Life in Nature
“Try to live more with the nature.”
It will be a priority to take every advantage to immerse the children in the school’s natural surroundings, where it is evident that Mother Nature has generously bestowed Her blessings. With pure air, empty spaces, unspoilt forests, migrating birds, and a sparkling river, the school’s serene location is a natural paradise, and will provide continuous opportunities for the children to connect to and be nourished by Mother Nature. Beyond the immediate school environment of Mill Village, there are many possibilities for where—and how—to enjoy the beauty and diversity of the natural world. There are wonderful trails and places for hiking, walking, and snowshoeing throughout the province, and children will be exposed to these and a range of other outdoor activities.
One of the special areas not far from the school is Kejimkujik National Park. A visit to this park might include watching the night sky: in 2010, the park was designated as a Dark Sky Preserve, meaning it is committed to protecting the nighttime environment from the effects of artificial lighting. On a clear night the sky is completely crowded with stars, and the Milky Way is so clear it feels almost like you could touch it. This seaside park also offers the opportunity to hike along woodland trails through old growth forest and paddle in canoes through interconnecting waterways. The area is full of wildlife, including deer, porcupines, seals, turtles, beavers, coyotes, and a range of birds and fish. Kejimkujik National Park is one of the core protected areas of the Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve, which also encompasses Queens County where the school is located. This Southwestern region of Nova Scotia was designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2001, and it is described as a place where one can appreciate an “extraordinary diverse natural landscape, surrounded by the sea.”