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Conservation Areas (81)
Getting outside doesn't have to be complicated: there's tons of fun and learning just waiting to be discovered in your backyard, around your block or at your local conservation area. To get you started, RVCA's Outdoor Educators have compiled some awesome activities to help you maximize your outdoor adventures!
Spring Resources |
Winter Resources |
Elementary School Activities: | |
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Why is this type of play beneficial for kids? Loose parts encourage kids to be physically active and creative. The learning is hands on, engaging, and encourages children to communicate and be cooperative along with developing great problem-solving skills. |
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Rainy Day Play — Water is a wonderful in Parents, be sure to watch your kids near deep or fast flowing water! Dry off and pair your experience with a fun story. Check out “Over and Under the Pond" by Kate Messner or "In the Small, Small Pond" by Denise Fleming. If you have a library card, many books can be accessed through digital library connections like OverDrive Tumble Books for free. |
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The messiness of play and learning can take its tole on your indoor space and patience! Try taking it outside for some fresh air fun. Grab some containers from your recycling, buckets, old kitchen utensils, bowls, pots, pans, etc. that you have lying around and set up a mud kitchen in your backyard. Find a spot where your children can dig in the soil or sand and collect ingredients from nature. Fill some containers with water and watch their imaginations go! Although you may see lots of fancy set-ups for mud kitchens online, we have found that children are more than happy to sit on the ground or work with their tools on a stump, bench, board, or picnic table. When the play is finished, you can throw everything in a plastic bin or sturdy reusable shopping bag. Washing things off is totally optional! How can this play support learning? Here are just a few examples:
Have fun! Don’t for get to check out our blog at https://www.rvca.ca/blog. |
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How does this play support learning? Here are just a few examples:
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How does this play support learning? Here are just a few examples:
Resources:
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Middle and High School Activities: |
Pond Study: Using bugs to test for pollutionSome bugs are more sensitive to poor water quality than others. In this hands-on science experiment, get up close and personal with the benthic invertebrates that live in your local pond or stream to determine whether or not its polluted. Instructions here! |
Join the world’s largest treasure hunt!Just you and your phone, chasing a secret — if you have to be outside, this is how to do it! The global geocaching movement is all around us, including at Baxter Conservation Area. Use your phone to track down the secret treasures tucked into our trees. Download the Geocaching app for iPhone or Android to get started. Bring a friend! |
Trail JournalingForest therapy is great for your mental health. Next time you're on a hike, at the cottage or even at a local park, tune into your wild side for a few minutes. Put away your phone, find a comfy spot to sit and just watch and listen. What do you see? What can you hear? Print your trail journal here! |
Five Senses in the ForestTake a nature break! Harness the restorative power of nature to help you stay grounded and able to cope with the stress all around us. Try our Five Senses in the Forest mindfulness activity here. |
Naturally Artistic ChallengeCreate your own outdoor masterpiece using nature’s gifts. Using rocks, twigs, leaves and any other natural materials you find, build your design outside, take a snap and leave it behind. Post it on your socials and tag us with #RVCAFreshAirFun! Find instructions here! |
Photo challengeForget the selfies! Put your phone to the test: What beautiful nature photo can you freeze in time? The flight of a feathered friend, the unique bend of a tree branch, the buds about to burst? Filters allowed! Be sure to post to your socials and tag us with #RVCAFreshAirFun. |
Baxter will be offering PD Day programs this school year! The days will be themed by our outdoor education staff depending on the season and time of year such as Outdoor Survival Skills, Navigation, Winter Wonderland, Animals and Habitats.
Come join us for a day in the Forest!
Please submit your request for Baxter PD Day Programs using our Registration Request Form. We are looking forward to welcoming your child(ren) to Baxter for days of exploration, outdoor learning, and play.
PLEASE NOTE that filling out this form does not necessarily guarantee a space in the program but begins the registration process. We will send registration packages out on a first-come, first-served basis, including the program handbook and other necessary documents, to complete registration and payment.
PD Day Program Details:
- We are excited to offer programming for the following age groups: 6-12.
- Children are eligible for a session if they are six years old by December 31, 2024.
- Cost per child is $55/full day plus HST.
- You can register for all sessions for your school board or one at a time.
- Our PD Program days will be run out of Baxter’s Interpretive Centre.
- There are no before or after care options for our PD Day Program.
Thank you for your interest in booking an education program at Baxter Conservation Area. Please check out our list of Baxter Educational Programs and then review the Baxter Education calendar and complete the form to request a booking.
A fascinating pastime, bird watching is becoming increasingly popular. Our Conservation Areas are equipped with convenient parking areas, pleasant trails and good viewing areas. Some include viewing towers to help support in the pursuit of viewing our feathered friends.
Where to Enjoy this Activity
- Baxter Conservation Area
- Chapman Mills Conservation Area
- Foley Mountain Conservation Area
- Meisel Woods Conservation Area
- Mill Pond Conservation Area
- Motts Mills Conservation Area
- Perth Wildlife Reserve
- Portland Bay Conservation Area
- Richmond Conservation Area
- Rideau Ferry Yacht Club Conservation Area
- W. A. Taylor Conservation Area
Tips
- Bring sunscreen, mosquito repellent, water, binoculars and camera.
