Students from across Toronto have been traveling by ferry to the Island Natural Science School for decades, immersing themselves in wildlife, ecosystems, and environmental education just steps from Lake Ontario. However, families are now facing the unfortunate news that this long-running program is set to end.
Parent Brian Campanotti expressed his concern about the closure, stating, “I think it came as a big surprise to everybody and it’s a little bit disappointing because it is such a unique spot for a lot of inner-city kids to make the trip to and experience the island and no cars.” He highlighted that the focus on education and sciences at the school made the news particularly shocking, leaving him uncertain about the implications for the nearby Island Public School.
A representative for the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) stated that the closure is part of broader changes to its outdoor education programming. TDSB spokesperson Ryan Bird explained, “With tens of millions of dollars in maintenance and repairs required, we have made the difficult decision to close one outdoor education centre (Warren Park OEC), end leases at two others (Forest Valley OEC and Etobicoke OEC), and end programming at two in-school locations (Toronto Urban Studies Centre and Island Natural Science School).”
This abrupt decision has raised concerns among parents, especially as the Island Public School itself is under threat from discussions at the provincial level regarding a potential expansion of the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. Parent Una Janicijevic voiced her dissatisfaction with the airport's expansion plans and expressed her concern about the impact of the science school’s closure on the already vulnerable small school, saying, “...to find out there’s another threat to the school was really upsetting.”
Parents are voicing apprehension about what the future holds for students living or attending school on the island due to the limited educational options available. Janicijevic, who has children in Grade 4 and junior kindergarten, emphasized the uncertainty for families, asking, “Where that puts our kids is a big question mark for families, so yeah we’re pretty upset about it.”
TDSB representatives have indicated their commitment to outdoor education and have stated plans to collaborate with external sites to maintain opportunities for students, contingent on demand exceeding capacity at the remaining centres. Bird reassured parents that the board still values outdoor learning, even as it faces tough decisions regarding resource allocation.
Campanotti reflected on the deep-rooted tradition of the Island Natural Science School, saying, “Even when I was a kid a million years ago they were sending kids over there, so it’s been a really long-standing fixture of Toronto education and really sad.” The decision has stirred a strong emotional response from the community, highlighting the significance of the program in enriching students' educational experiences in Toronto.
