Conservation Education Programs for Schools
Welcome to our page for conservation education programs for schools, in the classroom and in outdoor education in conservation areas.
Special Offer
A special offer now for watershed schools includes:
- Free in-school programs, thanks to a grant from NextEra Energy Canada, LP (this offer does not apply to all in-school programs)
- Receive a rebate on the cost of a bus for one field trip (not including HST).
Outdoor programs
Watch for a new Outdoor Programs web page - coming soon!
- Outdoor Education (coming soon)
These program are offered in our conservation area properties.
Please note that some outdoor programs may be limited to certain conservation areas and only available during certain seasons.
Download a map of the watershed with our conservation areas and schools highlighted:
Contact staff for information on outdoor programs.
In-school programs
Ausable Bayfield Conservation educators are dedicated to building relationships between youth and their natural world. These programs are typically offered at your school from November to April. Educators may also be able to develop and deliver specialized programs to meet your curriculum needs. Activities can include mulitmedia presentations, games, nature exploration or investigation of natural specimens.
In addition to the programs, a regular outdoor program may be delivered in your schoolyard (depending on the site and/or program).
There are some free in-school programs, thanks to a grant from NextEra Energy Canada, LP.
For a list of these programs please visit this link:
SPECIAL OFFER to Ausable Bayfield Conservation Watershed Schools: At no cost, ABCA will come to your school to deliver soil and water-focused programs as indicated below **
Ausable Bayfield Conservation educators are dedicated to building relationships between youth and their natural world. Our in-school conservation education are typically offered at your school from November to April.
Conservation educators may also be able to develop and deliver specialized programs to meet your curriculum needs. Activities can include mulitmedia presentations, games, nature exploration or investigation of natural specimens.
In addition to the programs listed, a regular Outdoor Program may be delivered in your schoolyard (depending on the site and/or program).
Additional information about booking programs.
For more information, or to book a program: call 519-235-2610 or toll-free 1-888-286-2610 or e-mail: info(at)abca.on.ca or visit the staff contacts list.
Download the flyer for in-school programs and 'education through exploration':
- In School Programs - Environmental Education in the Classroom - for primary, junior, intermediate and all grades (1 MB - Large PDF file)
The flyer also includes Education through Exploration programs (at Morrison Dam, Clinton, and Rock Glen conservation areas) for Primary; Junior; Junior and Intermediate; and Intermediate level grades.
Use our handy anchor tag jump links to scroll down the page and go directly to you educational division:
In the classroom:
- Primary Level - Environmental education in the classroom - In-school programs
- Junior Level - Environmental education in the classroom - In-school programs
- Intermediate Level - Environmental education in the classroom - In-school programs
- All Grades - - Environmental education in the classroom - In-school programs
Education through Exploration - Outdoor education programs for your class at Rock Glen, Clinton, or Morrison Dam conservation areas
- Primary Level - Education through Exploration
- Junior Level - Education through Exploration
- Junior-Intermediate Level - Education through Exploration
- Intermediate Level - Education through Exploration
- All Grades - Education through Exploration
Environmental Education in the Classroom - In School Programs
Reduce your carbon footprint and book us for the whole day!
$275 for a full day
$100 per program
Set of 35 Snowshoes Rental $85
Autumn 2019
Primary
Growth and Changes in Animals
How is a beaver different from a snake? Learn about some amazing adaptations as you explore the animals groups.
Water in the Environment
*FREE*
Journey through the water cycle.
Explore the properties and importance of water moves through games and experiments.
Growth and Changes in Plants
Become an herbal superhero as you discover how plants make their own food and form the basis of any food pyramid.
Soils in the Environment
*FREE*
Dig in and discover what is hiding in the soil.
Learn about the properties of soil through demonstrations and hands-on exploration.
School Yards Alive!
*FREE*
This outdoor, schoolyard-based program uses facilitated activities to explore science concepts.
Students are introduced to mapping through story.
Afterwards students explore distinct areas of your schoolyard and make observations of all the living things they see.
Natural Curiosity
Develop your students' natural curiosity and awareness of the natural world through schoolyard inquiry based learning.
Contact Ausable Bayfield Conservation staff to discuss nature themes in which your students are interested.
Junior
Rocks and Minerals
Become an amateur geologist.
Explore the formation of rocks and the minerals they contain by looking at and testing real specimens
Species at Risk
Species at Risk *FREE*
Learn why some species struggle for survival while others thrive. Explore the natural and human-related factors affecting aquatic animals. Free for autumn only.
Habitats and Biodiversity in the School Yard
*FREE*
This outdoor schoolyard program introduces students to the concepts around habitats and biodiversity through facilitated activities to develop knowledge and skills to complete a schoolyard bioblitz!
