The 50-page review of Rosseau Lake College is part of our series of in-depth accounts of Canada's leading private schools. It provides a unique and objective perspective on the school's academics, programs, culture, and community.
"Rosseau Lake College is an independent co-ed day and boarding school established in 1967 in the heart of Muskoka, Ontario. The lakefront campus provides the basis for an innovative academic program that immerses your child in powerful experiential learning that’s impossible to gain in traditional classroom settings. Our intentionally small school environment ensures meaningful relationships and a deep engagement in curricular and co-curricular life."
located within a stunning natural environment
small class sizes, allowing for individualized instruction and student support
opportunities for students to engage each day in outdoor activity
a global perspective through a diverse student population
a supportive environment where students feel valued, challenged, and empowered
member of the Round Square global network of schools.
member of the Duke of Edinburgh International Awards Program
2. What do you do differently and uniquely well?
"A key aspect of our program is outdoor education. In many people’s minds, outdoor education is synonymous with outdoor adventure and athletics. That’s one aspect of what RLC...(more)
"A key aspect of our program is outdoor education. In many people’s minds, outdoor education is synonymous with outdoor adventure and athletics. That’s one aspect of what RLC offers: education of the outdoors, learning how to paddle and swim and climb; experiencing the satisfaction of reaching a goal.
It’s also education for the outdoors: learning about the environment, about what is happening to the ecosystems.
And it’s education in the outdoors. The campus—forest, fields, lake, watershed—is essentially a 56-acre STEAM lab. You can test ideas here. Newton’s laws describe the motion of canoes just as they do a block descending an inclined plane. You can be inspired here. The natural setting brings a unique calm and focus.
In all, we believe that outdoor education delivers the skills that post-secondary programs and employers are looking for: problem solving, decision making, critical thinking, teamwork, observation, synthesis, communication, and calm."
3. What tradeoffs has your school made to serve families in this way?
Information not yet available.
4. What key junctures in your school's history have most shaped its present?
"Rosseau Lake College was established in 1967, the year of Canada’s Centennial. The founders were of course aware of that, and in a sense the creation of the school was a...(more)
"Rosseau Lake College was established in 1967, the year of Canada’s Centennial. The founders were of course aware of that, and in a sense the creation of the school was a centennial project. In a letter announcing the appointment of R. H. Perry as headmaster the board wrote, “As Canada prepares to enter its second century, there is a pressing need to equip its future citizens socially, morally, and intellectually so that they may meet the challenges of ensuing decades with courage, intelligence and understanding.” The letter ends by saying that the school intends to “do its modest share to help young Canadians face the post-centennial years.” It’s important that the founders were thinking in that way—thinking to the future, and to the needs of the students in their ability to meet that future. Ever since, that kind of thinking has been what has guided the mission of the school."
5. What type of student is a good fit for your school?
"For us, the ideal student is one who is willing to try something new and to be open to new discoveries. The academic program at RLC seeks to maximize a sense of personal...(more)
"For us, the ideal student is one who is willing to try something new and to be open to new discoveries. The academic program at RLC seeks to maximize a sense of personal discovery. It’s the difference between spotting an owl on a trail walk and seeing it at the zoo: the bird is impressive in both scenarios, but the experience is vastly different. We want our students to see the owl, not because we show it to them, but because they discover it for themselves. That’s metaphorically true–discovery and experience is at the heart of our academic delivery. It's also literally true–there really are trails, and students really do see owls. At the end of the day, we believe that outdoor education is uniquely able to deliver that sense of discovery. We also feel it delivers the skills that post-secondary programs and employers are looking for: problem solving, decision making, critical thinking, teamwork, observation, synthesis, and communication."
6. Under what conditions would you advise a family against choosing your school?
Information not yet available.
7. To your knowledge, why do families choose your school over others?
Information not yet available.
8. How would you characterize your school's image amongst the public?
"We have a lot that distinguishes us, the most obvious being that we're on a 56-acre property on the edge of a pristine lake in Muskoka. The region is home to some of the original...(more)
"We have a lot that distinguishes us, the most obvious being that we're on a 56-acre property on the edge of a pristine lake in Muskoka. The region is home to some of the original Ontario summer resorts, and a nearby are the Windermere and the JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka. Given the celebrities who have homes here, the New York Times has called Muskoka the “Malibu of the north,” (if thankfully quieter and more reserved than the Malibu of the south).
