Room to Bloom

Room to Bloom is an approach to education beyond four walls in an outdoor environment that supports the non-academic development and personal growth of the student. It prepares children and young adults for their futures by integrating the development of self awareness and resilience, emotional regulation, interpersonal skills, and nature-based education into the already existing academic framework. 

The creator of this initiative, Hayley, is a respected leader and educator in the community. She was hired on-the-spot 6 years ago with the only nature-based education practice in the city, opened her own practice 2 years later, and was a finalist as young entrepreneur of the year a year after that. Last year, she considered a position as a director of alternative education in Italy and this year, volunteered overseas in Central America to work with underprivileged children in childcare and education. 

Hayley has brought together a diverse and passionate team of individuals for research, marketing, and creation of this project with credentials such as bachelor of education, bachelor of science, certificate of childhood development, bachelor of recreation and tourism, registered therapists, registered herbalists, survivalists, community members, and so on. Additionally, we will be documenting the entire creation process, creating a documentary as we go. 

With a fast growing awareness around where the public school education system is lacking, we are here to offer a complementary approach with long-term benefit for all, with clients such as the Ministry of Education, Canadian School Board Association, school boards and districts. As we navigate this shift in awareness we are also seeing an abundance of independent and private schools opening their doors with hopes of utilizing and cultivating wild spaces. It is important and necessary to help train and guide educators in how to utilize wild spaces for learning and how to navigate holding space for a group of children in a high risk environment. For this reason, our client list is widespread and long term. 

With low overhead costs and operating expenses, Hayley has been successful on her own so far but in order to bring this movement forward on a wider scale, funding is necessary. Our first investment would be land to build a model school for our students and for clients to visit, tour, and train at. With recent market research a piece of property on Vancouver Island within a nature setting would be upwards of 1 million dollars. A budget developed to accommodate our team for the first year would be around $500,000. Supplies, building materials, and labour of an eco friendly, off-grid learning space is forecasted around $350,000.

Following the development and launch, we would create these spaces with our clients on already existing school property. Estimated around $30k - $50k per project depending on the environment - hazard tree removal, trail development, invasive species removal, shelter build, and length of training. 

We are hopeful to be aligned with an investor that is passionate and believes in the work we do. Thank you for your consideration.