School Visits

Join us for a fun nature-based learning adventure with your students!

Based in the heart of Toronto’s ravine system at Evergreen Brick Works, our Visiting Schools Program uses natural, ecological, and physical architecture to connect school kids, grades K – 12, to nature, get them active, and cultivate their ecological literacy.

Our school visits program runs from October – June, Tuesdays – Fridays. *

*Wednesdays are reserved for large groups of more than 40 students and cannot be booked through our online booking system. Please email us at school@evergreen.ca if you wish to book a large group for a Wednesday.

For more details, download the Teacher’s Guide and see FAQs below.

“

In the words of our kids: ‘Best trip ever!’ ‘Can we come back?’ ‘When?’

”

Teacher, Regent Park

Duke of York Public School

Program Offerings

Seasonal & Specialty

*New* Creating our Climate Future (Grades 7-9): This new program aims to build students’ understanding of climate change while deepening their connection to the natural world. Students will explore Evergreen Brick Works’ green buildings, novel technologies, and groundbreaking landscape design to convey lessons about climate change solutions. The program will also highlight career paths that connect to addressing climate change. Together, these elements equip and empower students with tools to understand and address climate change. They will see possibility in the face of the crisis and feel inspired to contribute to solutions.

Nature Play (Grades 1-8): Join us to experience a day of outdoor fun, the Evergreen way! Students will engage in active, place-based games and get a chance to explore the wild side of the Evergreen Brick Works using all their senses. A natural palette of loose parts will inspire child-led play while our facilitators connect and ground students to the land beneath their feet in our award-winning Children’s Garden.

The Fire Challenge (Grades 4-8): Learn the basics of safe fire building in preparation for an exciting team-building-based challenge. Groups will work together to light a fire that burns strong enough to ignite a suspended rope in this classic twist on a camp favourite! Participants will also play active fire-themed games and tell stories around the fire.

Fire & Ice (Grades 2 and up): Join us for an unforgettable winter experience that will engage even the most reluctant winter participants. The day will include skating on our sustainably cooled ice rink with basic lessons and alternative activities for any non-skaters. We’ll also cozy up to a bonfire accompanied by storytelling and participate in hands-on activities. Skating equipment is available (small groups only). Students are encouraged to bring their own skates and helmets. Extra warm clothing available. Heated floors and indoor spaces are available for warming breaks.

Winter Wilds (Grades 1-8): Embrace the magic of wintertime with memorable activities that celebrate the snow and ice alongside warming fires and active seasonal games. We’ll track animal footprints, dive into winter-based nature play, construct weatherproof shelters and more! Extra warm clothing and indoor warm-up spaces are available throughout the program day.

Kindergarten

Urban Animal Adventures: Children are naturally curious about the animals that inhabit the world around them. Through stories, guided exploration and free play, students will learn about the different animals that fly, hop, burrow, and swim at Evergreen Brick Works. Students will make connections between what they see at Evergreen Brick Works and what they find in their communities.

Grade One

The Living City: This program introduces students to Toronto’s surprising abundance of living things—fox, deer, coyote, rabbit, and a host of birds, insects and plants—and how they all need food, water and shelter. Students will explore the natural community around them and learn about how seasons impact living things. We will explore what living things provide for one another and build animal homes.

Grade Two

Water, Water Everywhere: Water is a central feature of communities around the world, and Toronto’s relationship with water is a perfect example. Students will discover the local aquatic ecosystems of Mud Creek and the Evergreen Ponds, home to diverse plants and animals at Evergreen Brick Works.

Take a Walk on the Wild Side: Students will explore the landscape through the eyes of the local animals. By engaging all of their senses, students will track the animals and learn about their interesting characteristics and behaviours. Through games, stories and habitat-building, students will learn about the importance of protecting the land for generations to come.

Grade Three

Earth Shelters: Children are builders by nature. In this program, they will use natural materials to create shelters that mimic the architecture of plants and animals. Working in groups, students will explore how different building techniques can affect the strength and stability of structures.

Grade Four

Our Home and Habitat: This is a wide-ranging exploration of the hills and dales of Toronto’s unique ravine landscape. The ravines of Toronto play host to an amazing diversity of wildlife, and students will learn where and how these creatures live together in the same space with enough food, water and shelter. In a sustainable city, physical and human geography are in harmony, and the connection between people and place is strong and vibrant.

Geology Rocks: Evergreen Brick Works sits on the floodplain of the Don River, where there was once an industrial quarry the size of the Rogers Centre. The quarry excavated clay and shale to make the bricks that built this city; this process of digging exposed half a billion years of geological time and is an epic tale of nature’s history. Students will explore how the geological landscape evolved naturally and through human interventions.

Grade Five

Stealing Fire: Energy begins with the sun. This energy flows through the green leaves and needles of the plant kingdom into the metabolism of animals, including humans. Unlike other animals, human beings learned to make fires – a form of energy that keeps us warm, helps us prepare food and lifts our spirits. In this program, students will have the opportunity to build their own fires and explore how energy is transferred and transformed in the environment.