That said, our greatest distinction within independent schooling in Canada—and many would argue our greatest advantage—is scale. When people talk about small schools, they’re typically thinking of enrolments of a few hundred. Today at 130 students, we’re the smallest independent school in Canada. That’s intentional. Our students benefit from being visible and known to all staff, peers, mentors, and parent volunteers. They feel part of a community that wants to see them succeed. Because of that, we believe that small is beautiful."
9. What aspect of your school is underappreciated?
Information not yet available.
10. What might families find surprising about your school?
"I think one thing that families don't expect is that we're in a typical Muskoka village. Truly, the experience of the village of can be a pinch-me kind of moment. There’s a...(more)
"I think one thing that families don't expect is that we're in a typical Muskoka village. Truly, the experience of the village of can be a pinch-me kind of moment. There’s a bakery, a post office; there’s a farmer’s market, people walking their dogs at dusk, children jumping off the municipal dock on a late spring day. The Rosseau General Store has been operating here since incorporation, and the creaking, worn wooden floors are a charming reminder of its age. (Celebrity sightings are common, too, particularly in the General Store, given the cottages in the area.) In history, and feel, and that sense of community and safety, the village of Rosseau is a unique and delightful aspect of where we are and who we are. True, the village isn't a factor in our academic program, but it's a very important aspect of the student experience. Ask alumni about their time at RLC, and you'll invariably hear about how wonderful it was to spend those years in a charming village by a lake in Muskoka."
11. What improvements or changes has your school made recently?
Information not yet available.
12. How will your school change in the next 5 years?
I attended RLC in the 90's, for grades 9-13 (OAC) and had a wonderful experience. The dorm experience was new to me, but I made lifelong friends with both the students and the houseparents.
The small class sizes are an incredible environment for learning, and branching out beyond the curriculum.
The teachers I had were understanding, patient, inspiring and dedicated.
The location of the school couldn't be more beautiful, on the shores of Lake Rosseau, and it is far enough off the beaten path that there are not many opportunities to "get into trouble".
Outtrips were a great bonding experience as well. Each year we did a different trip at the beginning of the year, with a small group of students, and teachers, all of whom were at different skill levels, and it was great! Team work and beautiful scenery. We did Algonquin, Killarney, Tobermory, Sea Kayaking the French River etc.,
RLC prepared the students for their futures, I believe. Students should expect an environment that promotes learning, and student interaction, and healthy living.
If you are looking for a school where teachers care about the students, and treat them like friends but also like part of the family, that pretty much sounds like Rosseau Lake College. This is my first year here and I can tell you for sure, there is nothing like it. In this school, you can really tell that the teachers are concerned about their students and want them to feel included and welcome. As well as making sure that you understand and that they don't feel overwhelmed with school work.
At Rosseau, they make a really important emphasis on outdoor education, which is one of my favorite things. We get to go outside, take a break from being in a classroom all day and learn about nature. We are really in touch with the environment, it's like a big backyard filled with adventures and really great experiences. I'm a boarding student and the boarding life is really comfortable for me, even though I'm really young and away from home. You see, when I first started I was pretty scared and lonely but the teachers here really did their best so that I felt comfortable, they feel like when you are more comfortable at school you grow better as a person and as a student. Not to mention that we have lovely school events like Winter Formal, Winter Carnival, Haunted House, Terry Fox run, House Cup, ROSCAR awards etc....
I love how the teachers care about what you're good at and the talents that you have, more than if you can do a test or not. They care of how you behave in class, are you a good person? Do you participate in class? Are you respectful to other classmates and to the teacher? Rosseau Lake College is a school that just seems like a big family. I am so happy to have had this experience for the last 5 months and I will miss everybody next year more than anything in the world.
Rosseau Lake College is an incredible outdoors, future forward, and inclusive school. Personally I love this school, Outdoor Education and annual out trips (4-5 day camping trips) offers activities that you would not regularly see in other schools exposing me to different and more interesting experiences. I also love the small teacher to student ratio which makes me feel important to the teachers and staff. Having one on one tutoring and mentorship with subjects especially for me like math and history have helped me develop strong and effective work habits such as collaboration, determination, initiative, and self regulation. One thing I wish I would of known is how supportive and kind the students are. At first I was a bit skeptical in coming here scared of new experiences that were outside my comfort zone but if I had known how supportive the students and staff were my decision to come would of been much easier. One thing I would change about this school and this is the have more winter sports time. Fall and spring sports we have 5 days of sports a week however in winter we only have three sport days and even sometimes our facilities are being used for either basketball or volleyball competitive games so there can be as little as 2 practices a week. I personally love athletics thats why this is the thing I would change.
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