Understanding Our VISION, MISSION & VALUES

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.

Mission

Education rooted in nature to inspire in our students a deeper connection to the community around them.

Values

We believe children are competent, capable and rich in experience and understanding. We believe the parent is the child’s first and most influential teacher. We believe repeated experiences in nature with nurturing and trained educators, can support mental, physical, spiritual and social growth, the foundation of overall health and well-being and an ecological identity where children begin to see themselves as part of, rather than separate from the natural world around us.

Tuition Rates 2025 – 2026

FOREST FRIDAY

FOREST SATURDAY

Registration TBD – stay tuned!

PD DAYS

“Every single one of us matters, every single one of us has a role to play, and every single one of us makes a difference every single day.”

-Jane Goodall

Illness Policy

In the following cases, we ask that participants (including students, teachers, and accompanying volunteers) stay home from Greenbelt Academy for at least 24 hours after their last symptom has subsided:

• Temperature over 101 degrees F or 38.3 degrees C
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea (watery, profuse stools).

Should the above-mentioned situations arise while at school, the affected participants will be asked to return home. Participants affected by communicable diseases such as measles, chicken pox, mumps, flu, strep throat, viral pneumonia, conjunctivitis (pink-eye), etc. must stay home from Greenbelt Academy until their health care provider (i.e. naturopath, doctor, nurse, etc.) has communicated that it is safe for them to attend. Notes are not required.

Medication Policy

All medication must be labelled and be accompanied by a letter addressed to the camp director explaining administration. A follow up medication call will be made prior to camp. Campers must be able to administer medication with limited assistance. Once at camp, please give all medication directly to camp staff. If your child requires an EpiPen they must carry it on them at all times. Please note all medication information clearly on your registration form.

NOTE- please let staff know if your camper has had a change in medication or dosage over the summer, even if it is administered at home

Immunization Policy

We do not require students of Greenbelt Academy to be immunized to attend our programs. Please note that if an outbreak of a communicable disease occurs, any child who is not adequately immunized will not be able to attend care unless the child receives the required vaccine or until the outbreak is over. For more information about immunizations or immunization schedules please refer to: https://www.niagararegion.ca/health/vaccinations/default.aspx

Privacy Policy

Greenbelt Academy and Early Learning Centre takes the privacy of its clients and visitors seriously, and we have taken steps to protect it. Any personal data shared with us, including photographic images, will be processed strictly in accordance with the privacy legislation and will be used for the purposes that you have consented to. We will not share details with third parties without consent, except where we are legally compelled or obligated to do so. For example, the school will exchange personal information with the Ontario Ministry of Education in order to assign, update and validate the Ontario Education Number and the personal information associated with them. The personal information collected from users will be protected by security safeguards that are appropriate to the sensitivity level of the information collected. Please note that where consent is given to share images on the internet, they can be viewed worldwide including countries where Canadian data protection law does not apply. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns about protecting the privacy of the information you provide. Parents are required to fill out a photo release form (in Child Information Form) prior to the start of our program. Any concerns about the collection, use or disclosure of personal information should be directed to a Director/owner.

Jaclyn, Tiffany, or Joelle can be reached by email at
greenbeltniagara@gmail.com or by phone at 905-931-0447.

Food Policy

Please note Greenbelt Academy is completely NUT FREE. Due to the prevalence of life-threatening nut allergies, we ask that participants refrain from bringing nuts to school. Soy and sunflower seed substitutes for nut butters are welcome.

Snack-Sharing

In addition, we ask that participants do not share or trade snacks, as this ensures the health, safety, and happiness of the community. *There may be times when a treat is brought in by staff or parents to share with the class. Staff will ensure that these meet the dietary restrictions of all campers*

Garbage-Less Lunches

We encourage participants to try to bring a garbage-less lunch. At the same time, we ask that parents/caregivers consider the size/weight/safety of the containers in which their child’s snacks are packed. At Greenbelt, we seek to empower even our youngest participants to carry their own snacks and water bottles on our adventures, which is totally possible with small containers.

Hand-Washing and Drinking Water

Participants will be asked to wash their hands with soap and water before eating at school, and after using the bathroom. When we are in the forest, wipes, sanitizer, and a handwashing station will be available. Children will be able to refill their water bottles on site.

Risky Play

Children in all of our programs have opportunities to participate in safe risky play. Teachers help students to assess and manage risks. Children are permitted to engage with their environment, and learn how to keep themselves safe. Children are encouraged to challenge themselves in their environment (ex. climbing trees, using tools) once they have shown the educator that they are at the development level to do so. Communication and reminders of self-preservation are discussed before every journey into the forest. For example, we have the rule that children “are permitted to climb up to twice their height” and “Stick safety rules say that you need to be able to hold a stick with both hands outstretched or the stick is too long to use for play”. These parameters are discussed and modified regularly, with input from the children, to ensure they are relevant and reflect the needs of our program.

A staff member in every program has a current CPR-C certification. We perform site safety checks to our home base and off-site locations daily, monthly, and seasonally to assess all risks and be proactive to prevent unnecessary incidents. Our goal is to keep your child safe, while giving them the freedom to explore and engage with their environment.

