Welcome to O&A Parent and Tot @ Guelph Outdoor School

This unique program is as much for parents as it is for kids - by providing a rich weekly outdoor gathering during the early, isolating years of taking care of children. Oaks and Acorns is about helping families get nature connected from the get-go, connect families together, and build community.  This great program lays the foundation for a generation of nature connected kids.: this means young people who are resilient and comfortable in the natural world, and in their own skin, for life.

Now offered Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday -- Oaks and Acorns is available on a sliding scale basis, rather than the by-donation model of past years. We hope that this new format will help us ensure the long-term viability of this beloved program, while still maintaining some of the financial accessibility that made it work for so many in the early days.

We are now offering 2 ways to participate, to suit your family’s needs:

Option 1) Seasonal Registration

This means registering for a whole season upfront (or all three seasons at once – Fall, Winter and Spring). This ensures your spot every week on the day of your choice, and is great for families who know they will come out more often than not. 

Each day of the week (Mon-Thurs) will launch with spots for 30 families to pre-register for the whole season of weekly sessions, for a total of 120 spots per season.

We ask that families pre-register for only one weekly program, in order to allow as many families as possible to participate.
 

Option 2) Drop-In Registration

This is for families who are not ready to commit to a whole season, or who need more flexibility in their week. Perfect for families who want to be a part of the Oaks & Acorns community, but anticipate coming only from time to time. Space permitting, this option enables you to sign up for any day of the week, starting one week before the activity date, right up to the moment we gather.

We hope this option will enable more families to get a taste of this community favourite at least occasionally. (No more 2-year waitlists!!)

Drop-In spots will be available for a minimum of 5 families per Oaks & Acorns date, for a total of 20 spots per week. Drop-In registration opens one week ahead of each session date, and may be cancelled up to 2 hours ahead of the program start time.

HOW TO REGISTER

For Seasonal Registration:

Similar to previous years: ALL Oaks & Acorns participants (both kiddos and their accompanying grownups) must have an Annual Membership purchased in their name (click here to get yours), which is good for one year from the date of purchase.

New for this year: Program fees will be paid per family by one main Account Holder – meaning Dad can bring kiddo the first week, Mom the second, and Mom, Dad and Grandma can all come the week after that – all under the same Seasonal Registration.

Step 1: Purchase an Annual Membership for all anticipated participants.

Step 2: Register only ONE family member (your main “Account Holder”) for your desired Oaks & Acorns day of the week. Here is where you will select your sliding scale fee for the season (Fall, Winter or Spring) using one of the codes below at checkout.

Step 3: Upon confirmation of your payment, you will receive a link to register the rest of your family at no additional cost. This helps our staff know who to expect on site over the course of each season! This also helps us know important information about each participant (allergies, emergency contact information, photo waivers etc.). 

For Drop-In Registration:

Similar to previous years: ALL Oaks & Acorns participants (both kiddos and their accompanying grownups) must have an Annual Membership purchased in their name (click here to get yours now), which is good for one year from the date of purchase.

New for this year: Drop-In fees will be paid per family by one main Account Holder:

Step 1: Purchase an Annual Membership for all participants who will be attending.

Step 2: Beginning one week prior to your desired session date, register only ONE family member (the “Account Holder”) for the activity. Here is where you will select your sliding scale fee for the individual session date using one of the codes below at checkout.

Step 3: Upon confirmation of your payment, you will receive a link to register the rest of your family at no additional cost. This helps our staff know who to expect on site over the course of each season! (This step only needs to be completed once per season (Fall/Winter/Spring), or if a new family member is attending for the first time.) This also helps us know important information about each participant (allergies, emergency contact information, photo waivers etc.).

OUR SLIDING SCALE

We believe that every family’s circumstances are unique and complex, and we recognize that a paid, sliding scale system means a change from previous years. We encourage you to consider your family's current economic resources, the number of family members you plan to bring along, how frequently you expect to come out in a season, and the future you'd like to see for this program -- and contribute the amount that makes deep sense to you.

Here’s an example of how the sliding scale options break down per season and per week:

CANCELLATION POLICY

For Seasonal Registrations:

• Should a cancellation be requested at least 21 days before a program start, we can offer a full refund minus a $25 Cancellation Fee to recover administrative costs.
• After the start of the program, a pro-rated credit will be applied to your GOS account based on the number of sessions remaining, less a $25 Cancellation Fee to recover administrative costs. This credit may be used toward future registration in any GOS program.
• Should you require to change your program day, contact sonia@theguelphtoudoorschool.com to make the request. A charge of 6% of your program fee will be applied.