Program Descriptions
The Kawartha Outdoor Education Centre offers a variety of quality, interactive programs that are both educational and fun. Browse through our programs below, or use our program index to go directly to a specific program. Programs are linked to the Ontario Curriculum. Many of our programs are written in Curriculum Planner format.
Please feel free to select any program,
which we can modify to suit older or younger students.
Legend: Fall: Winter: Spring: |
Nature & Science
Amphibians |
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 Ever wonder where salamanders might lurk and how frogs catch insects? Discover this and more, by observing real frogs and amphibians in action! We sing genuine frog songs and call for them in our local wetland. We show you the different stages of a frog's life cycle and we hunt for red-backed salamanders in a nearby deciduous forest. |
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Astronomy |
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 For thousands of years people have been fascinated by the night sky. Explore the universe with a unique Starry Night program. Use a telescope to see the man in the moon, the planets and the stars in distant galaxies. Hear tales of ancient constellations, northern lights and taste a piece of a shooting star! |
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Batty for Bats |
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| For centuries bats have had less than a warm reception from humans. Nevertheless, bats are fascinating creatures, which deserve our respect and admiration. In this bat program, students will have an opportunity to discover interesting bat facts, to learn some basic bat ecology and we hope to debunk some currently held misconceptions about the world's only flying mammal. |
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Be a Bird Brain |
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 Everyday experiences can become unique, if you approach them with a new perspective. Help your students gain an entirely new perspective on birds, with this engaging, hands on bird program. Learn how birds protect themselves from danger, participate in some intricate bird dances and sing with the birds, using tapes and special bird callers. We'll watch birds forage at the feeders and we'll stalk wild birds in the woods with binoculars. Let us take away some of the dryness associated with bird watching, by giving your students a taste of our bird program. |
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Deer Ecology |
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| Through games, activities and hands on experiences with deer antlers, skulls, replica scat and noise makers, students learn how deer interact with our forest and field ecosystems. Students learn to run (sproink) like deer, how to track deer and what factors limit the growth of deer populations locally. |
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Diamonds of Water (Snow) |
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 Unravel some of the mysteries of one of Canada's most ubiquitous substances - snow! Capture snow flakes and examine their crystalline structure up close. Discover the many different types of snow and learn what kind of snow insulates animals the most effectively. Find out how much water is in snow. Make some accurate and beautiful six-sided snow flakes to take home. Loads of learning packed into two hours. |
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Dramatized Animal (or Bird) Hikes |
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 Experience a year in the life of one of the following - squirrel, mouse, rabbit, fox, white tailed deer, bear, beaver and chickadee. These are creative programs designed to provide students with a first hand, realistic depiction of what these animals do during the course of a year. Students will move like these animals, forage for food, hide from danger and construct authentic animal shelters. We use music, story telling, drama and a host of other teaching techniques to foster an awareness and appreciation of our native animals and birds. One of our favourite programs! |
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E.S.I. (Ecosystem Suitability Investigation) |
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| Something has occurred at the Kawartha Outdoor Education Centre. During the early 1900’s, this area was battered by the hooves of grazing animals. Settlers brought in a variety of introduced plants that choked out native species. The student’s goal is to find out if the unique ecosystem (an alvar) found on our range area will support the reintroduction of certain rare indigenous plants. In smaller groups students are given a description of a candidate native plant. The description will include the plant’s ecosystem requirements such as soil, moisture and light conditions. Each group rotates through six “discovery stations which reveal a different aspect of this unique ecosystem. Analyzing the results of their field investigations, students recommend whether or not their native species would be a suitable candidate for an alvar ecosystem. The special nature of an alvar will be brought to light during our investigation and discussion. |
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Endangered Species |
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| When does a species become endangered, extirpated, threatened or vulnerable and what can we do to protect these animals from further decline? Find out how pollution affects certain species, which animals are endangered in this area and how important cover, range and a diverse habitat are for animals in this interactive program. We use games, activities, and even a simulated town hall meeting to encourage your students to think about the complex issues involved in protecting wildlife. |
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Fantastic Filtration |
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| The cool refreshing taste of a glass of water, the life source of all living things... Ever wondered what water goes through to get to this clean state? Roll through the watershed; see a real water filtration system at work and take the water filtration challenge. |
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Flight |
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J ust how do birds, insects and some mammals (bats, flying squirrels) do it? How do they conquer gravity and soar through the air? In the fascinating program, learn about the basic principles of natural flight. Find out how a bird's wing is structured, how bumblebees hover and flying squirrels glide. Role-play the different flight techniques of hawks and songbirds. An informative and interactive introduction to flight! |
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Fossils |
