her fabulous studio, Intuitive Art Beat. But The Art of Something is about moving our bodies, expressing ourselves and connecting with our community, where creativity is the lens we look through.

How will my kid progress from now to June? 

⮕ “I am creative” becomes part of their vocabulary; creativity becomes something they recognize in themselves, not just something that belongs to “artistic” people.

⮕ They get more comfortable trying new things, developing curiosity, persistence and a healthier relationship with mistakes.

⮕ They build a bigger toolkit for regulation — learning how movement, creativity, time outside and connection can help them reset.

⮕ They become more confident navigating the community — getting comfortable in new places, meeting new people and engaging with the world beyond Fieldschool.

⮕ They are ready for a bigger canvas — taking the confidence, regulation, friendships and independence developed on Thursdays into longer, more adventurous Fieldschool experiences, including our Friday–Sunday Extension adventures.

North Vancouver Fridays

Every Friday, get outside. Hike, bike, paddle, snowshoe, ski and beyond. Build the confidence to go further.

Fridays are our most traditional outdoor Fieldschool day. Learners spend the day exploring the forests, mountains, trails and shorelines of the North Shore. The formula is intentionally simple: lots of movement, lots of time outside, and a group of kids learning to become more capable together.

Learners hike, bike, explore trails, play outdoors and develop practical skills in navigation, weather preparedness, risk awareness, gear management and looking after themselves and one another outside. The adventure begins before we reach the trailhead. Travelling together by SeaBus gives us a regular rhythm for planning, navigation, observation and conversation. 

Friday Fieldschool is also a natural stepping stone toward our Fieldschool Extension overnight trips. Throughout the year, learners gradually develop the physical stamina, outdoor skills, independence, friendships and confidence that make camping and multi-day adventures possible.

For some learners, simply discovering that the outdoors can be a place where they feel capable, connected and successful is a pretty big adventure in itself.

How will my kid progress from now to June?

⮕ Go farther! Gradually building the stamina for longer hikes, rides, paddles and full days outside.

⮕ Be comfortable —and ready— outside! Developing practical skills in navigation, weather, layering, hydration, trail etiquette and basic outdoor safety.

⮕ Be part of a team! Moving from simply keeping up to encouraging others, communicating, helping and contributing to group decisions.

⮕ Join the Fieldschool Extension overnight program! Join our monthly weekend camping trips and earn the Duke of Edinburgh's Award (13+)

Watch: What is Fieldschool?

Featuring Liam Barnes, Director of VOS

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