Demonstrating our total commitment to experiential learning, we aim to bring the Primary Years Program to life by developing complementary learning opportunities beyond the classroom.

From a young age, our Junior School students participate in curriculum-driven field trips that encourage them to learn about the world around them and apply their knowledge in a variety of ways. 

Our Outdoor Education overnight trips exemplify our school’s motto “Experience Teaches”. Students in Grade 4 and 5 participate in an overnight outdoor education experience that will become a mainstay of their York School experience in the years to come.

Through these experiences, students learn about watersheds, lakes, biodiversity, ecosystems, sustainability, survival, stewardship, pollution and more. Students are able to be active in their research and are often asked to support their units of inquiry by collecting, analyzing and bringing materials back to the classroom to complete summative tasks. These interactive and immersive programs are designed to build community, enrich curricular content and help develop interpersonal skills – and they are always a highlight of the year. 

To complement our outdoor educational program, students of all ages take part in urban day trips to places such as: