Environmental Education Programs for Elementary Schools

We offer a wide range of environmental education programs for high school and Specialist High Skills Major classes at Fanshawe and Wildwood Conservation Areas (CAs).

Program Length

  • All programs are a half-day unless otherwise noted

Program Fees

  • $8.50/student/half day
  • $16/student/full day
  • $170 minimum charge/half day for groups with fewer than 20 students
  • No charge for teachers or volunteers

High School Programs

Available at Fanshawe and Wildwood CAs:

Learn the ABCs of ecology (abiotic, biotic, cultural/human influences) while exploring terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Through hands-on activities, students discover the interconnectedness of wildlife and its environment. Ecosystems are compared, succession is highlighted, and biodiversity is explored as students move from one community to the next.

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 elements and disease that occur in nature. This game involves running and chasing through various terrains. Running shoes are required.

Learn the basics of GPS technology and apply your skills on a set course. Along the way, discover how GPS technology is used within various careers within the Conservation Authority, including flood management, species at risk monitoring, and forest management.

Note: Equipment can accommodate one class, if you wish to book more than one class, GPS units will have to be shared

In this challenging session, students learn how to use a compass and plot their course with a set of bearings and distances. The program can be modified for students with little map and/or compass experience.

Only Available at Fanshawe CA:

This program starts with a guided tour across the top of Fanshawe Dam, with a local focus on climate change. Using the Thames River watershed as a case study, students will learn about flooding and extreme weather events, the spread of invasive species, species at risk, and species distribution change. Connections will be made between human impacts on the environment and vulnerable species and habitats. Together, we will discuss solutions for local action, and help students understand the role that Conservation Authorities play in adapting to a changing climate.

  • Courses: SVN3M, SVN3E, SBI3U, SBI3C, SNC2D, SNC2P, SNC4M, SNC4E, CG1W, CGF3M, CGO4M, CGR4M, CGD3M, CGC1W, CGF3M, CGR4E
  • Request Booking

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a designation that recognizes the sustainability of buildings in respect to their design, construction, and operation. Join us for a tour of the UTRCA’s Watershed Conservation Centre to learn how this remarkable Platinum LEED building helps to conserve our natural resources and save money. This program includes an indoor tour of the building, an outside tour of the ‘green infrastructure’ features around the building (plants used to reduce runoff and flooding), and a guided tour across the top of Fanshawe Dam.

  • Courses: 3GD3M, SNC1W, SVN3E, SVN3M, THJ20, THJ3E, THJ4E, THJ3M, THJ4M, CGR4M, CGD3M, CGR4E
  • Request a Booking

Specialist High Skills Major Programs

UTRCA staff can assist students in fulfilling the compulsory and elective certifications as well as the experiential learning requirements for many Specialist High School Majors (SHSM). Our programs draw on decades of expertise and experience in delivering a broad range of programs and services.

Below are examples of current offerings. Please contact us for more information or to discuss additional opportunities, including custom programs.

To book, contact:

Fiona Navickas, Fanshawe Conservation Area
[email protected] | 519-451-2800 ext. 319

Caroline Biel, Wildwood Conservation Area
[email protected] | 519-451-2800 ext. 626

Available at Fanshawe and Wildwood CAs:

Hike Ontario- Safe Hiker Program

  • This course takes participants through the process of planning a hike in a safe manner. It begins with an introduction to hiking, including the joys and types of hikes. Students are then guided through the steps of planning and going on a hike.
  • $45/student
  • Full-day program

Hike Ontario- Certified Hike Leader

  • This course teaches participants the skills, knowledge, and attitudes of a trained hike leader, including appropriate risk management for day hikes where the hike is no more than 2km from road access. Students must be at least 16 years of age and have completed the Safe Hiker Program.
  • $45/student
  • Full-day program

These certifications are both sector-recognized and will stand alone on a resume.

This new element of the SHSM certificate program takes a place-based approach to innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship. ICE-trained professionals and certified teachers on staff at the UTRCA are able to help with all levels of the ICE training process including:

  • Hosting training sessions at Conservation Area facilities and providing involvement by sector representatives/ specialists
  • Developing an authentic challenge statement
  • Facilitating student participation through the three gears: empathy and need finding, ideation and prototyping, and strategy and testing
  • Full-day facilitation, all necessary training materials provided

$500
Full-day program

Created and certified through the Canadian Wildlife Federation, students receive training in activities from the provided manual, practice peer-teaching skills, and gain leadership skills. The combined full-day workshop covers both Project WILD and Below Zero courses.

