Amphibian sightings
Posted December 21, 2011
So today, on December 21, the classes at Laurel Creek saw a total of 8 frogs. One was hopping through the rain, and 7 were in a muddy hole beside our pond. Seems pretty odd to see frogs about on the last day of autumn. During yesterday’s class, we were walking beside the same pond, and I noticed the pond’s overflow […]
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In the Midst of Living
Posted December 16, 2011
“My ideas usually come not at my desk writing, but in the midst of living.” Anais Nin
Window Strike
Posted December 16, 2011
Kids always ask how and from where we get the animals specimens that adorn our Outdoor Centre classrooms. Some birds and mammals are hit by cars, others die as a result of natural causes. Some – that have been donated to us from personal collections – may have been hunted. Many small birds are the […]
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Old magazine ad
Posted December 5, 2011
“100 years from now, people will not understand the things we brag about today.” Discuss.
After the Rain…
Posted December 2, 2011
My weather station at the Blair OEEC recorded a total of fifty-four millimeters of rain during the storm earlier this week. 54!! Five and a half centimeters. That’s a lotta rain. 48 hours later the Grand River is still in flood as it drains such a huge watershed. At Doon, just upstream from Blair, the […]
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Compass Craze
Posted November 29, 2011
On Tuesday, November 22nd the students in Gill-Ville from Ryerson P.S. enjoyed a great morning at the Blair Outdoor Ed Centre. In addition to checking out the cool creatures, we spent some time talking about migration, climate change, and endangered species. This was special for us because we are learning about the issues polar bears […]
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Rain, Rain, Go Away…
Posted November 29, 2011
It’s a miserable, soaker of a day today that has caused the postponement of visits to Blair by two Grade 1 classes. But as we grumble and complain and try to skirt the puddles, there is nowhere to hide for our feathered friends. Some birds will wait out the worst of the weather in the […]
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Fleece Vest
Posted November 29, 2011
Fleece Vest Today I bought a new fleece vest The vest was made in Bangladesh ___________ Fleece is made from plastic And plastic comes from oil Oil comes from sludge that lies Beneath Alberta soil Bangladesh is a country Four thousand miles away Bangladeshis make about Two dollars every day […]
Bird Species 110!!!! for 2011
Posted November 22, 2011
It did not take long for the 110th species to find its way to the Env. Ed. Centre property. Each day last week I heard the call notes of the White-winged Crossbills as they flew back and forth over the forest in search of conifers. This year the Eastern Hemlocks and White Spruce have an […]
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A few interesting sightings…
Posted November 16, 2011
Yesterday was just a spectacular day on many levels. Classes from Lackner Woods P.S. were out studying the habitats on the property. Besides the beautiful weather, the day was made even more special by all of the sightings and sounds we experienced. Just before the arrival of the bus I was treated to a fly-over […]