Thursday Foxes

The Out to Play Centre is nestled at Beetbox Farm — an organic, people-centred farm where the first sparks of what is now the Out to Play community were lit.

Easily accessed from downtown Ottawa, Nepean, Barrhaven, and Kanata, Beetbox Farm is surrounded by public land and connected to the Shirley’s Bay trail network. Here, children spend their days immersed in meadows, orchards, forests, and along the shoreline of the Kitchissippi River. The farm experience is woven naturally into each day — children might gather vegetables from the gardens, feed the chickens, or pause to greet the animals.

At the Out to Play Centre, our shelters include spacious canvas wall tents and a cabin. In the colder months, these spaces become warm and welcoming, with woodstoves offering a cosy place to gather.

About the Program
For children aged 4–10 years, the Fox Program offers child-centred, inquiry-driven learning, where connection and discovery unfold through play on the land. Educators closely support each day, meeting children’s ideas with curiosity, care, and intention.

Our days begin and return often to a warm and playful circle — a time for oral storytelling, storybooks, gathering for snack or lunch, and engaging in conversation. From there, children head out on a daily hike and are invited into a variety of experiences, including art, large loose parts play, and hands-on science explorations.

Time on the land allows for deep, immersive play and the development of wilderness skills. Educators play alongside children — scaffolding learning, supporting risk assessment, and guiding children in being safe and kind together.

Our approach is emergent and responsive, meaning each day is shaped by the children and the season. The result is a program that is dynamic, active, and rich with meaningful learning. We are also happy to communicate and collaborate with public school teachers and service providers to support continuity and shared understanding.

Families receive a packing list to support their days (including spare clothing, snacks, lunch, and water). You’ll also be invited to two Out to Play Family Gatherings — a chance to connect with more families.

We would love to welcome your family into the Out to Play community.

Program Dates
This program takes place from 9:00-3:00 on Thursdays from September 10, 2026 to June 17, 2027 at the Out to Play Centre. There are 37 program days and two Saturday Family Gathering Days on October 24 and May 15.

There is no program on December 24, December 31, March 18, and April 8 for seasonal breaks and one professional development day.

Registration and Payment Details
Out to Play programs require an access code to complete registration. If you do not have an access code, please reach out to [email protected] or add your child to our waitlist here!

Multi-day and Sibling Discounts are available.

Out to Play offers flexible payment and withdrawal options. You can pay in full at the time of registration, or choose a 10% deposit followed by three seasonal installments. Payment options include credit card, pre-authorised debit, or e-transfer, selected at the time of registration. The cancellation and withdrawal policy is generous, and is shared in detail during the registration process.