What lies beneath…

Posted June 6, 2017

I have always wanted to get underwater video of the Common Snapping Turtle in the pond. Perhaps anticipating egg-laying, she has been hanging around the edges for a few days, so I took the opportunity. Check it out!

Huron Natural Area

The Centre The Huron Natural Area (HNA) is a joint venture between the City of Kitchener, the Waterloo Region District School Board, and the Waterloo Catholic District School Board. It is Kitchener’s largest natural area and over million dollars was invested by the City of Kitchener to upgrade the 107 hectare site, specifically to support […]

Outdoor and Environmental Education

 The Waterloo Region District School Board runs five day-use Outdoor and Environmental Education (OEE) Centres.  Each year we provide immersive, contextual and authentic opportunities to learn about nature and the environment to over 1,000 classes from Grades 1-12.  For over fifty years OEE has been at the forefront of environmental education in Waterloo Region. […]

Gr. 9 Aquatic Ecology Alternative Activity

For those students that cannot attend the grade 9 field trip to Wrigley Corners we have an alternative activity available that teachers may use and/or modify. The students essentially complete the same handout but use pictures as their sample.  This isn’t as much fun as actually catching the creatures but it presents the students with […]

Grade 4-6 Orienteering

In this program students will use a series of maps to find their ways around the Laurel Creek classroom, nature centre, and property. Attention will be paid to using a legend and finding landmarks. Notes for teachers: This program is often scheduled for November/December/April when conditions can be cold/wet/windy. Students should wear warm clothing and […]

Grade 7 Fur Trade

This program examines the fur trade as an economic interaction between cultures. Students participate in a simulation that highlights the competition between the British Hudson Bay Company and the predominantly French Northwest Trading Company. The relationship between European settlers and First Nation peoples is also explored.In the morning we will play out a fur trading […]

Grade 5 Structures

Given a tarp and ropes, students will work in groups in the forest to construct a shelter that is large enough for their group to sit in. Students will sit in their structure for ten minutes with a thermometer and measure temperature. After ten minutes, the class will tour as a group and each structure […]

Grade 8 Urban Planning

Given a map on which to plan a new community for 100 000 people, students are challenged to allocate space for housing, industry, commerce, farming, and the environment. Different models of land use are presented, and students need to decide which plans reflect their vision of a successful community. Notes for teachers:The program will give […]

Grade 7 Aquatic Interactions and Survival Simulation

This is a full-day program that will combine a visit to our pond or stream, with the “Instincts for Survival” Simulation. Most grade seven students will visit the stream as part of this program. We will measure the temperature, depth, and rate of flow of Laurel Creek, and catch some of the animals that live […]

Grade 5 Climate Change

Students will be introduced to four different speakers (all me) who will give their opinions on climate change. The speakers will guide the students to make notes in a booklet to support their positions. Students will have the opportunity to question the speakers, and challenge them on what is being said. Some of the program […]

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