Pictou County Forest School Launches Accredited Programs for Students

The Pictou County Forest School (PCFS) has announced the introduction of accredited high school courses for the upcoming academic year. The courses, which recently received accreditation from the Nova Scotia Department of Education, include the Lynx program for girls in Grades 9-12 and the Coyote program for boys aged 15-17. Each program will offer students one full-year Grade 12 leadership credit, culminating in a certificate upon completion.

Students enrolled in either program will participate in classes one Saturday each month throughout the school year, complemented by two overnight camping trips. The registration deadline for these programs is set for October 3, with the first class scheduled for October 4. Attendance at all classes is mandatory to earn the credit.

Maya Hoehn, program director and full-time leader at PCFS, emphasized the focus on student-directed leadership in the curriculum. “They’ll learn bushcraft skills amongst each other and with the staff,” Hoehn stated. Participants will earn their naturalist and survivalist patches, showcasing their proficiency in various skills essential for outdoor leadership.

To achieve the naturalist patch, students must demonstrate competence in tree and plant identification, animal tracking, climate change awareness, and canoeing. Meanwhile, the survivalist patch requires knowledge of critical survival skills such as fire starting, navigation using maps and compasses, and shelter building. Both the Lynx and Coyote programs include extensive bushcraft training.

The Lynx program will kick off with an overnight camping event from October 4-5, designed to foster camaraderie among participants. Additionally, the Lynx group will embark on a trip in June, while the Coyote program will feature a winter camping experience followed by another trip in June.

“This is our fifth year for the school,” Hoehn noted, providing insight into the mission of PCFS. “We are a nature immersion program for children and youth aged three to 18, with occasional adult programming. Our goal is to build resilience in kids and make learning enjoyable in a setting distinct from traditional schools, while instilling a sense of stewardship.”

PCFS operates on a pay-what-you-can basis for all programs, supported by funding and grants. Hoehn explained that families facing financial constraints can select their payment level during registration, choosing from options of 25%, 50%, 75%, or even zero percent of the fee, with no questions asked.

The Forest School is encouraging increased registration, particularly among girls, before the approaching deadline. As the first accredited programs are set to begin, PCFS aims to provide an enriching and supportive environment for youth to develop essential life skills and leadership qualities.