Through a variety of interactive games and a nature hike, students will learn about the amazing animals (birds, mammals, insects, amphibians and reptiles) here at Baxter, the habitats they live in and what they need in order to survive (i.e. food, water,adaptations).

Put on your detective’s hat and investigate some incredible insects. Students use nets and containers to collect as many different creatures as they can. Learn about what makes an insect an insect and how they have adapted to their environment, and what makes them so special to the natural world. This program compliments Pond Ecology and the two go well together as a full day of program.

By exploring Baxter’s pond, students will learn about the diversity of life in a freshwater pond habitat and how these animals have adapted to life under water. Using nets, basins and fact sheets, students will get up close and personal with the animals that call the pond home.

Come and experience one of the oldest forms of transportation in Canada! Students will learn how to safely travel with snowshoes and, once comfortable, follow the snowshoe trail through the forest and maybe even try snowshoe games.

The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority offers outdoor education programming year round for nursery schools, day cares, home schooling groups, public and private schools, and community groups at Baxter Conservation Area and Foley Mountain Conservation Area.

Programs can be a half day or a full day and can take place weekdays or weekends all year long. Outdoor education programs at Baxter Conservation Area and Foley Mountain Conservation Area provide students with a strong understanding of our natural world, how it functions and how we, as humans, fit into it. All our programs are interactive and experiential to provide students with a “hands-on” approach to learning about natural science in our “Ecology Lab.”

If you don’t see a program that meets your group’s objectives, please give us a call — and our Interpreters will create one for you!

Baxter Conservation Area

Baxter Conservation Area is located on the shores of the Rideau River, five minutes south of Kars and North Gower. It is owned and operated by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority.

Baxter is 180 acres of mixed forest, open meadow, wetlands, beach, group camping areas and nut tree plantation. There are five kilometers of trails and boardwalks that provide wonderful, safe access for forest, meadow and wetland exploration.

The Patrick McManus Interpretive Centre is Baxter’s program headquarters which can accommodate two to three classes as a starting point for an exciting day of outdoor learning.

Foley Mountain Conservation Area

Foley Mountain Conservation Area is located high atop a granite ridge overlooking the Upper Rideau lake and picturesque village of Westport, 50 km south of Perth. It is owned and operated by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority.

The Conservation Area consists of 800 acres of mixed forests, ponds, and fields. The eight hiking trails, group camp area, scenic Spy Rock lookout, and picnic areas set the stage for a quality outdoor education experience.

The outdoor environmental education program at Foley Mountain provides students with interactive, experiential, curriculum-based experiences that will help them to understand our natural world and their relationship with it. The Program can accommodate up to 60 students per day and all equipment is provided. All programs are approximately 1.5 hours in duration.

The RVCA is pleased to offer resources to teachers interested in promoting spring water awareness.

As the warmer spring weather approaches, snow and ice begin to melt and waterways begin to fill up with cold, fast moving water. Children are often interested in exploring rushing streams and thawing ponds during the warm days of spring. However, these areas can be unsafe and it is important to teach students the dangers of these areas.

Resources include:

• Background information about spring flooding
• “Safety Says” video with teacher notes
• Activity ideas, resources, and sheets for use by classroom teachers
• General curriculum information
• Announcement information for use during the spring season
• Information for students to take home during flood season
• Posters
• Dam safety resource materials from Ontario Power Generation

Please feel free to copy and distribute any of the information in this package. To order a print version of this package or if you have any questions about the information, please contact Rebecca Whitman, at 613-273-3255 or Andrea Wood at 613-489-3592.

SWAP Resources for Teachers

• SWAP Background Information
• SWAP 8.5 x 11-inch colour poster
• SWAP 8.5 x 5.5-inch colour flyer (two per page)
• SWAP 8.5 x 5.5-inch black and white flyer (two per page)
• SWAP PowerPoint Presentation 
• SWAP Safety Announcements
• SWAP Safety Extension Activities
• SWAP Curriculum Connections

Experiments

• How Cold is 0°C to 5°C?
• How Strong is the Current — Demonstration

Games

• SWAP Word Search Game
• SWAP Word Search Answers
• SWAP Safe or Not Safe (colouring page)
• SWAP Home Safely Game
• SWAP Tic Tac Toe (PowerPoint)

Video

• Safety Says Video — Thanks to Quinte Conservation and Loyalist College for the use of their “Safety Says video