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 It is hard to imagine touching something that is 450 million years old, but with the help of the many fossils found here, students can hold the remnants of creatures that once swam in ancient seas. Students find out how fossils are made, cast their own fossils from plaster and explore with magnifying glasses the imprints of shells, brachiopods, creniods and cephalopods embedded in layers of limestone. Who knows what future paleontologist might be inspired? |
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Hidden Life of Wetlands |
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 A whole world teaming with life and hidden from the human eye, is revealed with the help of some good optical equipment. Students can observe cyclops in action, follow the pathways of elegant spinning daphnia, and witness the multi-armed hydra engulf its prey. Students become familiar with the unique adaptive features, which enable these tiny organisms to survive in an aquatic environment. Make the minuscule something to remember! |
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Honing in on Homes |
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 That might look like a plain hole in a tree to you, but to a black capped chickadee or to a red squirrel, it is an important refuge from danger and cold. And a home is every bit as important to them, as yours is to you. In this program, students become familiar with what characteristics make for an effective shelter. They also learn about the critical components of habitat, recognizing that habitat depletion is the single most important reason for loss of wildlife in Canada. Investigating tree cavities, exploring galls, hiding under thickets, students come to experience first hand, the importance of shelter, food and space in a well-structured ecosystem. |
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Invertebrate Study |
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| How do invertebrates breathe, forage for food and escape from danger? Find out in this fascinating program, which compares and contrasts the physiological and behavioural characteristics of invertebrates found in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. |
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It's a Bug's Life |
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 This we know, kids love bugs! Our popular insect program capitalizes on student's enthusiasm for invertebrates of all kinds, from centipedes to cicadas. Students learn to stridulate (sing) like crickets, hunt like praying mantis and play exciting games based on insect movements. And of course they will have the opportunity to catch, observe and release a variety of invertebrates. |
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Land Forms Liars Club |
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| Put your students' mapping skills and natural knowledge to the test! Explore a unique alvar ecosystem, while looking for geological clues to help solve the mysteries of this fascinating place. |
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Mind Your Mammals |
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 From the lessons taught by real animals, to specimens, skulls, scat and track replicas, learn the characteristics that make mammals unique in the animal kingdom. Observe squirrels and chipmunks in action, simulate the walking and running gaits of predator and prey animals. Hunker down and stalk like a fox, follow vole tunnels through the grass or snow, and discover some of the unique and surprising escape techniques of mice and rabbits. |
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Nests and Nest Making |
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 From the remarkable pensile nests of orioles to the intricate and delicate cup nests of hummingbirds, avian architecture is worth a closer look! In this program, students construct accurate robin nests, investigate various nest designs, examine a variety of real bird nests, and participate in some fun and educational bird nest games. |
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Patterns in Nature |
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 From the whorls of branches on a red pine tree to the delicate plume of a dandelion seed, nature exhibits beauty and symmetry in a variety of striking patterns. Help your students develop an “eye” for discovering micro and macro patterns in the field, forest and wetland ecosystems that are an integral part of our natural communities. |
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Plants and Trees |
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 They provide an elegant and beautiful backdrop to our daily lives but few people stop and consider plants: the only living organism that can manufacture their own food and supply the world with oxygen. In this introduction to the world of plants, your students will extract chlorophyll, learn about the various parts and functions of a tree in a tree drama exercise, identify coniferous trees and deciduous trees; discover which local plants are edible and many more activities. Guaranteed to be treeific! |
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Seeds and Seed Dispersal |
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 Some pop, some glide, some stick and many float on the air or on water. Every spring there is enduring evidence of our local plant's ability to survive and spread, in the vibrant new growth that carpets our forests and fields. How seeds travel merits closer investigation! Some, incredibly, are spread by animal scat (poop). Your students will participate in some hands-on activities, which simulate the dispersal of seeds (except the scat one!), sort and collect wildflower seeds and examine in detail, their methods of dispersal. |
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Succession |
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| It may not be obvious, but ecosystems do change through time, sometimes in both dramatic and surprising ways. Trace the evolution of our field ecosystems into mature hardwood forests by following the various stages of old field succession. See evidence of a wetland returning to grassland and find out the stories of the plants and animals that inhabit both. |
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Stories in the Snow |
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| Soft snow is the perfect page on which thousands of stories are told, written by the passage of animal feet in their daily search for food and shelter. We use authentic track makers and castings of real animal feet to help your students understand the vocabulary of tracking. These are wonderful stories waiting to be followed, for those eyes sharp enough to read them! |
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Taming the Wildflower |
