Green School Grants - Yukon

"Knowledge is fluid - it doesn't just exist in a classroom setting," says Melissa Hawkins, who teaches at Robert Service School in Dawson City, Yukon. She says she's hearing talk about that concept from more than one constituency where she works.

"Robert Service School is located on Tr'ondek Hwech'in traditional territory. The Tr'ondek Hwech'in people were traditionally a nomadic people, following the salmon run and caribou herds across the land," says Hawkins. "Both Elders and environmentalists are calling for schools here to reconnect the curriculum to the land."

In answer to that call, Robert Service School is launching "Take it Outside," a school-wide project to create an outdoor classroom. "Although our community is located in the middle of the wilderness, the actual school grounds are quite sparse," says Hawkins. "Project ‘Take it Outside' will create a space in our school grounds that truly celebrates where we live in the world." The grant funds will buy not only soil and plants, but also a wall tent and fire pit. "Being located 240 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle poses some challenges when building and using an outdoor classroom," admits Hawkins, "however, we believe that our weather doesn't diminish the importance of the project. The tent and fire pit will increase the use of the outdoor space and mimic the Tr'ondek Hwech'in traditional ways of sharing knowledge during the winter."

Hawkins says Elders will be more comfortable speaking to the students in an outdoor setting, which will also increase community involvement in the school. "This project will begin bridging the gap between classroom knowledge and the traditional knowledge of the land."