Grade Six

The Web of Life: The mosaic of wetland, forest and meadow at the Evergreen Brick Works represents some of the most biologically diverse habitats in the city, home to a myriad of species, from deer and beaver to coyotes, hawks and snapping turtles. In this program, students will learn about the astonishing biodiversity of the ravine’s ecosystems and the characteristics of the species that live there. They will build models of ecosystems and explore the connections within and across ecosystems.

Grade Seven

Wild in the City: With its rivers, forests and dramatic geography, Toronto’s ravine system defines the city’s landscape. Students will get a close-up look at the ravine system that cuts through the Brick Works and learn about the plants and animals that inhabit this ecosystem and how human actions impact them. Students will learn about ecosystem dynamics and create models to better understand the interactions between living things that take place in our city.

Grade Eight

Exploring our Watershed: Evergreen Brick Works is located in the heart of the Don Valley watershed. Students will have the opportunity to explore the site and adjacent park for signs of watershed management and discover strategies used to mitigate pollution and human impact. Students will get creative and experiment with different ways to protect our watershed.

High School

*Available on Tuesdays only* Indigenous Land Connections (Grades 10-12, max. 30 students): Join us on an exploration of Evergreen Brick Works guided by Indigenous Seasonal Teachings. Teaching and programming will reflect the changing seasons and the plants that grow and thrive throughout the landscape at different times of the year. During the growing season, we’ll get our hands dirty exploring urban agriculture and traditional gardening techniques. During the colder months, we’ll look at our relationship with the land through bushcrafting skills, including firemaking and tracking. Through this program, we’ll discover how the nature all around us can heal and nourish our minds and bodies.

Nature Connections (Grades 9-12): Join us for an exciting, experiential teambuilding program focused on collaboration, problem solving, and leadership development. Set against a backdrop of sustainable green design, youth will participate in group games, nature connection, wellness, and mindfulness activities. Working together to overcome exciting real-world challenges, students will build resilience and develop empathy for each other and the natural world.

Pricing

Evergreen conducts an annual review of our program pricing models to reflect current material, staffing, and administrative costs. This ensures we can maintain our commitment to delivering meaningful, high-quality outdoor education experiences and reflects our commitment to serving as many students from equity deserving communities as possible. We make every effort to keep any increases to a minimum.

For high school programs (Gr. 9-12), there is an additional tax of 13% (HST) in addition to the rate listed below.

Prices are subject to change. Educators and parent volunteers attend programs free of charge. Prices do not include transportation to and from Evergreen Brick Works, as transportation is the responsibility of the school that is booking the program.

Specialty Programs

Within the detailed rate information below, you will find higher costs associated with
select specialized programs. These costs reflect the additional materials,
maintenance, preparation, and training required to deliver them.

Custom Programs

The range in rates for customized programs corresponds to the level of customization requested. Please reach out to us directly at school@evergreen.ca if you would like to request a customized program (e.g., modifications to include an additional activity or specific curriculum connections). We always do our best to work with you to accommodate your request but cannot guarantee that all requests will be possible. When customization is possible, we will provide a detailed quote.

Type of funding	Program type	Price per student	Minimum fee
Publicly Funded Schools	Standard	$20	$200 (equivalent to 10 students)
Publicly Funded Schools	Specialty: Fire and Ice (Skating)	$30	$300 (equivalent to 10 students)
Publicly Funded Schools	Specialty: Fire Challenge, Stealing Fire	$25	$250 (equivalent to 10 students)
Publicly Funded Schools	Specialty: Geology Rocks	$25	$250 (equivalent to 10 students)
Publicly Funded Schools	Specialty: Indigenous Land Connections, Team Building	$25	$250 (equivalent to 10 students)
Publicly Funded Schools	Custom	$25 - $40	$250-400 (equivalent to 10 students)
Privately Funded Schools	Standard	$40	$400 (equivalent to 10 students)
Privately Funded Schools	Specialty: Fire and Ice (Skating)	$50	$500 (equivalent to 10 students)
Privately Funded Schools	Specialty: Fire Challenge, Stealing Fire	$45	$450 (equivalent to 10 students)
Privately Funded Schools	Specialty: Geology Rocks	$45	$450 (equivalent to 10 students)
Privately Funded Schools	Specialty: Indigenous Land Connections, Team Building	$45	$450 (equivalent to 10 students)
Privately Funded Schools	Custom	$45 - $60	$450-600 (equivalent to 10 students)

Bursary programs

Eligible public schools can receive a fully subsidized program. If you wish to be considered for a fully subsidized program, please read the “Qualifying for a fully subsidized program” section below and complete the eligibility criteria section of the registration form.

Please note that transportation to and from Evergreen Brick Works is not covered by
Evergreen.

TDSB Schools:

Public elementary schools that rank in the Top 300 of the TDSB Learning Opportunities Index (TDSB LOI), or model schools, qualify for a bursary program. High schools that rank within the top 30 schools on the TDSB LOI may also qualify.

