Wildwood Outdoor Education Centre: Programs for Pre-school, Kindergarten and Elementary Students

Programs and Bookings

We offer a wide range of environmental educational programs for pre-school, kindergarten, and elementary classes at the Wildwood Outdoor Education Centre (Wildwood Conservation Area). All programs meet Ontario curriculum requirements.

To book a program, please email Caroline Biel, Community Education Specialist, or Matthew Marchioni, Community Education Technician.

Program Length

All programs are 1.5 hours in length and typically run in the morning from 9:30 am – 11 am and in the afternoon from 12:30 pm – 2 pm. However, these times can be flexible based on bus requirements and bell times.

All programs are a half-day unless specified otherwise. If you choose to combine two programs to create a full-day experience, a space for your class to eat lunch will be available.

Program Fees:

  • $8/student/half-day
  • $16/student/full-day
  • $136 minimum charge/half-day for groups with fewer than 16 students
  • No charge for teachers or volunteers
Two students look at mushrooms growing on the ground.

Program Descriptions

Join us as we share Christmas with our forest friends! Meet our puppet friends Rocky the raccoon, Professor Hooter the owl, Abbot the rabbit and Rudy the red fox who will be waiting to tell you about the forest and the magic of Christmas. Santa needs help in the forest! The birds need to be fed, the trees need to be decorated and “presents” need to be found for the animals! When all the work is done, warm up inside with a snack and fireside story and song!

Students use their senses to gain awareness and appreciation of plants and animals while exploring various natural communities. Games and activities throughout the hike encourage interaction with classmates and the environment.

Kindergarten – The Kindergarten Program

A Christmas-themed puppet show welcomes students to the forest, introduces familiar animals and their winter survival strategies, and helps get everyone excited for the holiday season. Heading outside, the students observe and feed birds as well as leave “presents” for animals that are active in the winter. We also celebrate the holidays with a winter story and sing-a-long accompanied by jingle bells.

Kindergarten – The Kindergarten Program
Grade 1 – Science and Technology: Daily and Seasonal Changes

A wintery puppet show introduces students to familiar animals and their winter survival strategies. Key terms include hibernation, migration, and adapting. A short guided hike outside leads to observing and feeding birds and looking for evidence of animal life. The program concludes back inside with a cozy winter story.

Kindergarten – The Kindergarten Program
Grade 1 – Science and Technology: Daily and Seasonal Changes

Come on a walk with us to explore what wildlife are active in winter at Wildwood. Learn how animals, including people, have adapted to winter conditions!

Grade 1 – Science and Technology: Needs and Characteristics of Living Things; Daily and Seasonal Changes

A variety of pods, including a forest kitchen, featuring nature-related loose parts make our forest an exciting play space to encourage imagination, creativity, observation, and building. Students will enjoy using their senses, natural curiosity, creativity, and sense of wonder to discover and interact with nature in a forest. Activities connect with seasonal changes.

Kindergarten – The Kindergarten Program
Grade 1 – Science and Technology: Needs and Characteristics of Living Things; Daily and Seasonal Changes

Uncover the wonders of the tiny, amazing world beneath the water’s surface. Using dip nets, identification sheets and water containers, students will explore all of the creatures that call our stream home. We’ll look for crayfish, dragonfly nymphs, diving beetles, and more. Remember your boots and sense of awe!

Kindergarten – The Kindergarten Program
Grade 1 – Science and Technology: Daily and Seasonal Changes

Just like us, animals and plants are getting ready for winter. Through hiking, exploration, and playing, students discover how wildlife are preparing for the seasonal changes ahead and how they are uniquely adapted to survive.

Grade 1 – Science and Technology: Needs and Characteristics of Living Things, Daily and Seasonal Changes

The return of songbirds marks the arrival of spring for many people. As friends of birds, we will gain a basic understanding of their behaviour by watching them with binoculars and playing games. In addition, the flush of new plant growth will not be overlooked on our hike. In the quiet of our Nature Corner, students can examine a collection of springtime secrets and mysteries.

Grade 1 – Science and Technology: Needs and Characteristics of Living Things, Daily and Seasonal Changes

Discover how different animals adapt to life in the forest. Solve puzzles and explore how animals have different behavior and physical adaptations through various hands-on activities.

Grade 2 – Science and Technology: Growth and Changes in Animals

Beaks and feet and all things unique. Birds are special and have different adaptations that allow many of them to stay in our area in the winter.

Grade 2 – Science and Technology: Growth and Changes in Animals
Grade 2 – Social Studies: Global Communities

Explore and discover the wonders of insect adaptation. Experience the stages of complete metamorphosis and discover how some bugs eat, move, and see! Students will get to catch and examine insects that live in the meadow at Wildwood Conservation Area.

