Owls

Join Chelsea Forest School as we pilot a new forest school program adapted to the unique ways of neurodivergent children on the Autism Spectrum and/or with an intellectual disability. The Owls program offers neurodivergent children opportunities to learn, grow and connect with each other and the natural world around them.

A parent/guardian will be asked to participate in an orientation session prior to the program and to attend at least one of the sessions with their child/children. Participating as a parent/guardian helps families to better understand the learning that happens at forest school, connect with our community and provide support to the teachers/volunteers on site.

For the initial pilot of the program in Fall 2026, children must:
- Be on the autism spectrum (Level 1 or 2) and/or have an intellectual disability, and between 6 and 10 yrs
- Love to be outside, be curious, and like to explore, play and learn through their interests
- Be fully toilet-trained
- Be able to stay within a well-defined boundary with support
- Respond well to verbal or visual cues

High adult-to-child ratios will ensure a safe and supportive environment for all.

We hope to learn from this first experience so that, in time, it can be offered to an even more diverse group of children.

This program is offered in partnership with Trait d’Union Outaouais and co-funded by the Free to Play grant. It has been made possible thanks to generous funding provided by Community Foundations of Canada, Philanthropie Outaouais and the Walton’s Trust.

If you think this program might be a good fit for your child, fill out the intake form and we will contact you.