Jardin Infantil

“Our son lovvvvvveeees the team at Jardin Infantil and the outdoor experiential learning and fun the summer adventurers get into. We feel very luck to have found them and our big boy is looking forward to the summer of 2021 to catch up with friends old and new."

Marta and her team were so great and helped to make create a smooth transition for my kiddo. They were all patient and supportive, which helped to ease my nerves about leaving my son for the 1st time. I was drawn to this place as they stress the importance of nature and outdoor activity and even in the winter the kids spend time outdoors. My kiddos been loving it

My kiddo (now 2.5 years old) has thrived at Jardin since he was a baby. The days of adventure and playful learning (mostly outdoors) have helped him develop his curiosity, confidence, and independence. He is happy everyday when we drop him off, and often reluctant to come home at the end of the day. We're grateful to know he's in the capable, loving hands of Patrizia, Marta and Steve -- and jealous that he gets to spend the whole day outside when we're stuck at our desks! We're also comforted by the small group and the cautious, thoughtful approach that Jardin has taken during COVID. We couldn't imagine a better place for our little nature lover!

Our nearly 3-yr old daughter has been attending Jardin for the last year and a half and we couldn't be happier. We love how much value is placed on outdoor experiences and are of the view that the muddier our daughter comes home - the better! There is no doubt our daughter has grown at Jardin, whether it be her love of exploration, vocabulary, stories, songs, or dance moves. Granted toddlers are destined to blossom during these years, but she is happy and exhausted every day she comes home.

My son has had a wonderful experience with Jardin Infantil with their small group size, focus on learning from the outdoors, freshly prepared food, and warm and caring nature of Marta and the caregivers. They have very well prepared activities in the summer camp and I'm amazed at the progress he's made learning to hold and write with pencils/crayons (has made some very nice cards!) as well as colouring and sharing.

It was a rewarding experience working at Jardin Infantil this summer. I really loved interacting with the kids, exploring High Park, and getting the opportunity to meet amazing individuals along the way. This is a physically demanding job as there is a lot of walking involved, but the kids made it worth it! Despite the Covid-19 situation, the kids got an opportunity to learn about nature, make new friends, build on skills (i.e. confidence, autonomy, problem-solving, communication), and grow through an outdoor learning approach. Covid-19 precautions were always implemented and the children got a chance to go on field trips such as the Royal Ontario Museum and Ripley's Aquarium in the later weeks. A few pointers for next year include the following: providing scheduled lunch breaks for the counsellors, a longer orientation period, and a larger staff to camper ratio. A longer orientation period will allow the staff to come into contact with diverse scenarios and develop the skills to better handle these scenarios. High Park as a work environment was enjoyable as it has a lot to offer such as the Maple Leaf, High Park Zoo, various trails and more. This summer's success was a result of a positive work environment consisting of kind, hardworking and like-minded individuals. Marta and Steve were accommodating of my needs and guided me to perform my role effectively. They gave me the opportunity to exercise my leadership and communication skills while also providing me a safe space to voice my concerns. My co-workers (some of whom are my friends now) made my responsibilities easier to manage and even provided me insight in better delivering the weekly programs to the children. This camp is one of its kind and I look forward to working here next year!