A purpose-built space where students learn by doing — together, outdoors, every week.
The Wentworth Outdoor Classroom will give students a dedicated, year-round space to explore ideas, build skills, and collaborate through meaningful, hands-on learning. Designed to support experiential education across disciplines, this space builds on the outdoor learning already thriving at Wentworth — and takes it further.
Learning Without Limits
At Wentworth, experiential learning is thriving.
The Wentworth Outdoor Classroom will offer students a dedicated environment to explore ideas, build skills, and collaborate through hands-on learning across disciplines. Purpose-designed for year-round use, this space will make learning beyond the classroom more intentional and impactful.
Every student — from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 7 — will engage in STEM, design thinking, land-based learning, and collaborative projects in a setting built specifically for real-world exploration, strengthening the learning already happening at our school.
Why now?
Students and teachers are already embracing outdoor learning, but they are limited by improvised spaces — picnic tables, benches, and forested areas — that cannot support tools, technology, or larger projects. The Outdoor Classroom will expand what students can create, test, build, and explore by providing a space designed specifically for collaboration, instruction, and hands-on innovation.
The new Outdoor Classroom will become a visible landmark of Collingwood’s commitment to experiential learning.
With tiered seating, weather protection with skylights, power access for STEM and digital tools, and natural finishes that reflect the surrounding environment, this space will serve as a central, purpose-built home for hands-on learning at Wentworth.
Students will build, test, perform, present, and explore in a space designed to support deeper thinking, collaboration, and creativity.
Future-Ready Design
Built for today — designed for the future
Current Space
From rooted beginnings to purpose-built learning
Wentworth students and teachers have long extended learning outdoors using spaces they have adapted themselves.
Beside the Grade 6/7 Science Wing, a student-built workspace has become a hub for building, fabricating, and testing ideas. Nearby, the forest has served as a gathering place for land-based learning and outdoor education.
These spaces reflect creativity, initiative, and a strong desire to learn by doing — but they were never designed to support sustained, complex instruction.
The Outdoor Classroom builds on these beginnings by providing a permanent, well-equipped environment where students can take ideas further, collaborate more deeply, and work with the tools and technology their learning now demands.
Every Student, Every Week
Belonging, wellbeing, and daily discovery
The Outdoor Classroom will be part of the daily rhythm of Wentworth life.
Every student from JK–Grade 7 will use the space for formal learning. In addition, Grades 6–7 students will gather here at recess and lunch, making it a shared home base that supports connection, wellbeing, and a strong sense of belonging.
Dedicated Home For:
- Land-Based Learning & Outdoor Education
- A meeting and reflection point for exploration, stewardship, and cultural learning
- STEM & ADST
- Design thinking, prototyping, building, testing, and invention
- Grade 6–7 Community Hub
- A daily gathering space that supports connection and wellbeing
Extended Space For:
- Humanities
- Fine & Performing Arts
- Physical & Health Education
- Unbounded learning modules
This is not simply a facility — it is an investment in how students learn, connect, and grow every day. Projects like the Wentworth Outdoor Classroom often begin with leadership support from members of the Collingwood community who are passionate about advancing teaching and learning.
Voices From our Community
What students and educators are saying:
Student Voice
“Instead of just sitting at picnic tables, we’ll get to do our coolest classes — like Design & Tech and Unbounded — in a space that’s actually built for it.”
— Wentworth Grade 7 Student
Leadership Perspective
“This is not simply a place to gather outdoors. It’s a purposeful learning environment that expands what’s possible for our students.”
— Marc Young, Junior School Principal
Thanks to philanthropic support from members of the Collingwood community, plans for the Wentworth Outdoor Classroom are moving forward.
Project Cost: $530,000
Target Completion: Summer 2026 (ready for students in September)
This project is fully funded through philanthropy. Gifts support the construction of the space, durable materials, and program-enhancing features. Families who are interested in supporting experiential learning initiatives like this one are welcome to learn more below.
Recognition & Naming
Ways to Give
Families may choose the approach that best fits their plans:
- Credit card or UnionPay
- Cheque to Collingwood School Foundation
- Wire / Electronic Funds Transfer
- Gifts of securities
- Pledges payable over time
Our Advancement team is pleased to work with families and advisors to create a giving plan that feels right.
Thank you for considering an investment in a space that will shape how Wentworth students learn, connect, and discover — every day.
To request more information, talk to our Advancement team:
604-925-3331 extension 1182