Outreach

Experiential Programs

Extended learning experiences featuring a variety of engaging hands-on activities.

Aquatic Environmental Assessment

Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12
Length: 80 minutes
Seasons: Fall and Spring

Explore the benthic aquatic organisms that we find in local streams, ponds or the lake. Samples of these amazing creatures will be placed in observation buckets for viewing and identification. Water quality will also be assessed by conducting and analyzing water chemistry tests. Ideas of human impact through storm water runoff will be explored.

Climate Communities

Grades: 5
Length: 80 minutes
Seasons: All

This hands-on lesson invites students to explore climate change in the Lake Simcoe Watershed through fun games, creative thinking, and group challenges. They’ll test their knowledge with a fast-paced true or false activity, discover ways communities can adapt to a changing climate, and weigh the pros and cons of different solutions. The session wraps up with an exciting design challenge where students build their own climate-smart community spaces, bringing together everything they’ve learned in a fun and imaginative way.

Dip, Dip, Hooray!

Grades: 1, 2, 3, 4
Length: 80 minutes
Seasons: Fall and Spring

Discover the diversity of life found in local streams, ponds and the lake. Samples of these amazing creatures will be placed in observation buckets for viewing, interacting with and identifying. A discussion of animal characteristics, adaptations and life cycles will give a greater understanding of these fascinating critters as well as what they can tell us about the quality of the water as a habitat.

Discovering Schoolyard Habitats

Grades: 1, 2, 3, 4
Length: 80 minutes
Seasons: Fall and Spring

The health of the schoolyard as a habitat will be assessed through active and animal-related simulation games. Students will explore and learn about local plants and animals, species at risk in Ontario, and both positive and negative human interactions with local habitats and communities. Food chains and webs will also be explored.

Diversity of Life

Grades: 6
Length: 80 minutes
Seasons: All

In this program, students will explore biodiversity in their schoolyards. Students will engage in a biodiversity simulation, explore self-directed learning stations, and consolidate their learning through gameplay about the threats to biodiversity. Students will gain hands-on skills in identifying examples of biodiversity and assessing environments to determine what threats to biodiversity may be present. Seasonal adaptations will ensure the program remains relevant and engaging year-round.

Feathered Friends

Grades: K
Length: 80 minutes
Seasons: all

Explore a local habitat space and discover what lives there. A deeper investigation will look at local birds and what they need to survive. Further understanding about caring for and respecting birds will be developed through a hands-on activity of making a small bird feeder to take home.

Go With the Flow

Grades: 7, 8
Length: 80 minutes
Seasons: Fall and Spring

Students will investigate how their school connects to the Lake Simcoe watershed and trace how water travels from their community to the lake. Through a mix of games, mapping, and outdoor exploration, they’ll identify pollution sources and examine how climate change may affect water quality and flood risk. Working in small groups, students will map local water features like catch basins, explore larger neighbourhood systems, and create action plans to improve water management in their schoolyard, helping build a more climate-resilient community.

Goodbye Butterflies?

Grades: K
Length: 80 minutes
Seasons: Fall and Spring

Learn about monarch butterflies and why they are a species-at-risk. Through a story and a role-playing game, their fascinating lifecycle and annual migration will be explored. Further understanding about caring for and respecting butterflies will be developed through a hands-on activity of making a mini wildflower garden to take home.

Investigating Invasives

Grades: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Length: 80 minutes
Seasons: Fall and Spring

Learn about invasive species and how they affect local ecosystems through engaging role-playing simulation games and activities. Further exploration will include looking for invasive species in the schoolyard using identifications keys and other resources.

Looking for something different?

Don’t see a theme or topic you are looking for? Email education@LSRCA.on.ca and let us know your program idea – we may be able to accommodate your needs!

School Subjects:

Find the best program for your needs by subject or by grade! Subjects are identified on the program list with the following icons:

Science and Technology

Health & Physical Education

$math icon$ Math

Social Studies

The Arts

Kindergarten Program

Help Us Build a New Nature Centre!

Our partners at the Lake Simcoe Conservation Foundation have launched the Connect Campaign to build an incredible new Nature Centre at Scanlon Creek.

Find out more about the Connect Campaign