Place-based learning uses the local environment and community as the starting point for teaching the objectives of the curriculum. We will provide resources and create opportunities for cross-curricular learning on the land while fostering relationships between school and community. Teachers are expected and supported to take more learning outdoors for all the health and learning benefits that come with spending time outside and in nature. Examples of this work include:
- Investment in equipment for outdoor activities and learning
- Ensuring all students have access to clothing, and footwear for outdoor activities
- Participation in the year-long Take Me Outside For Learning Challenge
- Support for educator participation in learning opportunities to build capacity for outdoor learning (Cariboo-Chilcotin Teachers Association workshops and network, Environmental Education Provincial Specialist Association (EEPSA) partnerships, Open Learning Store webinars, Outdoor Council of Canada certification, other)
- Interactive digital map of place-based learning sites, resources, and opportunities
- Relationships with community educators, organizations, and facilities to bring community educators into the classroom and students out into community settings
- Independent Directed Study (IDS) framework to honour community and cultural learning with graduation program credits
Explore the ways we are LEARNING BETTER TOGETHER in, on, with, and from the Cariboo-Chilcotin School District land and communities:
Outdoor Overnight at Scout Island
Cataline Elementary
Ms. Riley’s Grade 5/6 class spent the night at Scout Island (on the roof) after a full day of outdoor learning. Students took part in lessons about mammals and reptiles/amphibians, played lots of outdoor games, and spent time journaling.
Growing Season at Cataline
Cataline Elementary
It began in doors during the late winter months and is now transitioning outside now that spring is upon us. Cataline teachers and students have been actively participating in various gardening activities, from Mrs.
Spring Outdoor Learning
Cataline Elementary
Spring is here, and with that comes more opportunities for outside learning. Cataline teachers and students continue to take learning outdoors, from planting flowers and creating beautiful works of art, to examining new signs of life and observing the little critters that roam our local school
Outdoor Classroom
Cataline Elementary
With the snow and ice finally off the ground, Cataline teachers and students are taking advantage of our outside classroom. Teachers are leading lessons outdoors. Students bundle up, prepare for the Spring weather conditions, and head outside, participating in regular instruction.
Hands On Science
Cataline Elementary
Students are continuing to engage in exciting hands-on science learning with BC Science in the Classrooms. From fascinating solutions to owl pellet dissections, these organized, teacher-led lessons are capturing the minds of our young scientists.
Winter Activities 2026!
Cataline Elementary
Students returned to the start of the new year - 2026 - to a fresh falling of snow. Teachers used this opportunity to get outside and participate in winter activities.
Scientist in Schools
Cataline Elementary
Cataline teachers have partnered up with BC Scientist in Schools, a hands-on science STEM program where students explore various themes connected to the curriculum, engaged through exploration and manipulation.
Finger Photo Frames
Cataline Elementary
Grade 1 students headed outdoors during a beautiful day. They participated in art time outside where the students made photo frames with their fingers to focus their drawing. Then they were to try to draw as many details as they could on a clip-board, focusing on their surroundings.
First Snow Snowmen
Cataline Elementary
Mrs. Sache's grade 1 students were the first students to explore and play in the untouched "first snow" of the school year. The students ventured out onto the playground first thing in the morning to explore the properties of snow and talked about why it sometimes works to build snowmen and not
Take Me Outside for Learning Week
Cataline Elementary
During the week of October 20-24, Cataline teachers took learning outdoors! Teachers took their students outside to participate in targeted and intentional learning that was embedded into or extended their classroom instruction.
TMOFL Challenge - October 22, 2025
Cataline Elementary
Cataline teachers took learning outside! October 22, 2025 was Take Me Outside For Learning Day, and Cataline classes braved the strong winds and cooler weather to head outside for various learning activities.
Autumn Scout Island Adventures
Cataline Elementary
Ms. LeBourdais and Mrs. Hopkins grade 1/2 classes went to Scout Island this past week. Students got to go on a nature walk and look at how the plants and animals are changing and getting ready for winter.
CCSD Educators Participate in Classrooms 2 Communities Conference
Cataline Elementary
Educators from across the school district participated in professional learning through the Classrooms 2 Communities (C2C) conference. The keynote featured a presentation from Monique Grey Smith and then a number of choices for break out rooms.
Math in the Outdoors
Cataline Elementary
For Take Me Outside day, Ms Riley’s Gr 5/6 class took multi digit multiplication outside. Students went on a scavenger hunt looking for challenges hidden amongst our school grounds.
