The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

E v e ry w e e k w e s h o w c a s e to p ic s a b o u t lo c a l y o u th s . SEND US YOUR NEWS: If you are a youth and you have a story or photo to share, we'll do our best to publish it on this page. Email it to ablackburn@oakvillebeaver. com, along with your name and a brief paragraph about why you want to share it with our readers. TheYMCA of Oakville, in partnership with the Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB), hosted a joint community open house and official grand opening of their new outdoor classrooms at St. Bernadette School. The two new outdoor classrooms were designed to meet developmental and learning needs of children by incorporating a variety of natural play structures that inspire experiential learning, creativity, greater physical activity and multi-sensory learning. Above, from left, with the children are Janet Caranci, Child Care Centre director, Kyle Barber, president and CEO YMCA Oakville and Julie Riesberry, St. Bernadette's principal. | Riziero Vertolli/M etroland Children are playing to learn in new outdoor classrooms by Marta Marychuk Oakville Beaver Staff T he YMCA of Oakville, in partnership with the Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB), opened its two newest outdoor classrooms at St. Bernadette School in Oakville on Tuesday, Oct. 24. The dark black clouds and intermittent rain didn't seem to bother the dozen or so children who were playing outside in the new class rooms, while YMCA and HCDSB spokespeople explained how the outdoor classrooms were de signed to meet the developmental and learning needs o f children. Outdoor classrooms spark the interest of chil dren, says Lisa Rankin, rice president of Child Cate and Community for the YMG\ of Oakville, adding outdoor classrooms help children devel op creativity and problem-solving skills. Rankin said there is also a direct correlation between the natural environment and building resiliency, which helps children manage anxiety and stress. Five years ago, Rankin said the YMCA made an investment to convert all of its concrete and indoor play structures into outdoor facilities. To date, the YMCA has completed six outdoor classrooms at its childcare centres. Two additional outdoor classrooms are planned lor next years. The YMCA ol Oakville operates 43 child care centres. The YMCA developed the curriculum it self with a significant amount of research from across the country -- to develop the environ mental design -- before taking it. into the play grounds, added Kyle Barber, CEO of the YMCA in Oakville and Niagara. see Research on p.17 Jp JO H N PALAD IN O ------- 1 L A W O F F IC E D O N 'T LE T V E H IC L E L E A S E w w w .jp la w .c a cha in b u st YOU dona OUT L e a s e B u s t e r s .c o m is th e la rg e s t v e h ic le le a se m a rk e tp la c e in C a n a d a . W e 'll u n lo c k y o u fro m y o u r v e h ic le le a se c o m m itm e n t... s a v e tim e , e a r ly te rm in a tio n fe e s a n d p e n a ltie s . C a ll n o w f o r a f r e e c o n s u lt a t io n 1-888-357-2678 o r v i s i t u s a t w w w .L e a s e B u s t e r s .c o m _ · REAL ESTATE · WILLS & ESTATES COMMERCIAL LEASING · CORPORATE ( 447 Speers R oad, Suite 200B, O akville, O NL 6 K3S7 j |P h o n e : 905.842.3311 F a x : 905.842.7433 | 1990 % ASE USTERS .COM