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 With storytelling, a little detective work and dramatic movement, we help to generate enthusiasm for Ontario's Wildflowers. Students re-enact how flowers are pollinated, how bees dance to find wildflowers, and by following a series of clues, students discover the beauty and diversity of 8 local species. |
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Tracking and Trailing |
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| Everywhere animals go, they leave subtle signs of their presence. The art of tracking and trailing is a life-long endeavour that begins with this program. Find out about the various tracks animals leave behind. Try on our giant animal footprints. Follow our mystery trails. Take home a realistic track cast. An interactive, hands-on program that requires problem solving and observation skills. Appropriate for students of all ages. |
| Appropriate for students of all ages. |
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Weather or Not! |
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 Wouldn't you like to make a cloud? How would you like to explore the factors that contribute to distinct microclimates and formulate a scientific prediction for the next day's weather - just like a real meteorologist? In this program, your students will learn how to construct and use a variety of homemade weather instruments including a hygrometer, a barometer and a nephoscope. Students will also investigate how animals deal with challenging weather conditions and search for effective shelter spots. An interactive and engaging program with plenty of follow up ideas. |
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Wetland Wonders |
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 Wetlands are vibrant ecosystems, among the most rich and diverse of all natural habitats. See signs of beavers at work, catch water bugs and discover some of the amazing adaptations of aquatic invertebrates. Also, listen and look for the many wetland birds that inhabit this beautiful fen. |
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Geography
History / Social Studies
The Arts
Nature Music |
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| There is music in the woods! From the rustling of leaves, to the clacking of rocks there are a variety of musical tones to discover in the natural world. By experimenting with the sound qualities of found natural materials, students create a musical piece that we record. We end by making simple musical instruments to take home. |
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Nature Sculpting |
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| Using a variety of found materials, students plan and design a series of 3 dimensional sculptures. Students learn the how to use nature colours, texture and patterns to create an artistic piece that depicts a set of feelings and impressions. Inspired by the work of Andy Goldsworthy, we capture these pictures digitally to be shared by classmates and parents. |
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Sensorama |
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| One of the best ways to facilitate a life long appreciation for natural places is to enhance a child's sensory awareness. Based on the ground-breaking “acclimatization” work of Steve Van Matre, these activities encourage children to explore the natural environment by using all of their sense. Tune into the soundscape of a field and listen to richly textured nature sounds with specially constructed animal ears and reproduce this experience in an eco-symphony. This is just one example of the many activities in this imaginative and interactive program. |
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Adventure & Character Education
Recreation / Physical Education
Evening Programs
Our traditional evening programs include a night hike and campfire.
Our campfire program involves interactive songs and games, often performed by trained musicians, around a crackling fire. Other evening programs are available by request.
The night hike gives students an opportunity to explore a nocturnal environment and learn about the unique adaptations animals and birds have evolved to survive in low light. The hikes are full of games, stories and sensory awareness activities.
This program is action packed, full of games, stories and exploration. Understand the complex concept of adaptation in a fun and simple way. Learn how mice build nests, how foxes stalk, how geese migrate, what animal signs to look for
“When you tug at a single thing in nature”,wrote John Muir, “you'll find it attached to the rest of the world.” 
Bring history to life for your students by having them participate in a simulated historical fur-trade from the late 1700's. A wonderful learning opportunity that leaves textbooks and overheads far behind as students reenact an exchange of trade goods and fur between "Les Bourgeois", working for the North West Company and the Native peoples of Northern Ontario. Students outfit themselves with "trade goods" and they must barter these goods for "fur." Students learn about the differing social, cultural and economic approaches to trade by Europeans and Indigenous people. This is a remarkable program that involves role-playing, strategic thinking, planning and teamwork. Our site has a log trading post outfitted with replicas of many of the trade goods used in the fur trade. 
Now here is a creative approach to historical education! In this all-day program, students "live" the life of a voyageur by donning simple costumes, eating authentic food and paddling a 26' Voyageur Canoe under the guidance of an historical persona. Students sing French Canadian songs, listen to stories and participate in an unforgettable adventure from Canada's Past. 
The traditional peoples of Ontario developed many skills to live comfortably with only stone-age tools and the natural materials around them. In this program students get to learn some of these skills and examine accurate replicas of traditional structures and tools. Teachers have the opportunity to customize their program. 
With a steady aim and a determined stance anything is possible. Can you hit the bulls-eye? In this exciting program, students learn the basics of archery from how to correctly string a bow, to how to satisfy and release an arrow. 
Learn the basic skills of canoeing or kayaking by our qualified instructors.
Don't be driven indoors by snow! Discover an exhilarating way to experience the wonders of a winter landscape and work on your fitness level at the same time. Students learn basic ski techniques (the diagonal stride, double poling, how to descent and ascend hills), as well as how to ski safely. We explore the over 180 acres of field and forest on the "range" on skis, while participating in a series of games and activities.