This project aims to upgrade and expand our onsite kitchen to significantly increase the capacity and reach of our outdoor education programs. By enhancing our kitchen facilities, we will be able to welcome more children, students, community organizations, and post-secondary partners to our site for educational, nutritional, and community-building activities.
This project aligns closely with the ongoing growth of our community garden. As we expand garden production, the renovated kitchen will enable us to process, prepare, and preserve more of the vegetables we grow onsite. This integration between garden and kitchen will support farm-to-table education, reduce food waste, and deepen community engagement with local food systems.
With an upgraded kitchen we could potentially expand our programming to include preserving lessons, hands on workshops, and more!
Each year, thousands of children and adults come to our site to learn, explore, and share a meal prepared by our beloved in-house chef. The kitchen is more than just a place to eat—it’s a place where people connect, learn, and feel at home.
Over the years, our kitchen has become a space where visitors not only enjoy delicious, nourishing meals but also learn valuable lessons about sustainability, such as our commitment to zero food waste. It’s a place where guests gather after spending the day outdoors—warming up by a hearty soup in winter or cooling off with a fresh meal in summer—reflecting on what they’ve learned in nature.
We regularly welcome community groups, schools, post-secondary students, and organizations, all of whom leave feeling a deep sense of belonging. The shared meals and welcoming atmosphere are a cornerstone of the OEC experience. Upgrading our kitchen will ensure we can continue to provide that sense of community, comfort, and learning for generations to come.
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The oec is an incredible place with exceptional programming
Outdoor experiences form who we are as citizens of this planet! If you care about our future you’ll support programs and projects that getout kids back to land!
Our children had a great experience there . Hope it is there for many more to enjoy
Updates needed for such an amazing facility!!
I went in grade 6, such a fun memory!
Such a fabulous facility that deserves any and all upgrades and maintenance!