ICE: Experiential Learning at Its Best

Winter camping, an urban history scavenger hunt, and painting on the shore of Georgian Bay. These sorts of experiences are part of The York School’s unique Integrated Canadian Experience (ICE) Programme, an innovative combined study of Canadian history, geography, civics, and literature undertaken by all Grade 9 students. 

In this episode, Sara Gardner, an architect of ICE, shares how students uncover the story of Canada and its inhabitants by combining field research with classroom learning and developing observational, inquiry and communication skills. Reese Feldberg, an ICE alum, shares her experience as a student. And Andrea Lossing, Trip and Camp Curriculum Coordinator, talks about the other amazing experiential learning opportunities at York.

To see experiential learning in action, search the hashtag #Yorklearns on Twitter, follow @ICEGardner and follow @a_lossing. 

You can read more about the ICE Programme here, find Sara Gardner’s article about winter camping here, and watch a winter camping (2015) video here. And here's a link to the Grade 9 ICE Showcase from 2020. Links to different ICE documentaries can be found on The York School’s Vimeo page including B.C. 2019, Alberta 2019, Newfoundland 2018, and Killarney 2015. 

The 2018 International Service Trip to Global Pathways School in India offers another glimpse into experiential learning as does the 2017 Music Trip to Cuba.

Written and produced by Natasha Estey
Audio editing by Andrew Scott