TCDSB Schools:

Your school’s eligibility will be assessed based on the TDSB Learning Opportunities Index (TDSB LOI) ranking of the nearest TDSB school. We recognize that the socioeconomics (median-income, level of education, etc.) of a neighbourhood can vary greatly across space. Therefore, we will also ask you to provide any supporting information during your application that demonstrates your school’s need. Please complete the eligibility criteria section of the registration form if you would like to be considered for a bursary program.

“

I think the realization for the kids and myself that the city has a hidden gem, just walking distance from the subway, is simply incredible.

”

Teacher

Lord Dufferin School

FAQ

Have more questions?

If you have questions about the program, please contact us at school@evergreen.ca or 289-904-2226.

How many adult supervisors can accompany my class on the trip?

In addition to teachers, we welcome parent/guardian volunteers on visits to Evergreen Brick Works. While we don’t charge admission for parent/guardian volunteers, we allow a maximum of 1 adult (teachers and parent/guardian volunteers) per 10 students. Please send us an email at school@evergreen.ca if you require an exception.

What time do programs start and end? How do I get to and from the site?

When registering through our online booking system, please indicate the time you would like to begin and end your program. Please note, we recommend a visit of at least 4 hours in duration to allow enough time to complete all the program components.

Please select your preferred arrival time from the following options:

9:30AM arrival at Castle Frank Subway Station – For classes traveling via subway, Evergreen facilitators will meet you at Castle Frank Subway Station and facilitate the hike to Evergreen Brick Works as part of the program. This hike takes about 45 minutes (2.5 km) and is not recommended for students under Grade 2. Please note that this route goes through the forest and may be snowy and icy in wintertime. If you feel these conditions may pose a challenge for your students, we recommend organizing transportation directly to Evergreen Brick Works.
OR
10:00AM arrival at Evergreen Brick Works (550 Bayview Avenue) – For classes travelling via school bus, other form of private transportation, or the TTC 28 Bayview South Bus, please meet us by the Central Parking Lot outside Picnic Café (see the Site Map under Programming Spaces).

Please select your preferred departure time from the following options:

1:30PM from Evergreen Brick Works – For classes that need to get back to school early! You may depart via school bus, other form of private transportation, TTC bus, or via self-guided walk to Castle Frank Subway Station.
OR
2:30PM from Evergreen Brick Works – For classes that want a slightly longer day at Evergreen Brick Works! You may depart via school bus, other form of private transportation, TTC bus, or via self-guided walk to Castle Frank Subway Station.

Please reach out to school@evergreen.ca if you would like to request a different departure time.

How many students can participate in a program?

The maximum number of students we can accommodate per program slot is 40. If you have 40 or fewer students in your group, please register via our online booking system, Checkfront.

Wednesdays are reserved for large groups of up to 80 students. If you have a group with more than 40 students, please send us an email at school@evergreen.ca.We will do our best to accommodate larger groups where our staff and space capacity allow for it but cannot guarantee that we will be able to accommodate large groups beyond the Wednesday slot.

What does a typical day at Evergreen Brick Works look like?

The specifics of your day at the Brick Works will depend on the program you select, however there are some key components that most programs will include.

The following is an example of a typical day at Evergreen Brick Works:

10:00AM Arrival and opening circle
10:30AM Nature hike with program-specific curriculum connections
11:30AM Lunch and free time in Evergreen’s award-winning Children’s Garden
12:30PM Program-specific activity (e.g., loose parts habitat build, skating, fire-building)
1:30PM Closing circle
2:00PM Departure

Please note:

Additional activities may occur throughout the day depending on program and timing, including curriculum connected games and storytelling.
This schedule may be flipped so that the nature hike takes place in the afternoon and the program specific activity in the morning
Throughout the day, your class may be split into smaller groups of 10-15 students during hikes or activities
The specific schedule of your day is subject to change as a result of the season, weather and/or other factors.

What are the payment, cancellation and refund policies?

PAYMENT POLICY:
Full program payment is due no later than 7 days prior to the program’s start date. Payments made less than 7 days prior to the program’s start date are subject to a $50 late fee. Schools will be invoiced based on the number of students indicated on the booking form. Refunds will not be issued if fewer students attend than are indicated on the booking form.

CANCELLATION POLICY:
Cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to school@evergreen.ca. Cancellation requests received within 14 days of the program’s start date will be subject to a $100 administrative fee ($50 for bursary programs). Cancellation requests received within 48 hours of the program’s start time will be charged in full. No-shows will be charged in full.

Evergreen’s school programs run rain or shine. Any cancellations made by clients or Evergreen due to significant inclement weather events including flooding and/or other unforeseen circumstances will receive a refund of any payments, less the administrative fees outlined above. Programs cancelled due to significant inclement weather events but rescheduled for a later date within the same school year will have the administrative fees waived.

REFUND POLICY:
Cancellations made more than 14 days prior to the program’s start date will receive a full refund. Cancellations made within 14 days of the program’s start date will receive a refund of any payments, less the administrative fees outlined in the Cancellation Policy. Cancellations made within 48 hours of the program’s start time will not receive a refund.