- You may also want to take a bird identification reference book, a notebook and a pen.
- To see the most diverse array of birds, generally best to arrive earlier in the morning.
- Take your litter home with you.
The watershed boasts a network of beautiful lakes, rivers, creeks and tributaries. Whether you enjoy motor boats, canoes, kayaks or other sports such as sailing and windsurfing, there are many local water based opportunities.
Where to Enjoy this Activity
- Baxter Conservation Area
- Chapman Mills Conservation Area
- Mill Pond Conservation Area
- Richmond Conservation Area
- Rideau Ferry Yacht Club Conservation Area
- W. A. Taylor Conservation Area
Tips
- Go equipped with sunscreen, mosquito repellent and drinking water as well as comfortable shoes.
- Do not venture off the trails.
- Take your litter home with you.
- Take nothing but pictures.
Guides, Scouts and other groups are invited to enjoy our group camping areas. Get back to nature, sleep under the stars listening to the sounds of wildlife and wake up to the sun gently shining though the forest canopy. You don’t have to go far to have an overnight outdoor adventure.
Where to Enjoy this Activity
Tips
- Take sunscreen, mosquito repellent and plenty of drinking water.
You don’t need to go far in the Rideau watershed to find a good fishing spot. Our region is home to many types of fish species and everyone can enjoy the excitement of awaiting a bite! Adults and children alike have fun and relax while experiencing this time-honoured tradition.
Where to Enjoy this Activity
- Baxter Conservation Area
- Chapman Mills Conservation Area
- Foley Mountain Conservation Area
- Mill Pond Conservation Area
- Portland Bay Conservation Area
- Richmond Conservation Area
- Rideau Ferry Yacht Club Conservation Area
- W. A. Taylor Conservation Area
Tips
- Remember a valid Ontario Fishing License is required for those 18 years of age and over and Ontario Fishing regulations apply. See OMNRF site for more information. https://www.ontario.ca/page/fishing
- If fishing from a boat, always wear a lifejacket.
Walking along Conservation Area trails is a fun, safe and healthy way to experience the outdoors in the Rideau Watershed. There is much to explore, from woodland trails and marsh boardwalks to lakeside beaches and meandering waterways. Walking is an easy and enjoyable way to stay fit and healthy while enjoying the beautiful natural areas that the region has to offer? Why go to a gym to walk on a treadmill when there are 50 kilometres of trails in your own backyard?
Where to Enjoy this Activity
- Baxter Conservation Area
- Chapman Mills Conservation Area
- Foley Mountain Conservation Area
- Meisel Woods Conservation Area
- Mill Pond Conservation Area
- Motts Mills Conservation Area
- Perth Wildlife Reserve
- W. A. Taylor Conservation Area
Tips
- Go equipped with sunscreen, mosquito repellent and drinking water as well as comfortable shoes.
- Do not venture off the trails.
- Take your litter home with you.
- Take nothing but pictures.
Plan your outing around a picnic or take a break from all the other fun activities that you can enjoy at these Conservation Areas. Find a picnic table or just choose an attractive spot and throw down a blanket and break open the hamper. Planning a big group event? Consider the beautiful picnic area at Baxter Conservation Area.
Where to Enjoy this Activity
- Baxter Conservation Area
- Chapman Mills Conservation Area
- Foley Mountain Conservation Area
- Meisel Woods Conservation Area
- Mill Pond Conservation Area
- Motts Mills Conservation Area
- Perth Wildlife Reserve
- Portland Bay Conservation Area
- Richmond Conservation Area
- Rideau Ferry Yacht Club Conservation Area
- W. A. Taylor Conservation Area
Tips
- Take sunscreen, mosquito repellent and plenty of drinking water, as well as your picnicking goodies!
- Take your litter home with you.
Make the most of it when the snow falls; get out and enjoy it! Blaze your own trail and explore with snowshoeing and Cross-country skiing. Both are exhilarating ways to see the countryside and have an amazing workout at the same time.
Where to Enjoy this Activity
- Baxter Conservation Area
- Chapman Mills Conservation Area
- Foley Mountain Conservation Area
- Mill Pond Conservation Area
- Perth Wildlife Reserve
Tips
- Wear several thinner layers rather than one heavy layer – you may start out cold, but you’ll soon heat up with this activity.
- Take a bottle of water and a snack.
- Be prepared for a change in the weather.
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Probably one of the best types of exercise, and you won’t even notice the workout because you’ll be having so much fun! Make a splash in a lake or river — it’s a great way to cool off in the summer.
Where to Enjoy this Activity
Tips
- Watch for beach closure notices.
- Beaches are not supervised. Parents, ensure that children are supervised at all times.
- Use waterproof sunscreen.
- Always be aware of currents and undercurrents and know your limitations.
- Take your litter home with you.