TORONTO: Faced with a severe financial crisis, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is preparing to shut down three major outdoor education centers that provide specialized nature-based learning for children. According to officials, the board will terminate its lease agreements for the Forest Valley and Etobicoke outdoor education centers, while the Warren Park center will be closed permanently.
Board authorities stated that the difficult decision was driven by escalating infrastructure challenges, with the facilities requiring tens of millions of dollars in outstanding maintenance and repairs. As part of a broader wave of budget cuts and administrative downsizing across the board, these closures will directly affect 218 central staff positions.
A Major Blow to Experiential Learning
The closures mark a significant loss for local students, stripping away a vital opportunity to step outside traditional classrooms and connect directly with nature. These centers have long offered high-quality, tailored environmental programs catering to students from kindergarten all the way through high school.
Community advocates emphasize that the decision will hit underprivileged and lower-income families living in urban areas the hardest, as these students rarely have alternative access to such nature-focused educational experiences.
Parents and Leaders Voice Concern
The announcement has sparked widespread concern among parents, educators, and local representatives. Toronto City Councillor Lily Cheng expressed her deep anxiety over the closures, noting that in a densely built, urban environment, such nature centers are absolutely essential for children’s mental health, well-being, and recreation. She added that she is actively looking into what measures the city council could take to help protect these programs.
Meanwhile, the TDSB sought to reassure families by confirming that two of its other outdoor education centers—Mono Cliffs and Hillside—will remain open and continue their regular operations.
