Baxter Outdoor and Environmental Education Programs
Baxter Conservation Area offers outdoor and environmental education programs for students and community groups from preschool to grade 12 and beyond. Join us in our outdoor classroom and give your students the opportunity to explore and connect with nature. Our education programs provide students and visitors with interactive, hands-on, curriculum-based experiences where they will learn about the natural world and their relationship with it. We also offer outdoor education programs where students will learn navigation and outdoor survival skills as well.
Baxter can accommodate up to 60 students per day. All equipment is included in our programs and each program runs approximately 1.5 hours in length. Below please find descriptions of each of the programs we offer. Descriptions are offered as general guidelines — if there are specific objectives that you would like to accomplish, please let us know. Although grade levels are recommended for each program, these are also only guidelines. Please select any desired fields to narrow your search.
Half Day Program | $200 / group * | maximum 30 students, 90 minutes with an RVCA instructor |
Full Day Program | $275 / group * | maximum 30 students, two 90 minutes with an RVCA instructor |
Self-directed | $2.50/person * | Interested in just visiting the conservation area with your class but not booking a program? The cost is $2.50/person. This does not include the use of buildings other than access to public washrooms. To reserve facilities, contact staff. Staff must still be contacted to book a self-directed visit. |
Overnight Tent Camping (accommodations only) | 1-15 people - $75/night * 16-30 people - $150/night * 30+ people - contact for pricing * Additional buildings also available for rent (link to facility rentals) |
Take you class on an overnight adventure to our group camping area! Plan your own activities or book our education staff to provide programming during your stay (see above for pricing). |
* plus applicable taxes
Baxter’s Cancellation Policy: A minimum of fifteen (15) business days notice is required to cancel education programs at Baxter Conservation Area.
This policy gives schools/groups on our waiting list sufficient time to try and fill the program opening. If Baxter Conservation Area is notified of a cancellation less than 15 business days in advance of your scheduled visit, a cancellation fee of $50.00 will be charged.
In the event of severe weather conditions (i.e. thunderstorms, snowstorms, etc.), Baxter staff will make contact with your school/group by 7:00 AM the morning of your trip if we need to re-schedule or cancel the program on that day. There will be no charge for a cancellation made due to school bus cancellations or severe weather conditions on the day of your trip.
Baxter Education Program Descriptions
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Jock River Fish Habitat Embayment Creation Project
The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, with their partners, has built a fish habitat embayment at the Richmond Conservation Area, located in Ottawa, Ontario. The project involved converting an existing grassed park area into a small wetland embayment along the shore of the Jock River. Raab Construction helped construct the wetland with the assistance of many dedicated volunteers.
Construction Highlights
- 1,000 square metres of new spawning, nursery, rearing and feeding habitat created to support the 40 species of fish that reside in the Jock River
- 9 days of construction took place in October 2014
- 108 truckloads of fill were removed from the Jock River floodplain
- 100 metres of new shoreline created by re-grading the existing slope and planting a shoreline buffer around the perimeter of the new embayment
In 2014, the Jock River Embayment Creation Project won the Top Canadian Fishing Industry Conservation Project Award.
Project Partners
- Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada — Recreational Fisheries Conservation Partnerships Program
- Muskies Canada Ottawa Chapter
- National Defence Fish and Game Club
- Community Foundation of Ottawa
- Ottawa Fly Fishers Society
- Shell Fueling Change
- Fendock
Information
Jennifer Lamoureux
Aquatic and Fish Habitat Biologist,
Rideau Valley Conservation Authority
613-692-3571 ext. 1108
2015 Budget and Work Plan
RVCA Celebrates 50 Years of Conservation
Special guests and dignitaries gathered to celebrate 50 years of conservation at the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority’s Anniversary Celebration on November 30. Surrounded by watershed representatives, politicians, past and present staff along with numerous friends and partners, RVCA Board of Director Members looked to acknowledge the many people, projects and partnerships behind a conservation movement that started in the early 1940s.
“This was our opportunity to thank those who have helped us towards our goal of a thriving and sustainable watershed,” said Lyle Pederson, RVCA Chair and Elizabethtown-Kiltey representative. “Conservation of our land and water is not something you can do alone. It takes a great deal of municipal support along with many staff, partners and volunteers to get the job done.”
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson was in attendance and spoke to the crowd of over 70. He reflected on Ottawa Mayor Don Reid’s drive to bring the then 41 watershed municipalities together to form a local Conservation Authority in March 1966. Mayor Watson praised the Board Members, staff and partners for their past and ongoing work.
Also in attendance was Rideau Valley Conservation Foundation Chair Jason Kelly who spoke of the continued support the Foundation has for the Authority’s on-the-ground efforts throughout the watershed. He took a moment to thank BMO for their support of the anniversary event and brought greetings and congratulations from Nepean-Carleton MPP Lisa MacLeod.
“Tonight was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect, reminisce and reflect on our many shared accomplishments,” said Master of Ceremonies and RVCA Vice Chair Ed Hand. “Now it is time to look forward to another 50 years of conservation — it’s time to get back to work so we have clean abundant water, natural shorelines, rich forests and wetlands, diverse habitat and sustainable land use.”
ATR - November-December 2016
Bioengineering Project on Graham Creek
How to Naturalize Your Shoreline
Every shoreline is unique and requires different approaches to naturalization. Current and desired land use, existing conditions, soil type, availability of sunlight and moisture, and naturalization goals all play a significant role in selecting the appropriate naturalization methods. Some methods may include:
- Creating a “no-mow” zone near the shoreline and allowing vegetation to re-establish on its own.
- Active planting of native trees, shrubs, grasses, wildflowers and/or aquatic plants in the buffer area.
- Placing or allowing the accumulation of woody debris along shoreline.
- Removal or “softening” of existing hard structures like retaining walls, gabion baskets and rip rap.
- Utilizing various bioengineering methods such as coir logs, live cuttings, and brush mattresses to control or reduce erosion.