● Programs
Shoresh Outdoor School
Give your kids the gift of Jewish learning… in the great outdoors!
● Program Overview
What It’s All About
Shoresh Outdoor School is a nature-based Jewish learning experience on Sunday afternoons for kids in JK to grade 3 where the forest becomes the classroom and the cycles of Jewish life unfold under open skies. It’s a weekly opportunity for kids to connect to nature, Jewish traditions, and each other through outdoor exploration, games, songs, crafts, and environmental learning in Toronto’s beautiful parks.
Registration for the Fall season closes October 2, 2026
Registrations after this date will incur an administrative late fee. Final deadline for registration is October 9, 2026.
Program Structure
Shoresh Outdoor School is designed to bridge Jewish learning with hands-on, nature-based activities. Through time spent in the great outdoors, students will explore Jewish holidays and cycles, mitzvot and rituals, and ethical teachings, while being active, building community, and experiencing moments of deep nature connection.
Our daily schedule is based on the FLOW Learning Model designed by acclaimed environmental educator Joseph Cornell, allowing our educators to provide structure while following the natural interests and passions of our students.
Dates and Locations
Shoresh Outdoor School runs on Sunday afternoons from 2:15PM to 4:15PM in Toronto in two parks:
📍High Park in the West End
📍Riverdale Park in the East End
(Interested in Outdoor School in Cedarvale Park? Tell us here.)
Fall 2026 dates:
October 18, October 25, November 1, November 8, November 15, November 22, November 29, December 6
Spring 2027 dates:
April 4, April 11, April 18, May 2, May 9, May 16, June 6, June 13
Note: no program on April 25 (Passover), May 23 (Victoria Day), or May 30th
Age Group
Shoresh Outdoor School is for kids in JK to grade 3.
*If your child is going into JK, they need to be comfortable being outside exploring and engaging in activities for 2 hours and be able to carry their own backpack with snacks, water and extra clothes.
Interested in Shoresh Outdoor School for kids in grades 4 and 5? We will open registration for an older cohort if we have enough interest. Let us know if you’re interested in an older cohort in Riverdale here or in High Park here.
Pricing and Subsidies
The fee for one season (8 sessions) is $430. Sliding scale pricing ($320-$540) and subsidies are available to help ensure the program is accessible to all families.
Families who register for both Fall and Spring seasons pay $774 (10% discount*). Sliding scale pricing for both seasons is $576-$972.
*This discount is applied only when you sign up for both sessions up front and cannot be applied retroactively.
Needs-Based Subsidies
We are grateful to be able to provide financial scholarships through the Howard Malach Legacy Fund For Jewish Nature Connection. To apply, please register for the program and select the Howard Malach Legacy Fund option. You will pay an $18 deposit and then asked what amount your family is able to afford.
To contribute to the fund and support community members in accessing Jewish learning outdoors, please donate.
Sibling Discount
We are happy to support our bigger families by offering 50% off the third tuition when you register 3 siblings for a season of Shoresh Outdoor School. This will be automatically applied in the registration portal.
Jewish Pluralism at Shoresh
Shoresh welcomes Jews of all different backgrounds and affiliations. While learning about Jewish values and teachings, holiday celebrations, rituals, and prayer, we will be open to the many different ways that our community members interpret these traditions and how they choose to live and learn Jewishly. As well, we create space for honouring the other cultural, religious, and spiritual identities that participants may be bringing to our programs.
What Families Are Saying
“Thank you for a great year of learning at Shoresh! What a great way for our kids to learn about Judaism and nature. We loved that the program ran rain or shine and that our kids got to spend so much time in nature. The educators were kind, inclusive and welcoming and our kids looked forward to the program every week.”
— Noam, Outdoor School parent“The girls LOVED their time at Shoresh yesterday. They talked to me about the forest this morning on our walk to school. They both wished that Shoresh Outdoor School could be every day, all day long! Thank you for putting so much energy into creating and implementing such a wonderful program. WOW!”
— becky, Outdoor School parent“My child has been loving outdoor school. And it is so exciting to watch how much he has already learned. He told us about how the water in the ravine is going to Lake Ontario (and asked lots of questions about other rivers/ravines and if they are going to Lake Ontario). On a hike this weekend he identified garlic mustard and ate some!”
— Josh, Outdoor School parent● Staff
Meet the Educators
Daniel
Program CoordinatorDaniel holds a Master of Environment & Sustainability from the University of Toronto, where his research explored how Jewish communities engage in environmental action. He has worked in plant conservation and nature education, and is passionate about connecting ecological sustainability with community life. Daniel’s Jewish education and personal passion for sustainability fuel his excitement about weaving together Jewish tradition and environmental values. In his free time, he can be found playing music with friends, hiking, or reading science fiction and fantasy novels.
Isaiah
lead educatorIsaiah is fascinated with the world around him. He is a cyclist, fruit and vegetable gardening enthusiast, passionate about making cities a better place to live, and is fascinated by the movement of people including public transportation (especially trains). He is currently a student at York University working on his Bachelor of Environmental Studies in Cities, Regions, Planning. Isaiah is a believer in designing spaces for children who see the world differently and more creatively.
Leah
Lead Educator
Leah (she/her) spent her best summers paddling through Northwestern Ontario as a camper and then trip-guide at a Jewish sleep-away camp. More recently she spent three years as a professional outdoor educator and Forest School practitioner in Winnipeg, where she developed frameworks for emergent and child-led curricula, trauma-informed youth work, and values- based outdoor leadership. Leah holds a Masters in English and Cultural Studies and has a long-standing interest in the stories we tell about land and belonging.
Talia
Lead Educator
Talia (she/they) has always been happiest outside, where she finds wonder and deep learning by observing the natural world around her. Talia’s Jewish journey was sparked during summers at camp, where they first felt empowered to discover a Judaism deeply intertwined with nature, social justice, and exploration. For the past decade, Talia has worked in both formal and informal Jewish education spaces, including as a Jewish studies teacher, summer educator, outdoor trip leader, and camp educational director. Talia is passionate about youth empowerment and play-based learning and is so excited to explore wonder for the outdoors at Shoresh!
● Program Overview
Frequently Asked Questions
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Shoresh welcomes Jews and interfaith families of all different backgrounds and affiliations. We are open to the many different ways that our community members interpret Jewish traditions and how they choose to live and learn Jewishly. We also create space for honouring the other cultural, religious, and spiritual identities that participants may be bringing to our programs.
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Yes! Sliding-scale pricing and scholarships are available to help ensure the program is accessible to all families.
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Shoresh Outdoor School is strictly an outdoor program. We do NOT have an indoor programming space on site. Children should come prepared with full rain gear (jacket, pants, boots) and lots of warm layers so that they can comfortably be outside for the full duration of the program.
In the event of rain, our educators will make use of naturally sheltered areas in the park.
In the event of extreme weather, such as lightning storms, sudden flooding, or any other situation that the Shoresh staff deem unsafe for Shoresh participants and staff to be outside, we will move swiftly to a safe covered location (public washroom, neighbouring school’s overhang, or public picnic gazebo, depending on where we are) and inform parents of any change to the pick-up location.
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There are public washrooms near our meeting spot, which we expect to be open during our fall and spring sessions, however we cannot guarantee this. Please note that throughout the program, there may be times when we are further from the indoor bathroom. Please encourage your child to go to the bathroom and fill up their water bottle before the program begins.
● Contact
Request Information
Thinking about registering? Curious whether this program would be a good fit for your family? Whatever you’re looking for, we’re here to help.