by Michael Hugall
A new alternative learning program is aiming to get kids out of the classroom. The Birchbark Discovery Centre is a community-based alternative education program for students in Grades 1 to 4.
Twelve to 15 students will be chosen to participate in the program, which will be taught out of Mildred Hall School
The Yellowknife Education District No. 1 board is partnering with the NWT Montessori Society to provide the three-year pilot program.
The launch of the Birchbark Discovery Centre comes after a number of parents showed interest in having their children learn in an outdoor classroom, said Yk1 student support services co-ordinator Courtney Lizotte.
The the program is built around five guiding principles, she said, which gives students the opportunity to choose what kind of subjects they would like to study.
"Students are more motivated to learn when they are the ones asking questions," said Lizotte. "The curriculum is based around choice, students will be choosing how they want to learn."
Students are encouraged to be creative, innovative and to take risks, she said, and learning is done through a reciprocal partnership between teachers and their pupils.
The program is being taught by Brendan Callas, who has years of teaching experience. Born and raised in Yellowknife, Callas was chosen for the position based on his engaging and exciting approach to education, said Lizotte.
"Overall he is a fantastic teacher and anyone would be lucky to have him," she said.
Some residents are excited Yk1 has introduced the concept of "self-directed" learning for students.
Yellowknife resident Maureen Van Overliew has applied to send her daughter, who is beginning Grade 1, to learn at the
discovery centre.
"The Birchbark Discovery Centre is really going to tap into my daughters curiosity while learning the subject matter," she said. "The biggest component which intrigued us about the discovery centre is how self-directed learning will correspond to the curriculum being taught."
She added the discovery centre coincides with her family's view on education.