2School: An Urban Experience
The 2School program transforms downtown Calgary into a living classroom. This week-long, interdisciplinary experience brings together educators, students, and community experts to explore the urban environment through a curriculum-based approach, using the city itself as the learning space. Located at the CBE Education Center in the Beltline, 2School encourages Calgarians to engage with, learn about, and celebrate both public education and the vibrant downtown communities that surround them.
2School connects students directly with their community, fostering a deeper understanding of how education, environment, history, and culture intersect in meaningful ways. Students develop a holistic sense of place and purpose within their city while building connections with the land, diverse community members, and experts.
Questions that have been explored
- How might we live in a good way?
- What is beautiful and who decides?
- Does an urban environment still mean a connection to land?
- Where do we gather?
- How does our history impact our present wellness?
- What steps can we take to establish a meaningful legacy?
- How do stories teach us and connect us?
Learning Experiences
2School draws inspiration from diverse aspects of urban life, including:
Cultural and Historical Connections: Students explore the historical roots and current Indigenous presence in Calgary, learning how the past shapes present-day wellness and community identity.
Environmental Urban Learning: The program examines how cities can maintain connections to the land, exploring urban forests, wetlands, riparian habitats, and flood mitigation as part of environmental restoration efforts.
Community Engagement: Students access cultural centers and community associations, learning directly from community members and experiencing various forms of public, private, and community-driven art initiatives.
Public Education in Context: The program examines the role of public education in society while evaluating and experiencing public spaces throughout the downtown core.
Contact
Margeaux Montgomery
As an avid urban explorer, Margeaux has yet to meet a city she doesn't like. Having taught as a classroom teacher with the Calgary Board of Education before transitioning to the 2School coordinator role, she is passionate about learning alongside educators and students who are exploring the world through meaningful experiences, building curiosity and a sense of care and rootedness within our communities.
Margeaux loves sunshine, good coffee and exploring the city on her bike with her family and friends. She is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Education at the University of Calgary exploring the role that place and Land play in the lives of educators.
Phone: 403.817.7247
Email: mbmontgomery@cbe.ab.ca