The parents of the HPEDSB Adventure Class Program students need your help!

Purpose of the petition: STOP THE CLOSURE OF THE PROGRAM, MOVE IT TO A NEW LOCATION and EXPAND the Adventure Class to provide opportunities for more families to join.

What is the Adventure Class? The Adventure Class is a public school program currently in its 37th year, which provides opportunities for children in grades 1 through 6 to learn together, outdoors. Right now the program consists of two multigrade classrooms. The first class is a Primary mix of grades one, two, and three. The second class is a Junior mix of grades four, five, and six. This type of pedagogical programming is unique within the HPEDSB and provides the students with opportunities to develop leadership skills, collaborate, and enhance their problem solving and communication skills. This program focuses heavily on exploratory (hands-on) inquiry-based learning, outdoor education, and developing community relationships.

Each child's family is welcomed to get involved in a variety of possible ways, promoting a sense of belonging, wellness, and connectedness. Families come together to support the unique programming through different fundraising and outreach opportunities. The Adventure Class provides enriched learning for students to fully get engaged in their learning and build a familiarity and respect for where they live as well as where they go to school.

After thirty years, the program has grown and changed to a more inclusive model and enrolment is based on a blind lottery draw depending on available space. It is open to any family in HPEDSB, is at no cost to the family or the taxpayer and is in high demand - with waitlists for both classes occurring each year.

The Hastings Prince Edward District School Board previously notified the community that the program is being cancelled and space at the new school has not been allocated for the Adventure Class Program. The board had promised the Program would receive an unbiased evaluation but it has not yet been moved forward.

As of right now, the Adventure Class Program has nowhere to go for the 2023/24 school year and is scheduled to be closed.

SAVING this program is up to everyone - parents, educators, and community members. We need to show the school board how valuable experiential, outdoor, hands-on, multi-grade, community-involved learning is.

Show your support of the Adventure Class Program by adding your name! Please sign the petition and help spread the word!