Serious Occurrence & Lock Down Protocol

Greenbelt Academy has written a serious occurrence and lock down protocol with which all educators and volunteers are trained to follow. A copy of the procedures, including emergency phone numbers, is carried by an educator/volunteer at all times in the emergency/first aid backpack.

As soon as an incident is recognized, a whistle will be blown 3 times. Educators, volunteers, and children, recognize this signal as a sign that an Incident has occurred and Serious Occurrence or Missing Child protocol needs to be put into effect.

The Director is immediately notified and educators are assigned to their role

Director: Establish the nature and extent of the incident through walkie-talkie contact, if required. The Director will attend to the incident (or assign a Lead Educator) and control team communication as required. The Director will determine if Serious Occurrence or Lock-down procedure are to be put into effect and ensure proper communication is maintained. The Director will contact emergency contact as soon as possible.

First Educator: Will be in charge of maintaining attendance and safety of children. Using the attendance list in the first aid backpack, they make sure all other members of the group are accounted for, safe, and adequately supervised.

Second Educator: Will be in charge of external communication. If required, they will call 911 or a third party (police/fire department) as directed by the Director or Lead Educator. This educator will also be sent to meet the first responders at the parking lot entrance and direct them to the site, if required. The Director/Lead Educator attending to the incident will accompany the ambulance to the receiving hospital, if required, and take with them any medical information available for the injured person. Once the Director/Lead Educator has left the site (to attend on the trip to hospital) an Educator will be assigned to take the lead role and check in and update other educators.

In the event of a Missing Child or an on-site threat, our lock-down procedure will take effect:

Lock-Down Procedure

As soon as a child is not accounted for or an external threat to children is recognized:

1. Director is notified by walkie-talkie of the incident.
2. Children are brought to a central predetermined location (inside if on-site, and the Church if at the forest) and accounted for.
3. Director directs staff to the next steps. If search is required, specific zones of the property (including all accessible locations) are assigned to begin the search. As sections are searched, Educators communicate with the Director via walkie/talkies. After the first sweep of the designated zones and the child is not found, the Director will then contact third parties (police/fire) for search assistance. Child’s guardian(s) will be contacted next, and as soon as possible.
4. Once the third party arrives, the incident becomes in their control. The Director then checks in with other educators to provide updates to the third party and offers to support them as needed.
5. The Director is responsible for communicating all details of the incident to ensure the Serious Occurrence paperwork is filed appropriately.

Behaviour Policy

We make every effort to create a space where students feel safe, and respected. If a child is behaving in a way that causes harm to themselves, others or disrespecting property, every effort will be made by our staff to work with the child and their guardian to create a supportive environment for them to succeed. Only after every effort has been made, and with consultation with guardians will the child be refused access to our programs.

As young children are learning prosocial skills we do our best to support them through this development while keeping all children in our programs feeling safe and welcomed. Children do not always display their best behaviour. They can be unkind and hurtful at times. As educators we are role models and a support system for the children in our program. We see the “whole child”, not just the incident. Our goal is that every child has the tools to regulate and recognize their emotions, and have the verbal skills and cues to advocate for themselves.

Please find our steps for family communication when an incident of aggression occurs:

1. If an aggressive incident occurs (hitting, kicking, biting, pushing that results in injury, or verbal aggression) the guardians of both (all) children involved will be notified either by phone if an injury has occurred or at pick up if we feel it is just to inform the family about what happened. Please note that educators regularly document incidents and observations from the classroom to look for any patterns and give us a better idea of how we can support each child.
2. A meeting is set with parents of the aggressor to gain any further information on how we can support their child in our program. A plan is made and we work with families to provide a positive outcome.
3. If a situation needs to be taken to the next level, which could include: a second meeting, a meeting with both families, an Individual Education Plan, or extra support for the child, families will be notified at that time.
4. Only in extreme circumstances, where the family will not work with us for a solution, or we cannot safely support the child in our program, will we consider the need to remove the child from our program.

Child Abuse Prevention and Reporting Procedure

Greenbelt Academy recognizes its responsibility to promote safe environments and practices to protect children and vulnerable persons. All of the staff, volunteers, students, parents, or visitors at Greenbelt Academy and Early Learning Centre are required to obtain a Vulnerable Sector Police Record Check before being left alone with any child (this includes working in small groups, taking them to the washroom, or any situation that would leave the person in question,in the care of children without another authorized staff member present). Our staff and volunteers are trained annually (and required to sign a document stating this training has occurred, which is kept in their file) to recognize the indicators of neglect and abuse and are legally required to report any suspicions that a child may require protection. The role of the child protection agency is to investigate and determine if there is any proof of abuse or neglect and Duty to Report is defined under section 72(1) of the Ontario Child and Family Services Act and sets out what must be reported to a child protection agency (e.g. Children’s Aid Society – CAS).

Definition of Abuse – Child abuse or child maltreatment is physical, sexual, and/or psychological maltreatment or neglect of a child or children, especially by a parent or a caregiver. Child abuse may include any act or failure to act by a parent or a caregiver that results in actual or potential harm to a child, and can occur in a child’s home, or in the organizations, schools or communities the child interacts with.

