Young Stewards of our Wetlands | Hope Mountain Centre

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Introduction

Hope Mountain Centre believes in getting children outside. Direct experience in nature gives kids a stronger connection to the outdoors, improving their physical and emotional health and guiding them toward better stewardship of the ecosystems where they live. Our curriculum is locally-developed, reflecting the unique ecology and human history of our region. Each program addresses specific learning objectives for each grade level, as defined by the provincial curriculum guide. Outdoor programs emphasize place-based, experiential learning, encouraging students to engage with their senses and learn with fun, hands-on activities.

Our dynamic programs depend on effective community partnerships. BlueTriton Brands (formerly Nestle Waters Canada) has provided vital multi-year funding since 2009 and now funds our Grade 4 and 5 programs. The Skagit Environmental Endowment Commission provides funding for the Grade 6 Skagit Valley Camp. Local School District 78 Fraser-Cascade shares our commitment to outdoor education and currently funds Strong Start, Kindergarten, Grade 1, 2 and 3 programs, and contributes in-kind resources such as teachers and parent chaperones. Land agencies such as Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) and BC Parks provide access to diverse landscapes needed for fieldtrip activities. Lastly, community volunteers provide crucial support, helping to teach students and keep them safe in the outdoors.

This program introduces students to the importance of wetland ecosystems on the planet Earth.

Key concepts such as “food chain” and “food web” are explored, and kids get to dipnet in a local wetlands to catch insects, fish and amphibians. Up-close inspection reveals the physical adaptations of these creatures for life in fresh water.

Contact us for more information about educational programs we can do for your group. Email our Outdoor Educator, Rowan Lalonde at rlalonde@hopemountain.org or call 416-809-7044.

Location: Thacker Marsh, Cheam Wetlands.

Grade: 4

Curriculum Overview: Pond Community Program: learning outcomes, pre-trip, field trip, post-trip.

Curriculum Overview

Young Stewards of our Wetlands - Hope Mountain Centre

Teacher Feedback:

“Such a great program! So well organized and executed and the staff did a great job to keep the kids engaged. The staff had all the materials and were setup and ready to go.”

“The program meets the needs of the students in a most excellent manner; talking with the kids and then doing a game related to the outcomes is excellent and sound educational practice.”

“I would like to thank you for an absolutely wonderful experience. Everyone was so gracious and helpful. The learning curve went well above that of any in house classroom experience. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip, and the parents were thrilled with the opportunity for their children. (We had a meet-the-teacher night shortly after the field trip and they wanted to share how excited their children were about the day.)”

“We had a wonderful time at the pond. The students loved it and wished they could have stayed longer to find more things. The team that came up were terrific and did a wonderful job!”

“All I can say is ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you,’ for this experience for my class. So many parents approve of this sort of learning, where the kids go out and ‘do,’ and for me, as a professional, there is something in the kids going out and experiencing wetlands first hand that strikes a chord with me. It is my fervent hope that as these kids are learning to love their environment – through things like wetland visits – they will in turn be inspired as adults of the future to care for the environment . . . The marsh visit is a highlight of my school year. I find it incredible – and to think it is only a half hour walk from our school!”

“The kids really enjoyed the program, and I thought it was excellent! The classroom session and field trip were both fantastic. The kids loved the food web game, and on the field trip they loved collecting their organisms! Allowing the kids to collect and observe the organisms was so awesome! Being able to see some of them through the microscopes was really neat for them as well! . . . Everything was awesome!!! Thanks so much!”