Secondary School Programs
Our Secondary School Programs accommodate various grade levels, needs and are designed to be a springboard for action and understanding and strive to be relevant to learners so that they can connect to the natural world through their head, heart and hands. Our Conservation Educators have over 30 years of combined experience and enjoy working with young learners and passing on their love and extensive knowledge of nature and the outdoors. A description of the programs we offer is provided below. If you don’t see what you are looking for, please contact our education staff, we will do our best to accommodate you – educate@crca.ca.
Times
All programs are two hours in length and are available mornings and afternoons. The start and end times are flexible to adapt to schedules. We encourage full day visits where you and your class can take in two education programs or can partner with other teachers/classes.
Fees
- Due to COVID-19 we are only able to book groups of 25 students, please contact educate@crca.ca on how to accommodate larger classes.
- $8 per student attending all half day programs at our Conservation Areas
- $112 for half day programs, $224 for full day programs, plus mileage for our staff to come to your schoolyard or nearby park/greenspace.
- $5 per student attending from the Limestone District School Board, applies to field trips, school yard and park/greenspace bookings. (This boards pay a $3 per student subsidy)
- $2.00 extra per student for Maple Madness Programs
- Minimum $112 fee applies to all groups
Program Dates: 2020 – 2021 school year
COVID-19 Update: we are currently booking programs at our Conservation Areas, at your school yard, or at a nearby park or greenspace. We have protocols in place to protect staff and learners. Dates can be flexible to fit with your schedule, email educate@crca.ca for details.
Location
Programs take place at Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area north of Hwy. 401 on, Division Street Kingston.
Booking Instructions
Education programs can be booked online by emailing the Education Department at educate@crca.ca.
Cancellation Policy
A minimum of seven (7) working days notice is required for cancellation to allow us time to contact groups from our waiting list. If the CRCA is notified of the cancellation less than seven working days in advance of the scheduled visit, a cancellation fee of $50.00 will be charged.
Education staff will make contact by 7:00 a.m. the morning of your trip if we need to adapt or re-schedule the program in case of inclement weather or cancel due to severe weather. There will be no charge for a cancellation made due to severe weather conditions.
Programs Available:
My Ecological Footprint
(all seasons)
Grade 9 Geography of Canada: Space and Systems; Geography of Canada: Human-Environment Interactions – Academic/Applied
Students will be introduced to the concept of the ecological footprint by examining their own life choices. By the end of the program, students will be challenged to reduce their footprint and move towards living more lightly on the earth. They will also be reminded how grounding it can feel to spend two hours outside in a forest.
Map & Compass: Orienteering
(all seasons)
Grade 9 Geography: Methods of Geographic Inquiry and Communication
Paired together, a good map and compass can help you find almost any place you want to go in nature. This program will challenge teams of students by requiring them to answer grade appropriate questions as the experience navigating the trails. The skills of orienteering can last a lifetime and introduce students to the joys of outdoor recreation.
Instincts for Survival
(all seasons)
Grade 9 Biology – Academic/Applied
This physically active simulation game helps students to understand environmental niches, animal adaptations, energy flow, and predator-prey relationships by role-playing the life of consumers from different trophic feeding levels: herbivore, omnivore or carnivore. This game is completed with a discussion of how people and limiting factors, such as disease, impact on natural ecosystems.
Wetland Conservation
(fall & spring)
Grade 9 Biology – Academic/Applied
This program guides students to classify wetlands, their importance and the relevance of positive and negative human impacts. In designated teams, students will have an opportunity to challenge themselves on our trails with plant identification and to create food chains through live dip-net capture and release of wetland organisms.
Cross-Country Ski Lessons
(winter)
Grades 9, 10, 11&12 Healthy Active Living Education – Open
Bring your class out for cross country ski lessons. The cost is $10.00 per student for ski rentals, in addition to the regular program fee. For a full day of activity, add on a snowshoe excursion (see below). (This program is limited to one class per visit due to available equipment.)
Snowshoe Excursion
(winter)
Grades 9, 10, 11&12 Healthy Active Living Education – Open
Your class will enjoy a snowshoe lesson and travel over marshes (weather permitting) and through fields and forests. Learn about snowshoeing techniques, the history of snowshoeing and winter ecology. The snowshoe rental fee is $7.00 per student in addition to the regular program fee. (This program is limited to one class per visit due to available equipment.)
Map & Compass: Orienteering
(all seasons)
Grades 9 Healthy Active Living Education – Open
Paired together, a good map and compass can help you find almost any place you want to go in nature. This program will challenge teams of students to experience navigating the trails. The skills of orienteering can last a lifetime and introduce students to the joys of outdoor recreation.
Make a Day of it!
Combine your program with other great activities for a terrific day in the great outdoors, or do your own education program. Our education staff would be pleased to provide you with program ideas. Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area has a variety of habitats including wetland, field and forest.
There are also great recreation facilities including picnic areas and a 14 km trail system which is groomed for cross-country skiing. There are two warming huts, a bonfire pit and privies located beside the reservoir and parking lot. Cross-country skis, snowshoes and skates are available to rent. The entrance fee for groups to use our facilities is $3.00 per person.
You must make a group booking to use our facilities by calling (613) 546-4228 ext. 222.