Outdoor classroom coming to Hume Elementary School 

Nelson city officials have approved a request from Hume Elementary School to build an “outdoor learning facility” at the back of the school.  

The pavilion-style facility will be located behind the gymnasium at the south end of the school, adjacent to Third Street.  

School District 8 superintendent Trish Smilie says the pavilion will offer students the opportunity to learn outdoors, even during poor weather conditions.  

“The space can be used for learning in all different subject areas. Nature has a lot of things to teach us and being outdoors and being able to incorporate the environment into learning can cross all subject areas.”  

Smillie also says the pavilion will be available for members of the community to use after school hours.  

“School grounds are often used by the community after school hours as a central point in the neighborhood and I would expect this space will be used in a similar way by members of the community taking advantage of our public facilities.”   

The project will be the first of its kind at Hume Elementary and Smilie says both students and faculty have responded positively since the project’s announcement.  

“People at Hume school are very excited to have such an opportunity to have an outdoor learning space in the school, it’s the first of its kind at Hume Elementary so it’s very exciting.”  

The pavilion, which will be located on city land, does require the school to obtain a license of occupation, a development variance permit and a building permit, all of which require fees. 

The fee for a development variance permit is approximately $500 and the building permit fee was estimated to be around $505 with an additional $600 damage deposit.  

On top of the permit fees, the school would be responsible to pay an annual license of occupation fee which would be around $3,750 a year.  

Last week at council, School District 8 representatives asked the city to waive all the fees associated with the project. Their request was approved, which will now allow Hume Elementary School to move forward with the pavilion at a lower cost.   

Storrm Lennie
Storrm Lennie
Storrm began her journalism career in the Kootenays, joining Vista Radio in 2022. Originally from Red Deer, Alta., she now calls Nelson home and brings her passion for politics and community to her reporting.

Continue Reading

chnv Now playing play

ckkc Now playing play

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

Drug alert issued for Nelson area

Interior Health has issued a drug alert for Nelson and surrounding areas for light pink pebble sold as Down.

Report on B.C. event safety submitted to B.C. government

A public inquiry about community event safety has been submitted to the B.C. Government.

Comox councillor enters B.C. Greens leadership race

Comox town councillor and family doctor Jonathan Kerr is in the running to be the next leader of the B.C. Greens. 

B.C. opens applications for IVF funding, offering up to $19K per patient

Applications are open now through to March 2026 for British Columbia’s publicly funded in-vitro fertilization program.

West Kootenay under drought level three

Drought conditions in most of the West Kootenay region are at drought level three.  
- Advertisement -