“The Outdoor Education Programme's experiential-driven philosophy provides opportunities to foster growth in learning by self-discovery, developing resilience and focusing on personal and community enrichment. With an established and dynamic curriculum, our students engage in a wide range of activities that take them on a journey through their Appleby career and beyond.”
Doug Stamper
Director, Outdoor Education
Teacher, Physical Education
The Power of Outdoor Education
Experiential Education
- Introduces and immerses students into a total experiential learning environment in the Canadian wilderness
- Beginning in Middle One (Grade 7), students participate in outdoor education trips
- Vital life skills are developed such as self-confidence, understanding relationships, personal growth, and a dedicated responsibility toward our local and global communities
- Students grow through supported challenges while completing canoeing expeditions and winter camping experiences
- Click here to view 2022-23 Outdoor Education dates
Academic Integration
- Middle One (Grade 7) students incorporate their experiential education experiences into Art, English and Indigenous culture
- Upper One (Grade 9) Science students perform a biodiversity comparison between Appleby's northern and main campuses
- Project-based learning built across grades and academic subjects
- Senior One Global Experiential Co-op credit links action research from global trips into Social Science courses
- Experiential education reflection at the core of Senior Two (Grade 12) students' Global Action Plans

Middle School
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Introduces and immerses students into a total experiential learning
environment in the Canadian wilderness and on Appleby’s Campus -
In Middle One (Grade 7) students experience outdoor education trips to locations such as Camp Kandalore
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In the spring, Middle Two (Grade 8) students participate in an outdoor education trip to Camp Pine Crest
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Vital life skills are developed such as self-confidence, understanding relationships, personal growth, and a dedicated responsibility toward our local and global communities
Upper School
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Upper One (Grade 9) students participate
in autumn outdoor education experiences
to learn wilderness navigation techniques,
develop an appreciation for the natural environment and build bonds in their advisor group -
Each winter Upper Two (Grade 10) students participate in a six-day trip to Appleby’s S. Bruce McLaughlin Northern Campus for winter camping and skills development
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Students receive instruction in a variety of wilderness skills, including snowshoeing, wilderness navigation with map and compass, outdoor cooking and camping skills
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Each group is assigned one Senior Two (Grade 12) and two Senior One (Grade 11) outdoor instructors
Senior School
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Senior Two (Grade 12) and Senior One (Grade 11) students
in the Outdoor Leadership classes participate and aid in guiding the Upper Two (Grade 10) winter trip -
Leadership team transfers knowledge and skills associated with the outdoors
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Outdoor instructors exemplify and promote co-operation, self-confidence, commitment, trust, responsibility and common sense
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Students travel by snowshoe, cook over open fires and spend two nights sleeping in a quinzhee, a snow-shelter they build themselves
S. Bruce McLaughlin Northern Campus
- In 1973 benefactor and parent Bruce McLaughlin made a gift to Appleby of Rabbitnose Island in Temagami, Ontario
- An 11-acre property in the heart of North Arm, Lake Temagami
- Core principles include training for leadership, an active reverence for nature and the environment, development of self-discipline, self-awareness and confidence, and growth of maturity and responsibility
Outdoor Education Facts
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