A beloved wildlife program for kids is ending because the TDSB can’t afford it
The Island Natural Science School—along with three other outdoor education venues—are getting the axe
Taking the ferry to Centre Island to study the environment has been a beloved public school field trip for decades, but it’s now coming to a sad close. Today, the TDSB announced that it’s dismantling its Island Natural Science School program.
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One parent told CityNews that the move comes as a “disappointing” surprise, saying students will suffer from the impact. Other parents worried that the program’s closure would pave the way to develop the Toronto Islands as part of Doug Ford‘s proposed expansion of Billy Bishop airport.
According to the TDSB, the change is one piece in a larger plan to revamp its outdoor programming as the board’s Warren Park Outdoor Education Centre currently faces “tens of millions of dollars in maintenance and repairs.” The TDSB is also winding down its commitments at the Forest Valley OEC, the Etobicoke OEC and the Toronto Urban Studies Centre.
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For generations, the Island Natural Science School program was a chance to learn about Toronto’s thriving wildlife, wetlands and forests. It was also a car-free escape from the city’s noise, density, construction and endless traffic.
The closure also reflects the growing pressure on Toronto’s public institutions as aging infrastructure collides with inflation, rapid population growth and persistent underfunding. While the city pushes ahead with residential development and transit expansion, the TDSB has once again entered another round of significant budget cuts.
Zakiya Kassam is a writer and fact checker whose work has appeared in Post City Magazines, This Magazine and Now Toronto. She was previously the associate editor at Storeys.
