Education Program
Let our knowledgeable guides and experienced staff and volunteers help your class or group learn about our spectacular local natural heritage through one of our education programs! We offer curriculum-linked education programs for elementary level students as well as lectures and presentations for other groups, including seniors, new Canadians, corporate groups and even universities. Contact us today to learn more!
OVERVIEW
CPAWS Ottawa Valley is pleased to offer you the opportunity to join us for a fascinating nature walk in a park near you! Our experienced guides will tailor a hike to suit your class or group’s needs and abilities. Whether it is an all-day hike in Gatineau Park or a short stroll along the boardwalks at Stony Swamp, our guides will be happy to provide a tour in which everyone learns something new!
Our programs are linked to the Environmental section of the Ontario School Curriculum and are perfect for school groups that are looking to learn more about our natural heritage while enjoying some of the region’s spectacular hiking trails. These excursions are also great opportunities for your group members to get to know each other even better and to improve group dynamics.
Our aim is to introduce outdoor ecological education (including biology, ecology, and geography) into elementary schools. We also would like to facilitate learning aspects about the environment in the outdoors to school students. This could easily be achieved by visiting interesting habitats and going on outings all in the Ottawa Valley.
We believe that it is impossible to truly grasp all the concepts of biology, ecology and geography just by staying in an indoor environment. The best way for students to understand those subjects is by giving them opportunities to explore and be hands on with the environment. By studying landscapes, minerals, plants and animals students will start to feel that the wildlife and wilderness are needed for us to live in harmony and are our responsibility to protect.
We support the Ontario School Curriculum by organizing hikes in various areas of Ottawa for school groups of up to 30 students. During our trips we don’t just teach students to understand life systems, but also give them opportunities to see, touch, taste, listen and interact with the wildlife (absolutely safe!!!) of the Ottawa Valley.
Our programs are available year-round. During the winter months we offer snowshoe excursions or winter hiking. Some of our favourite places include Green’s Creek, Mer Bleue, Stony Swamp, Mud Lake (a part of Lac Deschenes Important Bird Area), Petrie Island, Mac Skimming Outdoor Education Center, Foret-la-Blanche Ecological Reserve and of course Gatineau Park.
In addition to providing a knowledgeable local guide that is certified in wilderness first aid, we can also help organize transportation for your group and even provide a picnic lunch!
You can find more information on how each grade is linked to Ontario School Curriculum in the following links:
RESOURCES
Please contact Elena Kreuzberg at 819-778-3355 or at ekreuzberg@cpaws.org for information on rates and availabilities. Be sure to visit our Facebook page to see photos from our latest hikes!
This project has been implemented by CPAWS Ottawa Valley with the financial support of the Telus Foundation and the Community Foundation of Ottawa