Rooted in land. Grown through experience. Guided by purpose.
The Canadian Rockies Outdoor Learning Centre (OLC) began with a simple but powerful belief: learning becomes more meaningful when it is rooted in the land. What started as a vision to connect students with nature has grown into a thriving centre for experiential education that reaches learners from across Alberta.
In 2013, Alberta Parks sought a partner to breathe new life into an underused facility in Kananaskis Country. Canadian Rockies Public Schools (CRPS) recognized the potential to create something truly unique - a place where learning would extend beyond classroom walls and take shape through adventure, challenge, and reflection. What followed was the launch of the OLC and the beginning of a new way of learning grounded in land, connection, and community.
Early programs were shaped by inspiration from the Palisades Stewardship Education Centre in Jasper. CRPS adapted and expanded those ideas to meet the needs of its own students, beginning with WILD, a full-semester high school program focused on outdoor leadership, skill development, and self-discovery. That work soon extended into younger grades, with land-based learning integrated into elementary classrooms so that even the youngest students could learn through seasonal cycles, local ecosystems, and the cultural stories of place.
As the OLC grew, so did its purpose. With guidance from Indigenous Knowledge Keepers, the OLC embraced a Two-Eyed Seeing approach that honours both traditional ecological knowledge and scientific inquiry. Partnerships with Alberta Parks, Friends of Kananaskis, the Wim and Nancy Pauw Foundation, and other outdoor professionals further shaped a model of learning that is active, relational, and responsive to the needs of youth today.
Over time, the OLC expanded its offerings to include the Water Experience 15, Winter Travel, Summer CALM and the Wim & Nancy Pauw Wilderness Experience (WimWe), each designed to support youth in building confidence, resilience, and real-world skills. Programs are intentionally structured to support wellness, climate education, leadership development, and alternative pathways to success.
What began as an idea has become a movement; one that continues to evolve through collaboration, community, and a deep respect for place. The OLC stands today as a space where students do more than learn about the world. They learn how to live well within it.