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Reduce Bullying, and Improve Inclusion Through Active Play Across Canada 

Recess Guardians is a Canada-widefree program that builds leadership abilities and encourages a healthy lifestyle. We help teach youth positive building blocks for their future in a fun, safe and educational environment. 

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Want to help make an impact?

700 Schools Reached                    400k Students Impacted

said Recess Guardian's increased leadership skills in their youth

88%

said our program increased the confidence level in the leaders

88%

said Recess Guardian's increased social inclusion on the playground

85%

said that our program leads to greater cooperation in both the classroom and on the playground

81%

Teaching youth through unstructured play to enhance life skills for positive development.

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Recess Guardians provides schools, teachers and most importantly students, with easy to use tools that promote all students to participate and be “Guardians of Play” by demonstrating daily leadership to other students during non-classroom time. Older students in the school are provided with leadership training and tools to  

successfully lead students in games, collaborative activities that engage all students, while promoting physical activity, fun and a positive school community. We are working to make school playgrounds safer by encouraging all students to build friendships instead of fences; build relationships instead of boundaries. 

Resolving the social and bullying problems impacting students’ recess. Learn about our free school program.

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The majority of the students at Vincent Massey Community School are now active during recess time. Given the proper equipment and leadership, the students have found success with their outside time on the playground.

- Teacher, Vincent Massey Community School

We’re creating a bold and imaginative world where everyone has someone who believes in them.

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Get Started Today

Recess Guardians is a very versatile and accommodating program. We take pride in the fact that we can adapt and work with any type of school we come across.

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Contact us and our group of fun-loving staff comes right to you, so there’s no need to get permission slips or take the students away from class time. We do our best to work with the students during times that are ideal for the teacher and class, such as during gym time or lunch hour. 

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In the News

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Recess Guardians Brings Games Back to Kids at School

August 21, 2019

Remember recess? Chances are, you filled those short periods between classes with fun activities like tag, four square and jump rope. Today, you’d be hard-pressed to find that in many schools, says Mike McDonald, founder and CEO of Recess Guardians.

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Elise Stolte: A common-sense solution for Edmonton’s playground bullies

May 24, 2019

It’s called Recess Guardians and it’s showing real promise in a kind of common sense, a why-didn’t-we-do-this-before way.

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Unique program puts play time back into recess - The StarPhoenix

September 25th, 2015

Recess Guardians encourages students to be school leaders

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Recess Guardians - Bringing play back to recess

September 1, 2015

Empowering youth to lead through active play. Mike McDonald explains how Recess Guardians is bringing play back to recess.

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Recess Guardians empowers youth

September 1, 2015

Bringing the play back into recess, Recess Guardians empowers youth by encouraging leadership and a healthy lifestyle.  

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Recess Guardians

August 16, 2013

A non-profit organization, recess guardians, works with students in schools to teach them games and promote leadership skills.  

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