  • Project Wild Certificate: $80/student; Full-day program; Can be offered at school
  • Below Zero Certificate: $80/student, Full-day program; Can be offered at school
  • Project Wild and Below Zero Certificate: $130/student; Combined full-day program; Can be offered at school

Throughout the school year, there are opportunities for students to assist in leadership roles. Activities may include:

  • London/ Woodstock/ St. Thomas/ Perth Children’s Water Festival
  • Stratford/London Earth Day Event/ Climate Events
  • Stream of Dreams Installs

Fees vary for this full-day program. Please contact us for more information.

In this full day workshop, students gain a comprehensive understanding of how to use compasses, maps and GPS units. Students explore important features of maps and the UTM grid, as well as how they are connected to the compass and GPS. Students then practice using maps, compasses and GPS units in a series of scaled, interactive activities. The applications of GPS in a Conservation Authority are discussed.

$30/student ($500 minimum); Full-day program

This two-day program combines hands-on in-class learning on nutrient management and Best Management Practices (BMPs) with a guided field trip to a UTRCA Demonstration Farm to observe these practices in action and review ongoing agricultural research. Innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship, and math literacy are integrated into the program.

Funding may be available to cover the cost of this full-day program. Please contact us for more information.

Throughout the school year, there are limited opportunities for students to assist in various watershed environmental stewardship projects. The culminating task for this certification is a written assignment. 

Activities may include:

  • Tree planting
  • Creating a rain garden
  • Bioengineering
  • Wildflower planting

$15/student ($300 minimum)
Half-day program

On a hike, students are given an introduction to using apps such as iNaturalist and Seek to complement identification proficiency. Identification skills can be made specific to the interest of the group. Focus on: local mammals, birds, wildlife tracking, trees or plant ID.

$15/student ($300 minimum)
Half-day program

Hosted at a local stream or creek, students are introduced to stream assessment techniques used by technicians, ecologists and biologists. This certification gets students to gather water chemistry data, assess aquatic habitat and surrounding land use impacts, and collect benthic invertebrates in stream riffles. The results and implications of the stream assessment are discussed along with options for mitigation and restoration.

Students intentionally participate in the practice of ‘accessing nature’ as a stress management technique and practice health-care that is focused on self-care. During a guided hike, students participate in place-based reflective activities including opportunities to share experiences with their peers. In addition, the gathering of quantitative data to reflect stress levels will support the scientific evidence that being out in nature has positive psychological healing benefits. We will enable the students to appreciate the benefits of ‘unStress in Nature’ and provide them with techniques that they can utilize in their own lives. Nature as preventative health care – join us in an unbeatable combination for stress management.

$15/student ($300 minimum)
Half-day program

Participate in activities designed to help students recognize the interaction of water, plants, animals, and human land use found within the geographic boundary of a watershed. Learn about impacts on Lake Erie and the importance of the Great Lakes basin by taking a tour of the Dam and working through scenarios using a floodplain model.

$15/student ($300 minimum)
Half-day program

Only Available at Fanshawe CA:

This hands-on full-day program includes the following three components: 

  1. A tour of the Platinum LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Watershed Conservation Centre, to discover the environmental approaches taken during the design, construction and operation of the building. 
  2. A tour and demonstration of LID features (Low Impact Development) that capture and filter storm water runoff, including a bioswale, permeable parking lot, green roof and mini LID model house. 
  3. A walking tour on top of Fanshawe Dam with an overview of the Reservoir, to observe and understand their role in flood reduction and hydro-electric power generation.

$30/student ($500 minimum)
Full-day program

Through this half-day program, students will learn about local species of turtles and their key characteristics, including species at risk categories and conservation status, and threats to local species and what can be done. The program will also highlight the award-winning turtle recovery initiative and UTRCA conservation work.

  • Non-profit, Education and Child Care (Environmental Awareness)
  • Hospitality and Tourism (Heritage Interpreter)
  • Health and Wellness (Animal First Aid/ Lab practices)
  • Environment (Animal and Plant Management/ Species Identification)

$15/student ($300 minimum)
Half-day program