Grade 6 students will be taught how to use a dichotomous key.
Yellow Fish Road TM
*FREE*
This hands-on environmental project could help decrease water pollution in your community. Paint ‘yellow fish’ next to storm drains and distribute brochures to nearby households and businesses. (Available in selected communities only).
Reduce your carbon footprint and book us for the whole day!
$275 for a full day
$100 per program
Set of 35 snowshoes - Rental $85
Intermediate
Ecosystem Exploration
*FREE*
Students will be introduced to concepts of carrying capacity, decomposers, producers and consumers through activities.
Students will identify different habitats within your schoolyard.
Working in small groups students will collect abiotic and biotic information about their assigned study area.
Local Water Systems
*FREE*
This multi-part program includes a classroom presentation on watershed science and hands-on inquiries to demonstrate how water can be polluted; a field trip to a local river system to investigate what lives in the water, chemical properties of water and what each reveals about water quality and the health of the watershed; and a tour of your local wastewater and/or drinking water treatment plant.
Ausable Bayfield Conservation encourages students to develop a service learning project in your community!
All Grades
Snowshoeing
Jump into the snow and experience first-hand how snowshoes are used to travel during the winter.
Learn how different animals are adapted to movement in the snow and search for tracks.
Games and activities will be adjusted for age and interest.
River Quest
*FREE*
Students will complete grade appropriate ‘missions’ in small groups to help them discover how to stay safe around water.
Contact us:
abca.ca
519-235-2610
Nina Sampson — nsampson@abca.ca ext 262
Denise Iszczuk — diszczuk@abca.ca ext 255
71108 Morrison Line
RR 3 Exeter, ON
N0M 1S5
TELEPHONE: 519-235-2610 TOLL FREE: 1-888-286-2610
Education through Exploration
Morrison Dam Conservation Area; Clinton Conservation Area; Rock Glen Conservation Area, Arkona
PRIMARY
Living World Walk
Come along on this sensory hike that will explore how seasonal changes affect our local plants and animals.
Animal Adventures
Students will explore local animals by learning about their unique characteristics, life cycles, and other adaptations.
Puddles and Pollywogs*
Students will explore the river or stream and use nets to collect aquatic critters. Share in a story and/or game to finish the day’s investigation.
Growing Soils
Learn about growth and changes in plants and soils in different environments. Use trowels to investigate soil properties in forest, field and areas impacted by human use.
*New for 2019-2020*
JUNIOR
River Ramble*
Explore your local watercourse to discover what lives in it or nearby. Discover what these plants and animals tell us about the water quality.
Habitats and Communities in Your Community
Explore a local conservation area and learn about different habitats and the plants and animals that call them home.
*New for 2019-2020*
JUNIOR & INTERMEDIATE
Fantastic Fossils*
Travel back in time and discover what Southern Ontario looked like 400 million years ago. Explore the rocks and fossils in the museum, then hike through history into the Ausable Gorge in search of fossils. Each student may bring home one fossil.
Backyard Biodiversity
Students will explore a variety of ecosystems to learn how they are similar and different. Benefits of biodiversity and causes of biodiversity loss will be dis-cussed through games and activities.
Go Wild Survival
See the animal, be the animal! Students play the role of mammals in this active food web game and discover how energy is transferred through an ecosystem.
Species at Risk
Outdoor/Field Trip
Species at Risk *FREE*
Learn why some species struggle for survival while others thrive. Explore the natural and human-related factors affecting these plants and animals.
(Free for autumn only. Busing subsidy available for schools in the Ausable River Watershed)
Eco-Dynamics (Team Building)
Teach your students the importance of leadership and group dynamics using the natural environment.
INTERMEDIATE
Local Water Systems* *FREE*
This multi-part program includes a classroom presentation on watershed science and hands-on inquiries to demonstrate how water can be polluted; a field trip to a local river system to investigate what lives in the water, chemical properties of water and what each reveals about water quality and the health of the watershed; and a tour of your local wastewater/drinking water treatment plant.
Ausable Bayfield Conservatoin encourages students to develop a service learning project in your community!
ONE BUS SUBSIDY PER WATERSHED SCHOOL
(everything but HST) for your field trip to a conservation area
$7.00/student for one two-hour program
$12.00/student for two two-hour programs
To ensure your date, please book spring programs by May 1, 2020.
GATE FEES FOR ROCK GLEN CONSERVATION AREA ARE INCLUDED WITH THE PROGRAM FEES.
*Ask about programming modifications which do not allow students to enter water
Contact us to find out more
Click this link for our staff contacts page: