As curricular, intramural, and interschool activities are moving to the outdoors, teachers and coaches are required to make informed decisions to support safe, inclusive, and accessible participation. Within the Ontario Physical Activity Safety Standards in Education (OPASSE) activity-specific pages, the Environmental Considerations component provides guidance for activities that take place outdoors.
Key Considerations
1. Follow School Board Policies and Procedures and Monitor Conditions
- Follow school board policies and procedures related to weather and environmental risks (e.g., lightning, heat, poor air quality), recognizing these are the minimum standard of care.
- Monitor conditions before and during the activity, including environmental and other factors (e.g., insects such as ticks and mosquitoes), and pause, modify, or relocate as needed to support both physical and emotional safety.
2. Plan for Inclusive, Responsive Participation
- Consider how environmental conditions may impact students differently (e.g., medical needs, mobility, sensory comfort, anxiety in open or unpredictable physical spaces) and plan supports to enable safe, inclusive, and accessible participation.
- Where appropriate, provide options (e.g., activity modifications, pacing, roles, or equipment) and opportunities for choice to support student voice, comfort, and meaningful participation.
3. Teach and Reinforce Environmental Safety Procedures
- Provide clear instruction on safety procedures related to environmental conditions (e.g., responding to weather changes, recognizing hazards), using consistent routines and language.
- Support students in understanding how to protect themselves (e.g., sun safety, hydration, awareness of heat, air quality, and environmental triggers), while establishing and maintaining a learning environment where students feel comfortable asking questions, expressing concerns, and seeking support.
4. Review and Reflect to Strengthen Future Planning
- Reflect on how environmental conditions impacted safety, participation, and student experience, including whether students felt safe, included, and supported.
- Use observations and student feedback to inform future planning, adjustments, and proactive risk management decisions that enhance both physical and emotional safety.
When teachers and coaches proactively apply and monitor safety standards specific to Environmental Considerations, they create outdoor learning environments where students feel:
- Safe: environments are actively monitored and adapted to reduce risk
- Included: students can access, engage in, and benefit from outdoor physical activity
- Confident and Comfortable: students are supported in ways that reflect their individual needs and readiness
Where to Find More Information
- Ontario Physical Activity Safety Standards in Education (OPASSE): Refer to Environmental Considerations within activity-specific standards.
- Sample Guiding Checklist for Disability Centred Safety: To access safety strategies and considerations for students with disabilities.
- OPASSE Tools and Resources: To access safety strategies specific to weather (air quality health index, lightning, temperatures, tornados, UV Index, winds), checklists to support outdoor facilities inspections and emotional safety tips and strategies.
- The Outdoor Education Toolkit: To access the Grades 1-8 and Grades 9-12 toolkits
- Beyond the Walls: Activities for the Outdoors: To access videos and activity cards to support safe and effective physical activity in outdoor spaces.