Health board helps Pictou County students explore nature

Funds from a regional health board are helping provide one-of-a-kind outdoor experiences for African Nova Scotian students in Pictou County. 

The Central and East Pictou Community Health Board provided $3,000 this year to the Pictou County Forest School to expand its three-week outdoor excursions for students. 

Scott Ross is the school’s founder. He says the nature immersion program for junior high students is transformational. 

"Leading canoe and hiking expeditions for 10 summers showed me firsthand the impact of taking kids into nature. Nothing has ever compared to watching them unplug from technology, break free from helicopter parenting, and truly focus on themselves. It was amazing," Scott says. 

African Nova Scotian students from New Glasgow Academy (NGA) dove into outdoor learning this year, crafting canoe paddles, building shelters and exploring nature firsthand. After welcoming Grade 7 students in September, the program geared-up to host Grade 8s this spring – with even more days planned in the months ahead. 

"We hadn’t done a great job attracting African Nova Scotian students before, so we reached out for support. With help, we built a new program at NGA, where students designed and crafted their own canoe paddles from raw wood. Then, they got to use them on the water, so, it was a full-circle experience that was incredible to witness." 

 The community health board funding covers the cost of refreshments, snacks and the cost of supplies and Scott’s teaching time. 

Along with the canoes and shelters, students learned about plants, tracking and more skills akin with the great outdoors. 

“The health board’s been fantastic and generous,” Scott says. “They’ve helped us get off the ground.” 

A bonafide nature enthusiast, three-week-long canoeing excursions were normal for Scott. Life evolved and, after getting into teaching and having a family, he sought to get kids outside with summer camps and was overwhelmed by the demand. 

“Schools started requesting classes and field trips and we naturally found the right size for Pictou County. Instead of expanding endlessly, I wanted to focus on making the program better and more inclusive, more impactful,” Scott explains. 

During the last week of instruction, students get to enjoy their newly crafted paddles while navigating canoes on a river near the Pictou County Forest School, in Meadowville. More than a dozen students participate at any given time. 

“It’s the highlight of my year,” Scott says. “It’s just hugely impactful to these kids and they were an amazing group of kids.” 

The paddles serve as a keepsake and reminder of good times. 

“I kept the paddles for a couple of weeks to put a finish on them and then I delivered them to the school,” Scott says. 

“As an organization we try to help kids build confidence, resiliency and overcome obstacles. We provide these little challenges in the outdoors; it connects them to nature and encourages them to protect our planet. Plus, we’re doing this for kids who may not be able to afford the program.” 

Scott hopes to expand the excursions to include a stewardship award incentive for participants, promote public trail enhancements, wildlife conservation and, at schools, energy-saving projects.