Frigid weather snow problem As many schools hold recess indoors during extreme cold, this pre-school embraces winter By: Kevin Rollason Posted: 7:00 PM CST Monday, Jan. 28, 2019

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This article was published 27/01/2019 (2062 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It may be -19 C with a wind chill that makes it feel like -30, but at FortWhyte Alive a group of kids is outdoors embracing the cold and snow.

While many of us find such temperatures frightful, the 10 children enrolled in the organization’s Forest School find them delightful.

The kids, aged three to five, spend about three hours playing and learning outside, twice a week, from early January to mid-March.

On many days, while these kids are lying in the snow making snow angels, following animal tracks, or checking other places in the forest, their elementary, middle school, and high school peers may be stuck inside school because recess has been cancelled due to the cold.

Sarah Carson, a FortWhyte spokeswoman, said the children don’t just have fun in the cold weather, they acquire knowledge that will help when they are adults.

"They are great sports," Carson said on Monday. "They are very resilient. The program is for them to play outside. They all know they have to add layers of clothing, and when they get here, they are excited.

"They don’t have the same judgment we have as adults. We’re always so afraid as grownups to get out in weather like this, but for these kids, they just rocket out."

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Carson said during the four years the program has been running in winter, it has only closed twice. The first time was on a day when the snow was coming down and blowing so hard that they road to FortWhyte had to close.

Coincidentally, the second day is Tuesday, a day Environment Canada says starts off at -36 C overnight before struggling to reach a high of -29 C during the day. The wind chill is forecast to be -53 in the early morning and -44 in the afternoon.

FortWhyte Alive came up with Forest School as an alternative to children spending more time on video games, computers and television. While the program also operates in spring and fall, it is the winter program that many adults think is the most challenging because of the harsh conditions.

Carson said the children only come in to warm up for a few minutes, have a snack, or go to the washroom before popping back outside.

"They get to know the place in all seasons," she said. "They definitely don’t have the fear of winter. It really is their space. It is really just forging their connections with nature from the youngest age possible.

"As long as you are dressed properly, it is possible to enjoy yourself outside in any condition."

Radean Carter, spokeswoman for the Winnipeg School Division, said the division gives all schools a guideline of -28 C, including wind chill, for deciding to hold recess indoors.

"We use the Environment Canada temperature reading at The Forks as it central for all of our 78 schools," Carter said.

"However, some of our schools are in more open areas, and in those cases, the principal may decide to have indoor recess based on temperature readings closer to their school.

"Any kind of program that has children outside for extended periods of time, no matter the weather, would have to be responsible for ensuring those children have the appropriate outerwear required to be safe in extreme temperatures."

Alan Campbell, president of the Manitoba School Boards Association, who is a trustee in the Interlake School Division, said divisions across the province have their own policies for extreme cold, whether it relates to recess or buses.

"I would certainly commend FortWhyte for a program of that nature, but the parents registering their children would be making them equipped to anything the elements toss at them," Campbell said.

"School boards need to make sure everybody is looked after. Sometimes students (aren’t) properly dressed for the conditions.

"Fresh air and getting out in the cold is really good for students and staff, but it becomes problematic to offer the proper supervision and for students to be properly dressed… and if it becomes what you can afford, that becomes a different conversation."

Dr. Shaelyn Strachan, an associate professor in kinesiology and recreation management at the University of Manitoba, said one thing is common for children and adults no matter what the season: they need more exercise.

"Children and adults don’t get enough physical activity," Strachan said. "I’m a runner and I go outside, but there are probably a lot of people who don’t go outside when they can. FortWhyte says we can dress for it and get active. But many could be using the cold to not challenge ourselves to go out there.

"It’s important to get physical activity: you just can’t be not active for four or five months."

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca

Kevin Rollason
Reporter

Kevin Rollason is one of the more versatile reporters at the Winnipeg Free Press. Whether it is covering city hall, the law courts, or general reporting, Rollason can be counted on to not only answer the 5 Ws — Who, What, When, Where and Why — but to do it in an interesting and accessible way for readers.

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