Grade 2 – Science and Technology: Growth and Changes in Animals

Learn about the hazards and thrills of Monarch butterfly migration in a “choose your own adventure” map reading exercise. Additional activities focus on learning cardinal directions as well as the anatomy and life cycle of a butterfly.

Bring your running shoes! This program includes movement-based activities.

Grade 2 – Science and Technology: Growth and Changes in Animals
Grade 3 – Science and Technology: Growth and Changes in Plants
Grade 2, 3 – Mathematics: Algebra and Spatial Sense
Grade 2, 3 – Health and Physical Education: Active Living

Students will have the opportunity to explore the diverse plant life in Wildwood’s local forests and meadows, learn botanical terminology, and understand the process of photosynthesis. Through interactive activities such as Plant Bingo, plant identification, and journaling, students will gain insights into plant anatomy, cultural uses of plants by Anishinaabe peoples, and the interconnectedness of ecosystems.

Grade 3 – Science and Technology: Growth and Changes in Plants

Let’s get the dirt on soil! Students will role play as soil scientists to test soil and learn about its different properties and types. By getting their hands dirty, they will discover how soil sustains life. We are sure they will “worm” up to it!

Grade 3 – Science and Technology: Soils in the Environment

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean we can’t learn from the plants around us. Using the white cedar as inspiration we will explore the role of this tree in our forests and all the benefits it has to offer.

Grade 3 – Science and Technology: Growth and Changes in Plants

Discover what every living thing ‘needs’ before heading into the forest. Create ‘hotel’ habitats for our forest friends. Check out the natural life cycle by looking at some rotting logs! Explore what these three natural communities have in common and what makes them distinct. Through collecting and identifying organisms, students are encouraged to discover animal adaptations and habitat requirements. Insect sweep nets are supplied. Rubber boots or old running shoes are recommended.

Grade 4 – Science and Technology: Habitats and Communities

Explore the needs of the white-tailed deer along with their amazing adaptations. Students will complete a habitat inventory to see if they can determine how many deer live at Wildwood. (indoor and outdoor components) – “Oh Deer” is a simulation game where students become “deer” and components of habitat. This activity emphasizes the most essential things that animals need in order to survive. This game will also show how animal populations increase and decrease from year to year and that limiting factors are the cause of the population change.

Grade 4 – Science and Technology: Habitats and Communities

Urban sprawl has claimed the natural habitat of many wildlife species. In this game, students role play as animals commonly found in towns and cities to experience their challenges for survival. Survival will depend on meeting their individual needs while avoiding predators – and the “destroyer”! Running shoes are required.

Grade 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 – Health & Physical Education: Active Living
Grade 4 – Science and Technology: Habitats and Communities
Grade 6 – Science and Technology: Biodiversity
Grade 7 – Science and Technology: Interactions in the Environment

UTRCA staff will come to your school and help students understand the impacts of climate change as it relates to stormwater on built and natural surfaces. We’ll experiment with a rainfall simulation, then head outside to explore your schools storm water path! Note: This activity requires permission for students to leave the schoolgrounds and walk within the community.  

Grade 5 – Science and Technology: Human Organ Systems, Forces Acting on Structures and Mechanisms, Conservation of Energy and Resources 

Surviving the elements takes skill and stamina. Learn how the human body reacts in different winter weather situations and what it takes to ensure enough shelter, water and food.

Grade 5 – Science and Technology: Human Organ Systems, Forces Acting on Structures and Mechanisms

Learn what orienteering is and how to use a compass. Pairs of students are given a set of directions and use their map reading skills and a compass to find their way to a series of locations. Compasses are supplied.

Grade 5, 6 – Mathematics: Algebra and Spatial Sense
Grade 6 – Social Studies: Spatial Skills

Take action as an Earth Ally! Join us as we discover ways to make a real difference for the environment. Students will create DIY wildflower seed balls to promote the growth of pollinator-friendly plants. As well, we will distinguish between native and non-native species and take steps toward eliminating invasive plants. This program includes movement-based games and meadow exploration.

Grade 6 – Science and Technology: Conservation of Energy and Resources
Grade 6 – Science and Technology: Biodiversity

Dynamic and cooperative activities help foster awareness of how human impacts and pressures endanger our natural resources. Themes include habitat loss, population growth, over consumption, conservation, and sustainability.

Grade 6 – Science and Technology: Biodiversity
Grade 6 Health and Physical Education: Active Living (Group Dynamics)

Students discover basic ecological concepts as we explore aquatic and terrestrial communities to identify and classify a variety of plants and animals. Discover how ecosystem health depends on biodiversity, and use authentic field work tools including sweep nets to explore habitats.

