Our Story
Sudbury Forest School is a non-profit organization nature-education initiative. Founded by a certified forest & nature school practitioner, mother, and inclusive learning advocate for accessible outdoor pedagogy in Northeastern Ontario.
Forest & Nature School Pedagogy
Rooted in child-led learning, safe exploration, exploration and respect for the land. Forest School builds confidence, encourages thinking outside the box, and exploratory play and learning.
Lead Educator and Founder
Jennifer Labelle, B.A, FNSP
Jennifer is the mother of two wild boys, a little bear and a little lion. She was born and raised in Sudbury in the 1990s.. where outside was where you stayed until the streetlights lit up on warm summer nights with fireflies glowing in the trees. She has spent over 5 years learning to regulate, teach, and build therapeutic practice through outdoor play as an alternative approach to traditional therapies for autism and other exceptionalities.
In 2024 she completed her certified forest and nature school practitioner training through Child and Nature Alliance of Canada. Jennifer also holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Laurentian University and is currently completing her Bachelor of Social Work (2028) as part of a long-term commitment to nature-based therapeutic practice.
Jennifer is Franco-Ontarienne with mixed settler and Indigenous (Anishinaabe, Wolastoqiyik, M’ikmaq) ancestry. She approaches her work as an educator, historian and social work student as a non-Indigenous learner with a deep respect for Indigenous knowledge, truth, history and Land.
Our Roots
Sudbury Forest School is founded on the principle that nature is one of the best teachers and healers for all people.
A non-profit rooted in Northern Ontario, we offer nurturing, inclusive, affordable (or free) forest school programming for children, caregivers, and families across our community. Our programs happen outside in all weather, in the woods, fields, and wild spaces that surround us. These are places where children can explore freely, take informed risks, and develop a deep and lasting connection to the natural world.
We believe every child deserves a space where they feel welcomed exactly as they are… curious, muddy, loud, or quiet.
We are proud to offer neurodiversity affirming programming. We follow the child’s lead, honour every brain and body, and design our programming around strengths. The forest makes space for all abilities, and so do we. Children with exceptionalities are not just accommodated here, they belong here.
We are just planting our roots, and we are so glad you found us at the beginning. We are growing thoughtfully, with intention, and with the families who walk through the trees with us at our own pace.