Environmental and Land-Based Learning

Blackstrap Outdoor Education Centre

The Blackstrap Outdoor/Environmental Education Centre is located 40 kilometres south of Saskatoon and includes half a kilometre along the east shore of Blackstrap Lake within the 37 acres of natural landscape owned by the Knights of Columbus. Since the program began in 1990, it has strived to teach students the meaning of stewardship, in an effort to help them become more sensitive and curious and to further their understanding of the quantitative aspects of the environment.

Blackstrap is open to all GSCS schools and classrooms from kindergarten - Grade 12 for self-guided programming with the classroom teacher. The facility offers a variety of learning experiences and opportunities that are both land and water based. 

Ed and May Scissons Environmental Education Centre Program

The Ed and May Scissons Environmental Education Centre Program is located approximately 54 kilometres east of Saskatoon on a quarter-section, 160 acres, of natural prairie associated with the Eagle Creek coulee system. The land was bequeathed to the Saskatoon Catholic Schools Foundation by the Scissons family in honour of their parents, Ed and May Scissons, with the understanding the property would be used to teach children about nature. 

The centre serves as an outdoor classroom that is available to all schools and classrooms from kindergarten through Grade 12 for self-guided programming with the classroom teacher. The site itself presents numerous opportunities for the study of prairie ecology and environmental issues. The First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education team also offers day-trip and overnight land-based learning programs for classrooms.