Outdoor Learning Centre

Empowering K to 12 Students Through a Connection to the Natural World

Visit the OLC website!

Nestled within the pristine Bow Valley Provincial Park, Canadian Rockies Outdoor Learning Centre, known as the OLC, leads the country in innovative, experiential education programs that empower youth through a connection to their natural and cultural heritage. At its core, the centre’s goal is to assist students in seeing the world around them with new eyes; to connect with nature and the cultural stories of the place and to embrace the values of protected areas.

CRPS' Kindergarten to Gr. 12 students engage with the centre to participate in mountain recreation, citizen science projects, and service learning. Through activities like canoeing, hiking, and indoor rock climbing, students are introduced to the mountain landscape and discover how nature looks, feels, and smells. Through multi or single-day immersion programs, students learn about the inherent dangers of wild places and are challenged physically and mentally as they experience the rewards of spending time in such a special place. All courses offered by the OLC are designed with safety, learning, and engagement as the top three priorities.