Fleming College

Peterborough ON – (October 29, 2020) – Fleming College’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) students invite children and families to learn, share, and explore the outdoors through the 2020 Children’s Program Project, in conjunction with the Pathway Project. 

The Children’s Program Project will be hosted virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. ECE student groups will partner with families to participate virtually in the Pathway Project, a program that fosters a relationship between children and nature.  

The program is designed for children between one (walking) and six years of age along with their families/caregivers. ECE students, children and families will participate in a weekly outdoor play experience or “forest study” separately before connecting virtually for an hour-long play, think and learn session as students develop their “forest pedagogy.”  

The Children’s Program Project begins the first week of November and runs until mid-December 2020, with an in-person Open House to introduce students, children, families, and faculty during the week of November 2, 2020. For more information or to register, families are invited to contact FlemingECE@flemingcollege.ca. 

The 2020 Children’s Program Project is an opportunity for second-year ECE students to apply their knowledge and skills as they build community and alliances with families. Thinking together about children’s learning and creating pedagogical documentation will support ECE students to deepen their understanding of education in the early years, and the complexities of how children learn and make meaning of their world. 

Throughout the Project, faculty guide students to consider current research and approaches that support children’s learning, holistic development and well-being. Students will think deeply about children’s questions and curiosity, as they explore alongside children and families. By exploring with the Pathway Project, children and families will be invited to engage in and explore outdoor spaces and environments.  

The Ministry of Education’s How Does Learning Happen?, Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years (2014), and the College of Early Childhood Educators Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice (2017) will be used as guiding documents for this project. Each child’s learning will be documented in conjunction with the thinking and learning shared between families and students.  

About Fleming College
Fleming College respectfully acknowledges that we are situated on Michi Saagiig Anishinaabeg lands and territory. Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 100 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Sciences, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing  Education. Fleming College has more than 6,800 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and 75,000 alumni. 

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Media, for more information please contact:

Marilyn Strain
Manager, Digital Marketing & Creative Services
marilyn.strain@flemingcollege.ca

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