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.

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 Animals

Grades: 1, 2, 3, 4
Length: 80 minutes
Seasons: All

Through inquiry-based learning and simulation activities, the diversity that exists between and amongst groups of animals will be more closely examined. Students are introduced to a variety of local animals to discover and explore the characteristics, adaptations, similarities, and differences that make each animal group unique.

Diversity of Life

Grades: 6
Length: 80 minutes
Seasons: All

Through inquiry-based learning, the diversity that exists between and amongst groups of animals will be more closely examined. These explorations will look at the common links and interesting adaptations that animals have based on form and function through the variety of artifacts and materials set up into self-discovery learning stations.

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 explore how their school community is connected to the Lake Simcoe watershed and identify the route in which water flows from their communities to Lake Simcoe. Through gameplay, students will identify sources of pollution within the watershed and how climate change will impact water quality. Working in small groups, students will then explore their schoolyard and map out where catch basins and other water diverting infrastructure exists. They will then look at a larger scale neighbourhood map to determine where water from their schoolyard might flow to (eg. stormwater management ponds) and what impacts like climate change (eg. severe rainstorms) might have in terms of flood risk. Students will take action through creating improvement plans to water systems in their schoolyards to foster climate resiliency in their communities.

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.

Plankton Lab (not available in 2024)

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

Discover, through hands-on microscopy, the amazing world of plankton. Structures of both plant and animal cells will be explored through investigating live samples of phytoplankton and zooplankton that are pulled from a local tributary or pond. Identification keys and resources will be used to determine what types of plankton are being observed and sketched using scientific drawing techniques.

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