The outdoor education program at Appleby College introduces students to an immersive learning environment in the Canadian wilderness.SUPPLIED
Nicola St George had always been interested in the environment, but during the pandemic — when single-use items became prevalent — she contacted her colleagues at Appleby College, an independent school founded in 1911 on the shores of Lake Ontario and invited them to discuss sustainability issues.
“We did Zoom calls, and it was clear there was a passion for it,” she says. St George, who teaches English, is also co-director, sustainability and regeneration, a hybrid arrangement introduced in 2022. “This is what I was meant to do.”
Members of the sustainability and regeneration committee represent all areas of the co-ed school. “Climate-related issues touch every single decision we make,” says St George. “When human resources is planning an event, they can problem-solve with someone from our advancement team who is also planning one and find a more sustainable way to do it.
“I’m a good communicator and connector,” she continues. “I get joy seeing people involved with sustainability. I love to inspire and encourage them to find how their skills align with sustainability goals. Maybe you’re an artist? Well, we need artists to create campaign posters. Maybe you’re into data. Great, we need analytics! We take a hope-based approach and make climate action centred around positive emotions and fun.”
Appleby signed up with DoorNumberOne, a Canadian-based charity that offers a climate accelerator action program for schools to develop climate and nature action plans. “They helped us focus on the core areas,” says St George.
For Appleby principal Innes van Nostrand, connection with nature is at the heart of being a global citizen. “Our goal is to develop people who will be leaders of character and become valued members of their communities — local, national or international. The connection with the broader world, from an environmental standpoint, is a central part of that,” he says.
“People’s ability to cope with rapid change is a central issue for us. Connection with the natural environment supports mental health and general well-being. One of our hallmarks is our outdoor education program.”
Beginning in Grade 7, students participate annually in outdoor education trips in Ontario through to the end of Grade 10.
For example, in the fall, Grade 7 students visit Camp Kandalore. In winter, Grade 10 students attend Appleby’s S. Bruce McLaughlin Northern Campus located in Temagami.
“They start with a 10-kilometre hike across the frozen lake and sleep in quinzhees,” says van Nostrand. “The night before returning, the group sits by a fire and talks about their experiences. They say how during those six days, life slows down. They see and appreciate more, like how good the water tasted or the sound of a bird. Because we practise near-zero food waste, they take those actions back to campus.”
Appleby’s student-led WasteZero food program has received national recognition, reducing food waste by 57%. Building on this success, its student leaders have shared their expertise and mentored several other schools to create similar programs for addressing food waste on their campuses.
And big changes are coming in 2027, with the completion of Cockwell Hall, a new three-storey building featuring geothermal heating as well as construction materials and interior finishes selected based on their embodied carbon footprint. Solar panels will be installed across the major buildings on campus over the next two years.
“On sustainability and regeneration, we’re not trying to provide one right answer,” says van Nostrand. “We’re trying to encourage students to develop critical thinking and empathy skills and to understand a wide range of ways you can look at any issue and then come up with their own answers.”
More from Canada’s Greenest Employers
Advertising feature produced by Canada’s Top 100 Employers, a division of Mediacorp Canada Inc. The Globe and Mail’s editorial department was not involved.