Duty to Report – Every person in Ontario is required under the Child and Family Services Act to report his/her belief that a child may be in need of protection: “A person who believes, on reasonable grounds, that a child is, or may be in need of protection shall forthwith report the belief and information, upon which it is based, to a society.” The legislation specifically requires individuals who perform professional or official duties with respect to children such as the “operator or employee of a day nursery” to report suspicions of child abuse. If in the course of their professional duties, the supervisor and/or staff of the centre have reasonable grounds to suspect that a child may have been abused, the suspicion, and the information upon which that suspicion is based, must be reported immediately to a Children’s Aid Society. A professional, who works with children, can be charged and fined for failing to report. It is the responsibility of the child protection agency to investigate and follow-up on the situation, as necessary. If a parent/guardian expressed concern that a child is being abused or neglected while in care, the parent will be advised by the employee to contact the local Children’s Aid Society (CAS) directly. Any concern or complaint made by a parent or visitor that suggests an allegation of abuse, will be reported to a local Children’s Aid Society by the employee who received the complaint.

Volunteer and Placement Student Policy

Placement students (hereafter known as students) and volunteers bring talents, skills, life experiences and resources to Greenbelt Academy and Early Learning Centre (GAELC). The centre is committed to student and volunteer participation in our programs. GAELC supports the education of future professionals in the early learning and care sector and family education through the provision of field placements in our programs. Volunteers provide additional support and value to our programs. Students and volunteers function under the direction of staff. They should never be left alone with a child and should never replace a staff member or caregiver. A Vulnerable Sector Clearance must be on file for every student and volunteer.

Anti‐Harassment and Nondiscrimination Policy

Greenbelt Academy and Early Centre is committed to providing an environment free of discrimination and harassment, where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, can contribute fully and have equal opportunities. Under the Ontario Human Rights Code, every person has the right to be free from harassment and discrimination. Harassment and discrimination will not be tolerated, condoned or ignored at Greenbelt Academy. If a claim of harassment or discrimination is proven, disciplinary measures will be applied, up to and including termination of employment.

Greenbelt Academy is committed to a comprehensive strategy to address harassment and discrimination, including:

• providing training and education to make sure everyone knows their rights and responsibilities
• regularly monitoring organizational systems for barriers relating to Code grounds
• providing an effective and fair complaints procedure
• promoting appropriate standards of conduct at all times. Grievance Policy At Greenbelt Academy we strive to provide an environment conducive to addressing families’ grievances or feedback in a constructive way.

Please talk directly with a program Director with any grievance you may have:
Tiffany Tierney
Joelle Kanakis
Jaclyn Giesbrecht
Email: greenbeltniagara@gmail.com
Phone: 905-931-0447

Safe Arrival & Dismissal Policy

Parents must give Greenbelt Academy written authorization for the people who may have access to their children (i.e. a relative who picks up the child, emergency contact in cases where parents cannot be reached). If written authorization is not possible, the parent must phone or email us to give authorization. Parents must notify the school before changing the usual pick-up routine. We always act in the best interest of the child if there is any confusion or uncertainty. Please see Greenbelt Academy’s Safe Arrival and Dismissal Policy: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Jfw-6OmVQOw_hCxGBAIMolRgExfee5Dx/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=102409420564325049345&rtpof=true&sd=true

Release of Children to a Person Who Appears Intoxicated/Impaired:

Staff will not release a child to a person who appears intoxicated or impaired. In such cases, staff will assist in making other pick-up arrangements (i.e., a spouse or other authorized person). Staff members are legally responsible for protecting the children in their care from any perceived risk.

Unauthorized Pick-up Procedure:

If someone other than a parent/authorized alternate pick-up person arrives to pick up a child and we haven’t been notified in advance by the authorized parent or pick-up person we will:

1. Call the guardian for verbal authorization.
2. If a guardian cannot be located to give verbal approval, the child is not allowed to leave the premises until a guardian has been contacted.
3. Greenbelt Staff will remain with the child until an authorized pick-up person arrives. (see our safe arrival and dismissal policy for more details.)

Custody and Access to Children:

According to the law, both parents of a child have equal access to a child and to the information about the child’s development, health and welfare. The only time a staff member can deny access of a parent to a child is when there is a written separation agreement or a legal court order. Greenbelt Academy requires a copy of this document.

Environmental Sustainability

Our mission is to provide education rooted in nature to inspire in our students a deeper connection to the community around them. This community includes the natural world, and our goal is that they build a relationship with the sites we visit, what lives there, how to take care of it and how to use the natural materials from the site sustainably.

We do many conservation activities in our programs, from planting pollinator gardens, litter clean ups, invasive species education, and so much more. We strive to be sustainable while at our main site by recycling and composting most of our consumed goods. We use recycled materials as much as possible when doing crafts, and share information about the importance of reducing waste regularly with our students.

Forest School programmes foster deep respect for the environment, and students retain their connection to nature for years after leaving Forest School, and many express a desire to seek employment in a land- based industry once they leave school.