FAQ LYNX Edmonton

LYNX Edmonton welcomes children and youth in grades 1 to 9. Students learn together as a group and activities are differentiated to ensure developmentally appropriate and engaging opportunities for learners. No prior outdoor experience is needed—just a love for adventure!

In conjunction with our sister school ursa, LYNX offers two programming choices for our elementary and junior high students in the Edmonton area.

1. Fully Teacher Directed Program – Online, Home Mornings: On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, students attend their morning online classes onsite at home or other location arranged by the parent. Parents provide transportation to and from the student’s nature classroom. On Wednesday mornings, students attend online, teacher directed classes.

3. Shared Responsibility Program – Parents choosing this option are assisted by one of ursa’s skilled Home Education Managers in providing the Parent Directed component of their student’s program. Parents transport students Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Friday afternoons to their outdoor nature classroom.

Tuition for LYNX Edmonton for the 2025-2026 School Year is $4,410. Arrangements can be made to pay fees by instalments and bursaries are available for families unable to afford our published tuition fees.

LYNX takes the wellbeing of our students and staff very seriously. Students learn how to dress appropriately for the weather conditions and our staff monitors their compliance. When the temperature drops to -15C, our afternoon classroom is relocated to an indoor location – often a library, recreation centre, or other public facility. Students will still go outside on these days and utilize the field, skating rink, playground, and natural areas nearby, but will have shorter times outdoors and the opportunity to work on some projects.

LYNX Edmonton students attend their  outdoor classroom on scheduled school days Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 12:30pm to 3:30pm.

Edmonton’s North Saskatchewan River Valley, with its multiple parks and large, interconnected trail system, provides the perfect outdoor classroom for LYNX afternoon programming. While White Mud Park is the primary location for LYNX Edmonton, other outdoor locations may be introduced for specific learning opportunities. Parents will be provided with a detailed map and directions.

LYNX students learn in their outdoor classroom Science, Social Studies, Physical Education and Health, Environmental Education, and Wilderness skills. An emphasis is also placed on Personal Development and Leadership Skills.

Students should arrive wearing weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear with a supply of snacks and a water bottle. Parents will be notified in advance of the need for specific gear.

On Wednesday mornings, we offer engaging online classes in subjects including Art, Music, and Physical Literacy.  LYNX  students are off Wednesday afternoons.

Our families are creative and find ways to get their children to and from their homes and the outdoor classroom. Some families carpool.  Talk to us and we likely will be able find a solution for your transportation needs.

Talk to us about scheduling a trial afternoon for your child in our outdoor classroom.

Yes. As a member of the Third Schools family, LYNX has been working with children with special needs for 30 years. Many special needs students flourish in our outdoor classrooms. Our LYNX students are active, engaged, and healthy. Talk to us about your child’s diagnosis and we will assist you in determining if LYNX is a good fit for your child.

The Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) encourages parents to allow their children to engage in what they define as “risky play”, recognizing that these activities are necessary for healthy child development. Managing risks is very different than placing children situations where they are exposed to uncontrolled hazards. For more information on risky play, read the CPS’s position statement “Healthy childhood development through outdoor risky play: Navigating the balance with injury prevention”.

Participant safety is paramount. To ensure this, we maintain a low staff-to-child ratio, and all outdoor teachers and instructional assistants hold current certifications in First Aid and CPR. Furthermore, our outdoor teachers and specialists bring extensive experience and a strong passion for working with young people.