THUNDER BAY – Kingsway Park Public School students got out of their classrooms for a taste of the outdoors.
Kingsway Park Public School students spent their Friday recognizing National Hunting, Trapping and Fishing Heritage Day, with a variety of activities to give students a demonstration of popular outdoors pastimes.
Grade 5 student Morgan Barenz said it was better than a typical school day.
“We’re learning different stuff and learning about the country,” she said.
Kingsway principal Darren Lentz said the day of activities adds to other initiatives at the school, which includes their outdoor classroom and an academy program focused on the outdoors and environmental education.
“It’s recognizing the many different opportunities kids have to get outside in the country of Canada, and specifically within the Thunder Bay region,” Lentz said.
“Building a relationship with our environment and the outdoors is so important. We teach it in class, we teach it in our curriculum and to give them different avenues and to meet so many different community organizations that get an opportunity to spend time in the outdoors, recreate and be safe out there as well, is really important.”
The school invited representatives from the Sportsman’s Alliance, Ministry of Natural Resources and the Thunder Bay Trappers’ Association to host information booths. The school also had Thunder Bay Police Service officers teaching archery in the gymnasium.
Grade 5 student Abigail Cashman said the archery was her personal highlight.
“I think it just helps to learn about different types of cultures and what people do,” she said.
Lentz said the outdoors day is always well received.
“Students love it. They love the activities. They love the variety of different things. There’s something for every student here and that’s the beauty of having so many different people come and support us,” Lentz said.
