Specialist High Skills Major Opportunities at Fanshawe Outdoor Education Centre

UTRCA staff can assist students in fulfilling the compulsory and elective certifications as well as the experiential learning requirements for many SHSMs. Our programs draw on staff’s 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.

Click here for a printable PDF flyer with this information.

Project WILD and Below Zero Certificates

Created and certified through the Canadian Wildlife Federation, this combined full day workshop covers both Project WILD and Below Zero courses. Students receive training in activities from both manuals and gain leadership skills.

Fee:

Both workshops and manuals: $100/student
Project WILD Certificate workshop only (includes manual): $65/student
Below Zero Certificate workshop only (includes manual): $65/student

Compass/Map/Global Positioning Systems (GPS)

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.

Fee: $30/student, $500 minimum

Introduction to Stream Assessment Protocol

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.

Fee: 3 hours, $15/student, $300 minimum

Species Identification

During a guided hike, students are introduced to apps such as iNaturalist and Seek to complement identification proficiency. Identification skills can be made specific to the interest of the group. Focus on animal and tracking ID and/or tree and plant ID.

Fee: 3 hours, $15/student, $300 minimum

“unStress” in Nature – NEW PROGRAM

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, quantitative data to reflect stress levels is gathered, to support 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.

Fee: 3 hours, $15/ student, $300 minimum

Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship (ICE) Training

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 can help with all levels of the ICE training process, including:

Hosting training sessions at Conservation Area facilities and providing involvement by sector representatives and 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.

Fee: $500/day

Watershed Management and Sustainable Management Resource Planning

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

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
A tour and demonstration of Low Impact Development (LID) features that capture and filter storm water runoff, including a bioswale, permeable parking lot, green roof, and mini LID model house.
A walking tour on top of Fanshawe Dam with an overview of the Reservoir, to understand their role in flood reduction and hydro-electric power generation.