Building Communities
Cataline Elementary
Ms. LeBourdais class has been learning about needs and wants in our community during Social Studies. To wrap up the unit students built a community out of recycled cardboard. Parts of the building had to be things our community needs, and things our community wants.
Welcome Back to a New School Year
Cataline Elementary
On Tuesday, Sept. 2, Cataline Elementary School welcomed back new and returning staff, as well as school district staff, to the first day of the 2025-2026 school year with a morning of connection, inspiration and hope.
Staff Learning at the Dairy Fields
Cataline Elementary
Cataline staff attended the Dairy Fields on our first day back at school to learn from archeologist Wesley from Sugarcane Archeology. Wesley shared some history of the land as well as Williams Lake, noting some historical sites and events between settlers in search of gold and the local indigenous
Grade 4 Gavin Lake
Cataline Elementary
Cataline Elementary grade 4 students had the opportunity to pilot the new Grade 4 Gavin Lake Educational Spring Program. Cataline had the privilege of sending two groups of grade 4 students to experience the overnight learning adventure, participating in wall climbing, camping, and lichen modules.
Scout Island
Cataline Elementary
Cataline has been an active participant at Scout Island, engaging in numerous outdoor place-based learning opportunities supported by the amazing staff Scout Island nature staff. Students have been learning about various ecosystems, habitats, invasive species, and local plants and animals.
Dairy Fields Adventures
Cataline Elementary
Many classes from Cataline Elementary are taking advantage of our own local backyard ecosystems. Classes are regularly setting off towards our community Dairy Fields where students explore season changes, habitats and various ecosystems.
Buddy Time at the Dairy Fields
Cataline Elementary
Mr. Armstrong's class weekly attends the Dairy Fields to participate in place based science and literacy learning. Bi-weekly, they bring their little buddies along to explore the dairy fields. We are lucky to be so close to an amazing place!
Fitness Friday Goes Outside
Cataline Elementary
Students at Cataline participate in circuit PE classes on Fridays. As the weather has warmed, we’ve been able to move circuits outside. Stations stay up during recess and lunch, giving students a chance to practice their slack line, badminton, and ladder ball skills among others!
Mystery Science
Cataline Elementary
Teachers at Cataline are enriching their science program using Mystery Science lessons and activities to help support their classroom programming. Students are actively engaged in fun and exciting place-based activities that help students challenge their inquires and explore and analyze their
All It Takes Is Some Extra Wood
Cataline Elementary
Cataline students were introduced to a kind gesture from a community neighbour when they arrived at school on morning. Noticing Cataline students love to make forts in the school forest, a friendly neighbour donated some spare, cleaned wood pieces for our students to use to support their creativity
Cold Weather Training at Scout Island
Cataline Elementary
Scout Island educator Mr. Kruus leads Ms. Riley’s class in learning about cold weather exposure and how to react. Students learned how to ‘burrito’ a hypothermic person and carry them to safety. Students, as always, also enjoyed exploring the nature house and playing man tracker on the island.
Poops and Prints!
Cataline Elementary
Ms. Mary Forbes spent the week presenting to students about animal poop and prints local to the Cariboo. Even though the weather was cold, students were still able to engage with place based learning through Mary’s excellent hands on examples. Thanks for the visit, Mary!
Moving (Outside) in the Right Direction
Cataline Elementary
While participating in the Take Me Outside for Learning challenge, Cataline teachers continued their commitment to place-based learning and getting outdoors. Students were actively doing activities taking to the outdoors or bringing the outdoors into the classroom.
Planting During the First Snow
Cataline Elementary
Mrs. Sache and Mrs. Ulrich kindergarten and grade 1 students went to work outside, getting their hands dirty in preparation for spring. Even though the snow was falling, and fingers were cold and noses wet, students had so much fun digging holes, getting dirty, and planting their bulbs.
Cataline TMOFL Week Challenge
Cataline Elementary
To expand on the Take Me Outside for Learning challenge, Cataline teachers were further challenged to get their classes outdoors for learning. Each day, teachers were encouraged to take learning outside using school and Take Me Outside resources.
Outdoor Investigations No Matter the Weather
Cataline Elementary
Mrs. Sache utilized Cataline’s outdoor learning structure to protect her students from the wet and cold weather to inspire outdoor curiosity. Students were able to sit and remain dry while exploring the properties of sunflowers and their seeds.
Cataline Goes Gleaning
Cataline Elementary
Mr. Wilson’s class took a trip today to Soda Creek Sweet Corn to participate in ‘gleaning’ (the process of collecting excess produce from farms to provide for those in need). The extra produce is donated to a variety of organizations and in part to the Williams Lake Food Bank.