Back To School With Shaw Fest

This year the administration had given me the task of teaching seventh graders. I was a bit worried about the new assignment, and I was a little concerned about how I’d keep these pre-teens focused. I figured that having them outdoors, or on a field trip as often as I could would be a good remedy for their attention spans – not put them to sleep. Eyes light up when the kids are told of what’s planned for the day, and the thought of not being tethered to a desk gives them a much needed jolt of excitement.

Toronto has plenty to offer: museums, the science centre, theatres, and plenty of community-based activities run by the city. I figured that a good romp outside of town would be a better experience, giving the kids a chance to see a change of pace and different lifestyle.

A word to the wise, if you do plan on taking your kids out of the city, make sure the proper arrangements and forms have been made. Parents are weary of sending their kids out of their radius for the day, and the last thing you want to do is lose a child somewhere near Niagara Falls. Having a good group of parent volunteers is also key.

Our trip would consist of lunch in the village of Niagara-on-the-Lake, as well as a nature walk through the many parks in the area. The changing of the leaves is a beautiful thing to experience in the region, and my kid’s love being allowed to explore the park that sits in the middle of this beautiful historic village.

After the kids had their fun in the park, we shuttled them over to the Shaw Festival Theatre.