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
May 17, 2019 — Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA), in conjunction with the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) and South Nation Conservation (SNC) is maintaining the FLOOD WARNING issued on April 19, 2019 for the areas under our jurisdiction along the Ottawa River. The most recent analysis from the Ottawa River Regulation Committee (ORRC) indicate that water levels along the lower Ottawa River from Chats Lake to the Grenville/ Hawkesbury area are slowly declining but remain high. All flood-prone areas along the Ottawa River from Lac Coulonge down to the Montreal Archipelago are at risk as spring runoff continues along…
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Watershed Conditions Statements
May 17, 2019 — Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA), in conjunction with the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) and South Nation Conservation (SNC) is maintaining the FLOOD WARNING issued on April 19, 2019 for the areas under our jurisdiction along the Ottawa River. The most recent analysis from the Ottawa River Regulation Committee (ORRC) indicate that water levels along the lower Ottawa River from Chats Lake to the Grenville/ Hawkesbury area are slowly declining but remain high. All flood-prone areas along the Ottawa River from Lac Coulonge down to the Montreal Archipelago are at risk as spring runoff continues along…
Published in
Media Release
May 16, 2019
We can still plant trees – we just need your help
May 16, 2019 – The cancellation of the provincial 50 Million Trees program has generated a lot of conversation – and with good reason. As Ontario residents mop up from record flooding, and as climate change promises more intense weather to come, we need to be adding tree programs, not chopping them. Trees are a vital part of a healthy environment: they clean our air, they create habitat, they capture carbon and they reduce runoff and erosion. They also help us fight floods like the one Ottawa saw this spring. At the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA), we’ve relied on…
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Media Release
May 14, 2019
Opinion: Flood prevention cheaper than clean-up
May 14, 2019 – As homeowners and municipalities look to clean up after another record flood on the Ottawa River, the need to prevent such damage from happening again and again is clear. We don’t yet know how much the 2019 flood will cost, but we know it will be much more than prevention. Hundreds of homes were damaged, millions of sandbags were filled, residents were evacuated, public infrastructure was compromised, and military and government staff logged significant overtime. And don’t forget the incalculable loss of photo albums and family keepsakes floating in soggy basements, and the exhaustion of homeowners…
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Media Release
May 14, 2019 — Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA), in conjunction with the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) and South Nation Conservation (SNC) is maintaining the FLOOD WARNING issued on April 19, 2019 for the areas under our jurisdiction along the Ottawa River. The most recent analysis from the Ottawa River Regulation Committee (ORRC) indicate that water levels along the lower Ottawa River from Chats Lake to the Grenville/ Hawkebury area have stabilized and will slowly recede in the coming weeks. All flood-prone areas along the Ottawa River from Lac Coulonge down to the Montreal Archipelago are at risk as…
Published in
Media Release
May 14, 2019 — Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA), in conjunction with the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) and South Nation Conservation (SNC) is maintaining the FLOOD WARNING issued on April 19, 2019 for the areas under our jurisdiction along the Ottawa River. The most recent analysis from the Ottawa River Regulation Committee (ORRC) indicate that water levels along the lower Ottawa River from Chats Lake to the Grenville/ Hawkebury area have stabilized and will slowly recede in the coming weeks. All flood-prone areas along the Ottawa River from Lac Coulonge down to the Montreal Archipelago are at risk as…
Published in
Watershed Conditions Statements
May 13, 2019 —A FLOOD WATCH is being maintained for properties around Bobs Lake and Christie Lake. The water levels on both lakes continue to decline slowly and remain above average for this time of year. The current water level on Bobs Lake is above the ‘Full Supply’ threshold at which flood damage can occur. The current water level on Christie Lake is such that some flood damage can also occur. The current forecast indicates up to 30 mm of rain could fall between today and Wednesday. This rainfall will likely increase water levels again on Bobs Lake and Christie Lake.…
Published in
Media Release
May 13, 2019 —A FLOOD WATCH is being maintained for properties around Bobs Lake and Christie Lake. The water levels on both lakes continue to decline slowly and remain above average for this time of year. The current water level on Bobs Lake is above the ‘Full Supply’ threshold at which flood damage can occur. The current water level on Christie Lake is such that some flood damage can also occur. The current forecast indicates up to 30 mm of rain could fall between today and Wednesday. This rainfall will likely increase water levels again on Bobs Lake and Christie Lake.…
Published in
Watershed Conditions Statements
May 13, 2019 — Do you love being outside, getting your hands dirty and doing some good for the planet? Are you interested in science or biology, but want to skip the degree? We’ve got just the job for you. The RVCA’s City Stream Watch program needs volunteer ‘citizen scientists’ to help monitor, protect and clean up the city of Ottawa’s many urban and rural streams. From invasive species removal to assisting with aquatic wildlife surveys, citizen scientists are the backbone of the program that monitors the health of urban and rural tributaries flowing into the Rideau and Ottawa rivers.…
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Media Release
May 10, 2019 — Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA), in conjunction with the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) and South Nation Conservation (SNC) is maintaining the FLOOD WARNING issued on April 19, 2019 for the areas under our jurisdiction along the Ottawa River. The most recent analysis from the Ottawa River Regulation Committee (ORRC) indicate that water levels along the Ottawa River from Mattawa to Montreal are increasing due to recent precipitation and increased flow from the upper part of the watershed. Water levels are not expected to reach the levels observed last week over the forecasted period. All flood-prone…
Published in
Watershed Conditions Statements
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May 10, 2019 — Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA), in conjunction with the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) and South Nation Conservation (SNC) is maintaining the FLOOD WARNING issued on April 19, 2019 for the areas under our jurisdiction along the Ottawa River. The most recent analysis from the Ottawa River Regulation Committee (ORRC) indicate that water levels along the Ottawa River from Mattawa to Montreal are increasing due to recent precipitation and increased flow from the upper part of the watershed. Water levels are not expected to reach the levels observed last week over the forecasted period. All flood-prone…
Published in
Media Release
May 7, 2019 — Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA), in conjunction with the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) and South Nation Conservation (SNC) is maintaining the FLOOD WARNING issued on April 19, 2019 for the areas under our jurisdiction along the Ottawa River. The current weather forecast indicates that significant rainfall amounts are possible from Thursday morning into Friday as a large low-pressure system moves into the area. The most recent analysis from the Ottawa River Regulation Committee (ORRC) indicate that water levels along the Ottawa River from Chats Lake down to Lac Deschenes are stable and may increase as…
Published in
Media Release
May 7 , 2019 — Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA), in conjunction with the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) and South Nation Conservation (SNC) is maintaining the FLOOD WARNING issued on April 19, 2019 for the areas under our jurisdiction along the Ottawa River. The current weather forecast indicates that significant rainfall amounts are possible from Thursday morning into Friday as a large low-pressure system moves into the area. The most recent analysis from the Ottawa River Regulation Committee (ORRC) indicate that water levels along the Ottawa River from Chats Lake down to Lac Deschenes are stable and may increase…
Published in
Watershed Conditions Statements
May 7, 2019 – As thousands of Canadian students walked out of class to protest climate policies on May 3, a group of Nepean High School students were taking their protest back to basics. Shovels in hand, the 14-person crew braved wet weather to plant 500 trees at MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre in Cumberland. Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA) provided the seedlings and taught the students how and where to plant them. “I like that we’re taking real action, we’re out here actually planting trees,” said Emily Drummond, a Grade 9 environment club member. The club had planned to join the…
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Media Release
