Environmental Education Commission

Brother Brennan Environmental Education Centre
Parent/guardian’s Frequently Asked Questions

Students’ safety and well-being is our priority at the Brother Brennan Centre. It’s also important to us that they feel comfortable and have fun because then they are open to learning new things and challenging themselves to accomplish new activities. Almost 2000 children stay at the Centre each year and have a great time while learning about the environment. If you have any questions about the trip hopefully we answer them below, but if not please contact your child’s teacher who will, if necessary, forward your concern to us.

Q. Will my child be missing essential learning outcomes if he/she doesn’t participate in the trip to the Brother Brennan Centre?

A. The environmental programs at the Centre are curriculum related and hands-on. Also programs continue into the evening. The learning that happens on a two day trip to the Brother Brennan Centre far surpasses the learning in a typical day at school. The wonderful wilderness location and fun enhance memory. Past students who return to the Centre as adults have fond and vivid memories of their visit as a child.

Q. Sending my child on this trip will be a significant financial hardship. Is there help available?

A. The visit to the Brother Brennan Centre is usually supposed to be for the whole class. Recognizing that there will always be families who are going through a tough time, most schools have funds available to pay for students who cannot afford the cost at this time. Please have a word with the teacher or send him/her an email to let them know that things are difficult just now and they will probably be able to find a way for your child to participate anyway.

Q. My child has a disability. Can he/she participate?

A. We do our best to accommodate any child at the Centre. Children with cognitive delays usually love the hands-on, active nature of the program and the extended opportunity to socialize. Children with visual or auditory impairments generally manage very well. Children with mobility problems are accommodated according to their individual need. The two main buildings are wheelchair accessible however the trails are rough and pushing a person in a wheelchair over rough ground is a challenge especially when the person is heavy. In the past some parents have managed to borrow special wheel-chairs or, in the case of smaller children. found large-wheeled strollers that work well on rough trails. For students who can walk with difficulty we can usually arrange to drive them to some locations or we may change the location of an activity. Some of these students choose to stay behind with a teacher during the evening hike, but join in with almost everything else.

If your special-needs child would like to come, but needs a lot of support, please consider coming with them or finding another adult who is familiar with the child and is willing to come too. We will do our best to help in whatever way we can.

Q. My child hasn’t been away from me overnight before. Will he/she be ok?

A. Although most children think it’s a great idea to have an overnight trip with their class, for some children it is a big deal to stay away from family. For the vast majority of these children the visit passes quickly and happily because they are very busy and having fun with friends. They then go home very pleased with themselves for having achieved that extra step of independence and exceedingly glad that they had this memorable adventure with their classmates.

Q. What if my child is homesick?

A. A tiny bit of homesickness is normal for a few children, especially as they get tired. This is quickly fixed with a kind word and a good night’s sleep. Only rarely does a child become very upset and this is almost always at bed-time. When this happens we do our best to console and distract the child and find out if there are additional problems that we can fix. Very occasionally we get a child to call someone from home for a chat. We don’t encourage parents to come and collect their child at night because of the remoteness of the Centre. Once again a good night’s sleep and the prospect of going home later in the day mean that any homesickness has generally disappeared on the second day.

Q. What if my child doesn’t like the food?

A.  The cooks at the Brother Brennan Center are a very determined team – they want to make sure that every child has plenty to eat. They are very friendly and they create child-friendly meals. Most children love the food. Even picky eaters are generally happy. If there is nothing on the menu that your child will eat then Gloria, our chief cook, will rustle up something else. We don’t advertise this because Gloria can’t cook up something different for everyone, but she will make sure that your child has something to eat.

Q. My child has a special diet, can I send food?

A. We don’t allow children to bring their own food unless they are on a special diet such as for celiac disease. Let your child’s teacher know ahead of time so that you can discuss whether or not you need to send something special for your child (such as gluten free bread) or an alternate to meat. Children with diabetes are encouraged to carry a snack at all times. We don’t allow peanut products at the Centre

Q. My child needs to take medication, what should I do?

A. Put medications into a zip-lock bag with your child’s name and instructions for administering the medication and pass it to your child’s teacher who will take responsibility for this.

Q. My child has a serious allergy. Is it safe for him/her to participate in this trip?

A. If your child carries an epi-pen for any allergy it will be necessary for you to fill out some extra forms and meet in person (if possible, but otherwise by phone) with Bill Tucker, the principal of District School in St John’s to make sure that you are comfortable that your child’s needs can safely be met at the Brother Brennan Centre. Most parents with a child who carries an epi-pen do decide to send their child. If so, we ask that the child carries at least one epi-pen on them at all times.

Q. My child doesn’t have all the items on the kit list. Do I have to purchase them?

A. We don’t want parents/guardians to have additional expenses and so, if necessary, please try to borrow needed items. We have a few waterproof jackets and boots available for students to borrow.

Q. Will there be heated rooms and mattresses?

A. Yes. The Brother Brennan Centre is a well maintained, modern facility. Students sleep in the male or female wing of the bunkhouse or extra bunk rooms below the main cookhouse. Most children have their own bunk bed, but occasionally we look for a volunteer to sleep on a mattress on the floor in one of the bunkrooms. This may happen for a number of reasons such as keeping friends together or because we have an awkward ratio of girls to boys.

Q. I hear the students have to wash dishes if they waste food. Is this true?

A. Yes! We are trying to encourage students to think about the environmental issue of waste. We ask them only to take food that they like and only in a quantity that they can manage. ‘Seconds’ are offered until everything is gone. When this is explained students agree that it is fair. Many of the dishes are washed by students. It is a team building activity as well as a consequence for undesirable behaviour. Many times students volunteer for this job.

Q. Who will supervise the students?

A. Usually the classroom teacher accompanies each class often with another teacher or parent volunteer. There will also be at least two staff present from the Brother Brennan Centre who will be running the programs and helping to supervise. These people are qualified in first-aid and have a current certificate of conduct. To fulfill school board guidelines we require at least 1 adult for every 10 children. For High School grades 1 adult for 12 students is required.

Q. What if there is a medical emergency?

A. We have qualified first-aiders on staff. While students are there we always arrange that a vehicle to be on hand in case someone needs immediate transport to the hospital. If a child is simply ‘sick’ we don’t use the vehicle, but call for someone from home to come and fetch the child. On the rare occasion that one has been needed, an ambulance can usually be at the Centre within an hour.

Q. Is there phone service at the Centre?

A. We have a cell phone hooked up to a large aerial for our staff to use and for emergencies. Coverage for regular cell phones is available, but it is sometimes unreliable.

Q. Can my child call home or can I call my child?

A. We discourage calling home and cell-phone usage because it distracts students from their visit. If there is a serious problem with your child please be assured that a teacher will be quick to call you.

Q. Will my child be required to share a room with someone they don’t know?

A. We want every child to be happy and so we will make sure they are sharing with at least one friend. They are usually with 5 friends! If we have more than one school staying at the same time, they will be of the same or similar grade and we will encourage new friendships, but we won’t expect your child to share a room with someone from a different school.

Q. My child has returned from the Centre and loved it. Are the facilities available for others to use?

A. Yes. The Brother Brennan Centre is a perfect location for environmentally sensitive summer camps, family reunions, retreats etc. Go to “bookings and renting” for more information.