FAQ

We recognize that homeschooling families value the flexibility of a parent directed program. This can be provided mornings and Wednesdays through our shared responsibility program for LYNX students in Grades 1–9. However, the afternoon program is structured as a cohesive, teacher-led academic experience. Because of this, we are unable to accommodate casual or “drop-in” attendance.
Whether a student is enrolled in our fully teacher-directed track or our shared responsibility model, the afternoon component is a vital part of the educational journey. These sessions are led by our teachers and specifically designed to meet the Alberta Program of Studies through a continuous, building curriculum.
To provide the best possible experience for our students, we prioritize:

• Instructional Continuity: Because our afternoon lessons build on one another throughout the week, consistent attendance ensures students don’t miss vital concepts or project milestones.
• Building Community: A stable cohort allows children to form lasting friendships and collaborate effectively with their peers in a supportive environment.
• Full-Year Commitment: To honor the depth of the curriculum and meet provincial standards, registration is for the full school year.

Please note that LYNX ECS is a fully teacher-directed program.

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. In the event of extreme conditions, our afternoon classrooms are  relocated to an indoor location – often a library, recreation centre, or other public facility or, in very unusual situations, students are provided activities to complete in the safety of their homes.

Tuition for the LYNX Grades 1-9 2025-2026 School Year is $7,350 for onsite, online and $4,410 for online or a Shared Responsibility program. Arrangements can be made to pay fees by instalments and bursaries are available for families unable to afford our published tuition fees.

LYNX students in Grades 1-9 attend their assigned “outdoor classroom” on scheduled school days Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. Unless registered for our online, onsite program in Calgary, parents drop off their children at the designated location between noon to 12:30pm and then pickup them at 3:30pm. Online, onsite students are transported to the Calgary outdoor classroom by school bus with parent pickup at 3:30pm.

On Wednesday mornings, we offer Art, Music, and Physical Literacy onsite for our grade 1-9 students, as well as Food for students in Grades 7-9. These classes are held at our Third Schools East Campus. All LYNX  students are off Wednesday afternoons.

LYNX is pleased to offer scheduled school bus service for students residing within the city of Calgary. To ensure a safe and reliable journey for your child, we have partnered with our in-house professional transportation provider, InBus.

Eligibility for Bus Service

Service is available for the following students living in Calgary based on demand:

• ECS: Students enrolled in LYNX ECS .

• Grades 1-9 (Online/Onsite Program): Students registered in our  Online/Onsite program are eligible for a dedicated bus service. Learn more about the Grade 1-9 bus service here.

How to Register for Busing

Requesting bus service is simple. During your child’s online registration, please select the school bus transportation option to indicate your interest.

Our Approach to Route Planning

To operate efficiently, our bus routes are planned based on ridership demand. This means we can only establish and maintain routes in communities where a sufficient number of students have registered for the service.

Transportation for Families Outside Calgary

At this time, we are unable to provide scheduled bus service to families living outside of the Calgary.

However, our LYNX community is incredibly resourceful! Many families connect to arrange carpools. If you are interested in exploring carpooling options, we encourage you to contact us. We also love to see our students embracing an active lifestyle by bicycling to their outdoor classrooms where possible. Some live close enough they can even walk!

Most children and students thrive in our LYNX ECS and LYNX Grades 1-9 classrooms. While we know all children and students are different, those with the following characteristics tend to excel at LYNX:

• Children/students who enjoy being outside and can function in outdoor temperatures
• Children/students with average or higher academic ability
• Children/students who prosper with hands-on or kinesthetic learning
• Children/students who enjoy or need to move their bodies
• Children/students with average physical abilities to enable them to hike
• Children/students who are interested in their environment
• Children/students with mild/moderate learning challenges
• Children/students who are distractible (ADD & ADHD)

Absolutely! In fact, we generally insist that potential LYNX Kindergarteners or Grade 1-9 students join us for a “try out” day. That way they can discover how just how much fun ‘nature inspired’ education is. Anticipate that they will be tired by the end of the day. LYNX kids are active!

Yes, we welcome all children that are a good ‘fit’ for our specialized program. LYNX is a member of the Third Schools family, an accredited school authority dedicated to providing high quality programming through our three schools: Third Academy, LYNX, and ursa. We opened Third Academy in 1996 to provide hope for families with children with special educational needs. Since then, we have remained focused on creating specialized educational environments where students can thrive.

LYNX Grades 1-9 features a blended learning model. Because the outdoor component is a foundational part of the LYNX nature inspired experience, we evaluate a prospective student’s “fit” in the program based on a student’s ability to participate safely and successfully in an active, outdoor context. To ensure the best experience for every student, we consider the following:

• Environmental Awareness: Our students learn in open, natural spaces. Success in this program is found by students who can remain with their cohort and follow teacher instructions reliably in an outdoor setting.
• Active Exploration: The LYNX program involves regular physical activity and navigating varied terrain. Students should be comfortable being mobile and active throughout the outdoor portion of the school day in various weather conditions.
• Independent Participation: The LYNX model is designed for students who navigate natural terrain and engage in activities alongside their peers. This ensures the entire cohort can move fluidly and collectively through the environment under the guidance of our certified teachers.
• Structured Learning: The teacher-directed components of our program follow a rigorous and intentional curriculum. We look for students who will thrive within this structured, teacher-led framework.

We encourage you to talk to us about your child’s specific diagnosis. Our team will draw on our experience in special education to help determine if the LYNX model provides the appropriate environment and safety profile for your child to be successful. As with all prospective LYNX students, we also arrange a “Try Out Day” to give the child the opportunity to experience one of our unique outdoor classrooms and for us to see them in engage in that nature setting.

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”.