Outdoor education – as old as mankind, yet as a formal learning situation it is a relatively recent vintage.

  The idea of an outdoor science program in Muskoka originated with Joe Kennedy, the Regional Director of Education located in North Bay, in 1967. A year later the North Muskoka Outdoor School was established co-operatively by the school boards of Chaffey, Huntsville, Brunel, Stisted, Stephenson and Sinclair Townships. Robert Houston, a teacher from Huntsville High School was assigned the task of organizing the pilot project that was officially introduced in September 1968.

  The newly created MBE incorporated the new outdoor education school into the system, and by March, 1969, a plan was accepted to expand the program to all of Muskoka’s schools. The financial allotment was doubled, a bold move that trustee Peter Murray noted, “would be returned to the board tenfold in terms of benefit to the children” – a prophetic statement indeed!

  Over the years, the MOED successfully survived many attempts to be axed as a cost-saving measure by the board, but in the final analysis the inherent value of the program and its excellent instructors won out, and continued to function throughout the life of the MBE --- and beyond!

  Those who worked with the MOED as a teacher, student or parent will recall the co-ordinators of the program as well as the support staff members, each of whom had special skills and knowledge to offer: Aubrey May 1969-1975; Bill McCrindle 1969-1970; John Purchase 1970-1979; Doug Cunnington 1975-1981; George Anderson 1981 to the present day; Ned Teachman 1981-1982; Judy Bernier (later Kirkwood) 1983 to the present day; Patti English 1993 January- August as maternity leave for Judy; Kelly Anger 1996 January-August as maternity leave for Judy.

A brief review of some of the highlights of the MOED follows, arranged in chronological order.

1969 – The Watson property beside the Muskoka Pioneer Village was purchased.

1970 – Some students were attending the Ontario Forest Ranger Technical School near Dorset.

1971 – Certification workshops for teachers who wanted to improve their competencies in swimming, first aid, canoeing, etc.

1973 – The Ministry of Natural Resources offer the W. J. Yearley property at the hamlet of Yearley northwest of Huntsville.

1974 – The maple syrup operation near High Falls was established with assistance of the MNR.

1979 – A portable classroom was moved onto the Yearley site to help with accommodation.

1981 – Two more portables are added to the Yearley site for use as dormitory space and a kitchen/dining room.

-- the maple syrup program was conducted by grade six students at V. K. Greer School.

1984 – The annual program “booking session” was tried in June and was found to be successful.

-- All grade six students began to attend the Yearley Outdoor Education Centre for a three day/two night visit.

-- The Canoe Safety Program was designed for any group planning a canoe trip.

-- Tree seedling/planting program in conjunction with the MNR.

-- Grade five maple syrup program set up at the Muskoka Pioneer Village.

-- The Watson property was sold to the Town of Huntsville.

1985 – Grade six students receive a half day of canoeing in a board-wide program.

1986 – The organization officially became the Muskoka Outdoor Education Department.

1987 – The MOED began to assist V.K.Greer maple syrup program, dropping their own at Muskoka Pioneer Village – a year later it was limited to grade three only.

1988 – The grade 10 Aquatic Program was started.

1989 – All grade 11 and 12 PE students receive recreational canoeing basic level training.

1994 – A ‘Students at Risk” program for junior/intermediate students was begun as a “pilot project.”

1996 – The retiring Consultant (John Duncan) was not replaced.

1997 – The MOED survived to the end of the Muskoka Board of Education’s life.

I am indebted to John Duncan for the majority of the above material that he willingly made available for this series. Thank you for being a special part of Educating Muskoka District.