Grade 7 – Science and Technology: Interactions in the Environment

Looking for ways to help your students support each other and strengthen their connection to one another? Participate in a series of team building and leadership activities centered around understanding their local environment. Get ready to have fun while working on collaboration and problem solving skills! Your class will participate in various activities that involve listening, communicating, teambuilding, and trust-building skills.

Learn what orienteering is and how to use a compass. Pairs of students are given a set of directions and use compasses and their map reading skills to find their way to a series of locations. Note: the Intermediate orienteering course map is more challenging than the Beginner map. Compasses are supplied.

Grade 7, 8 – Mathematics: Geometry and Spatial Sense
Grade 7, 8 – Geography: Concepts of Geographic Thinking

Learn the basics of GPS technology and apply your skills to a nature-themed game of The Amazing Race! Using GPS units out on a set course, students are challenged to find answers to natural science questions and to locate specific eco-caches.

Grade 7, 8 – Mathematics: Geometry and Spatial Sense
Grade 7, 8 – Geography: Concepts of Geographic Thinking

Learn how to survive in the wilderness! Students will build shelters and fires, and discover the keys to staying safe in the elements.

Grade 7, 8 – Health and Physical Education: Social-Emotional Learning Skills and Active Living

Students will spend the day learning about adaptation and mitigation methods for flooding in our watershed. We start by understanding the force of water and the impact climate change will have on our watershed, then we get to observe the dam and learn how it functions with a hike down to the outfall. The day ends with an active game that reinforces the water cycle concept, how humans use water, and wise water use.  

  • Grade 8 Earth and Space Systems: water systems 

Quick View: Elementary Outdoor Education Programs by Grade

Grade Programs Offered
Pre-school Christmas Hug-a-Tree
Kindergarten Sensory Nature Hike, Winter for the Animals, Christmas for the Animals, Winter Walk, Forest Free Plant, Stream Safari
Grade 1 Winter for the Animals, Christmas for the Animals, Forest Free Play, Winter Walk, Stream Safari, Fabulous Fall, Spring Sensations
Grade 2 Monarchs on the Map, Amazing Adaptations: Bugs!, Amazing Adaptations: Forest Animals! Birds of a Feather
Grade 3 Monarchs on the Map, Flora Frenzy: Discovering the Magic of Plants, Tree Tales, Save Our Soil
Grade 4 Wildwood Habitats and Communities, Oh Deer!, Animal Survivor Game
Grade 5 Animal Survival Game, Surviving the Elements, Map Quest, Earth Allies: Stewardship in Action
Grade 6 Animals Survival Game, Threats to Biodiversity, Map Quest, Earth Allies: Stewardship in Action
Grade 7 Animals Survival Game, Wilderness Survival, Team Building, Interactions in Our Local Environment, Intermediate Map and Compass Orienteering, The Amazing GPS Race
Grade 8 Animals Survival Game, The Amazing GPS Race, Wilderness Survival, Team Building, Intermediate Map and Compass Orienteering

Recommended Full-day Program Combinations

Grade Curriculum Theme Recommended Full-day Program Combination
Kindergarten The Kindergarten Program In spring, combine two: Sensory Nature Hike, Stream Safari, and Forest Free Play
Grade 1 Needs and Characteristics of Living Things, Daily and Seasonal Changes In fall, combine Fabulous Fall with Sensory Nature Hike. In spring, combine two: Spring Sensations, Sensory Nature Hike, Stream Safari, and Forest Free Play
Grade 2 Growth and Changes in Animals, Air and Water Combine two: Monarchs on the Map, Amazing Adaptations: Forest Animals!, and Amazing Adaptations: Bugs!
Grade 3 Plants, Soils Combine two: Save our Soil, Monarchs on the Map, and Flora Frenzy: Discovering the Magic of Plants
Grade 4 Habitats and Communities Combine Wildwood Habitats and Communities with Animal Survival Game
Grade 5 Conservation of Energy and Resources, Mathematics: Algebra and Spatial Sense Combine Animal Survival Game and MapQuest
Grade 6 Biodiversity Combine Biodiversity 911 with Animal Survival Game
Grade 7 Interactions in the Environment, Physical Patterns in a Changing World Combine Animal Survival Game and Interactions in our Local Environment. Alternatively, combine Team Building with Intermediate Map and Compass Orienteering or Amazing GPS Race
Grade 8 Water Systems, Global Settlement Patterns and Sustainability, Social Emotional Learning Skills Combine SPLASH with Intermediate Map and Compass Orienteering or Amazing GPS Race. Alternatively, combine Animal Survival Game with Team Building.