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
RVCA (1140)
Children categories
Department (68)
Main Office Phone Numbers : 613-692-3571 / 1-800-267-3504
Staff Directory
Feds grant $429,000 for accessibility projects at RVCA properties
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Category 2 MOU/Agreements
Category 3 MOU/Agreements
Plan Review/Service Agreements
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Green Acres | Download | |
Monitoring | Download |
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Fee Policy | Download | |
Programs and Services Fee Schedule | Download | |
Minister's Direction on Fees | Download |
2024 Fees - effective January 1, 2024 (30-day notice)
- Schedule A: Planning Advisory Program
- Schedule B: Conservation Authorities Act Applications
- Schedule C: Technical Report Review
- Schedule D: Information and Professional Services
Category 2 Program Agreements
Category 3 Program Agreements
The RVCA Board of Directors is made up of appointees from the Rideau's 18 member municipalities plus an agricultural member appointed by the Minister. These representatives oversee the work of the conservation authority.
Member
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Representing
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Councillor Kristin Strackerjan - Chair | Municipality of North Grenville |
City of Ottawa | |
VACANT
|
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Deputy Mayor Adrian Wynands
|
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Deputy Reeve Brian Dowdall
|
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Councillor Susan Irwin | Township of Central Frontenac |
VACANT | City of Clarence Rockland |
Reeve Steve Fournier | |
Deputy Mayor Anne Barr | Village of Merrickville-Wolford |
Councillor Trevor Johnson | |
VACANT
|
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Councillor David Brown | City of Ottawa |
Councillor Sean Devine | City of Ottawa |
Councillor Theresa Kavanagh | City of Ottawa |
Councillor Wilson Lo | City of Ottawa |
Councillor Gary Waterfield | Town of Perth |
Councillor Jeff Banks | Township of Rideau Lakes |
Mayor Shawn Pankow
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Councillor Adam Turcotte | |
Councillor Angela Pierman | |
Councillor Barry Card | |
Mel Foster | Agricultural Sector |
The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority is a public sector organization established by local municipalities under the Conservation Authorities Act, to develop and deliver watershed-based resource management programs on behalf of the Province and participating municipalities. The 18 municipalities located in the Rideau Valley watershed appoint representatives who serve on the Board of Directors to oversee the programs of the RVCA. These appointed directors, who are members of Council or citizen appointees, speak on behalf of all watershed residents along with an agricultural representative appointed by the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks.
Nature For All breaks ground on accessible Baxter bridge
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Taxpayers, municipalities and our natural systems will bear the costs of the Province’s affordable housing legislation released last month.
Email your MPP using our Sample Letter (Word Document)
While the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority strongly supports efforts to address the ongoing housing crisis, many of the proposed changes related to conservation authorities will have significant impacts and costs while doing little to increase housing supply.
Proposed changes and their impacts:
- Weakening the regulatory ability of CAs to protect people and property from natural hazards like flooding, erosion and slope failures - leading to greater risk of property damage and public safety.
- Eliminating the CA’s ability to address water quality issues through planning and permitting, leading to increased nutrients and sediment in lakes and rivers. We know from the 1990s this causes excessive weed growth and algae blooms that have economic impacts on property values, agriculture, tourism, recreation, fisheries and sources of drinking water for many residents.
- Reducing wetland evaluations and protections, leading to increased flooding, erosion and drought, as well as diminished groundwater, which is the source of drinking water in much of rural Ontario. Studies have shown the loss of wetlands in the Rideau watershed would increase flood levels by 10%.
- Downloading more responsibilities to municipalities who have indicated will lead to inefficiencies, delays and increased risk and costs.
- Freezing development fees, which will pass development costs to taxpayers instead of growth paying for growth.
Take Action
To learn more or to provide input on the proposed changes, visit the Environmental Registry of Ontario for these Notices:
- URGENT: Closes Dec. 9, 2022: Legislative and regulatory proposals affecting conservation authorities to support the Housing Supply Action Plan 3.0 (ERO number 019-6141)
- Closes Dec. 30, 2022: Proposed updates to the regulation of development for the protection of people and property from natural hazards in Ontario (ERO number 019-2927)
- Closes Dec. 30, 2022: Proposed changes to natural heritage protections and regulations (ERO number 019-6161)
Or use our sample letter to email your MPP: