CELP is a 4 credit semester-long climate and environmental leadership program. As a community of 24, students do an outdoor education experience, teach grade fives, take their English, Civics and Careers courses in the context of current climate issues and form lasting friendships through experiential learning.
“An important thing to me about CELP is it gives me the freedom to bring my heart into my education, and in doing so I discover more about myself.”
Community — Learn in a unique setting
- Learn with students from other schools in an experiential way
- Build friendships that go beyond the walls of the classroom
- Network with community groups that are working on climate issues
Environment — Develop a relationship with the natural world
- Develop an appreciation for nature through outdoor activities
- Reflect on your experience through writing in English
- Bike around Guelph to learn about local climate issues and actions
Leadership — Lead by example
- Practice leadership skills through team-building activities and tasks
- Teach over 300 elementary students
- Design an “Active Citizenship” Day volunteering in the community
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Program Fee
There is a course fee of less than $700 for CELP to pay for our trips and our off site location. No student is denied the opportunity to take CELP or Headwaters due to financial reasons. Please let us know if this is a concern- WE WANT YOU TO APPLY. If money is an issue we have a bursary application process.
CELP and Headwaters Bursary Application
Program — Earn Four Grade 10 Credits
Students in CELP earn the following Grade 10 Credits — Read on below to find out more
- ENG 2D4 English: Academic Level (Compulsory Credit) or ENG 2P4 English: Applied Level
- GLC 204 Career Studies (Half Credit – Compulsory)
- CHV 204 Civics (Half Credit – Compulsory)
- PAD 204 Outdoor Activities (Health and Physical Education)
- IDP 304 Interdisciplinary Studies
ENG 2D4 English – Academic Level (Compulsory credit)
(ENG 2P4 English – Applied Level is also available- see teachers for details)
Building on the Grade 9 Academic English credit, this course is designed to extend students’ oral communication, reading, writing and media literacy skills. An important focus will be on the selective use of strategies that contribute to effective communication. This course is intended to prepare students for the compulsory Grade 11 university or college preparation course.
Highlights include: a strong grounding in textual analysis and analytical writing during the course texts; reflective writing on the experience of the wilderness trip and in an ongoing journal.
GLC 2O4 Career Studies (Half Credit – Compulsory)
Students in Careers explore what personality types, skills, and goals they already have through self-inventories and creating a personal profile. They explore what options are available after high school by researching post-secondary education programs. Outdoor activities help students build teamwork, communication and leadership skills they can apply to career development. Students learn how to look for part-time or summer jobs and create a portfolio including a resume, cover letter in preparation for a “mock interview” that prepares them for a real job interview.
CHV 2O4 Civics (Half Credit – Compulsory)
In Civics, students look at what it means to be an “active citizen” at the global, national, provincial, municipal and individual level. Students learn about how decision-making bodies work at each of these levels and what power they have at each of these levels to change things. Global, national, and provincial issues are examined through the use of films and texts on relevant topics. Current municipal issues are researched during the biking unit where students bike to different municipal areas (e.g., different neighbourhoods and City Hall) to learn about an issues that are then discussed during debates on topics. Small groups of CELP students get a chance to be active citizens at an individual level when they plan and implement an “active citizenship” day to give back to the community by volunteering at a local organization.
PAD 2O4 Outdoor Activities (Health and Physical Education)
The CELP semester begins with a six-day wilderness trip canoeing on the Magnetawan River in Semester 1 or snowshoeing in Algonquin Park in semester 2. Eight skills related to safe and sustainable camping are taught and assessed during these trips. On trip, and throughout the semester, students keep a journal of their leadership and skill development and relationship to nature that is assessed under the Phys Ed and Interdisciplinary Studies Credits. Throughout the semester, students take turns, in small groups, to prepare a healthy meal for the Friday Community Day meal. During the Civics unit, students have a day of Can-Bike instruction to learn how to bike safely in an urban context. This course also includes a unit on Healthy Sexuality.
IDP 3O4 Interdisciplinary Studies
The Interdisciplinary Studies credit is the “glue” that allows the other CELP credits to be combined. Students keep a journal throughout the semester that allows them to reflect on their learning during the program, the experience of developing a community, the skills they have learned and the what they have learned about environmental issues and sustainability. Students also learn how to pass on their knowledge by teaching the Grade 5 EcoStars Environmental Education Program. Research and reflection on environmental issues done as part of preparation for EcoStars and preparation for community day lunches is assessed as part of the interdisciplinary studies credit.
