These programs are educational workshops held outdoors in areas in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. The programs are designed to make discovering and appreciating B.C. wildlife enjoyable. Students learn about animals' habitat, food sources, predators, and life cycle, and through activities and games, will also explore the threats facing the species. Walking within the animals' natural habitat provides a wonderful opportunity for students to understand wildlife and how they are connected to the ecosystem.
The following Nature Walk & Workshops are currently offered:
Bats
Although bats are nocturnal animals, this walk will afford students the opportunity to see bat habitat and learn interesting and little-known facts about bats. The aim of this walk and workshop is to explain the myths about these animals that have lead many to find them repulsive and scary, and to foster a greater appreciation of bats by explaining the vital role these creatures play in our ecosystems.
After the bat walk, the students will take part in a workshop that includes an activity that uses bat detectors to clarify bats’ incredible skill of echolocation. The workshop will conclude with the students constructing several bat houses. The class will choose whether they would like to place their bat houses in their schoolyard, in a favourite park or if they would like to donate the bat houses to a stewardship group.
Frogs
This walk provides the opportunity for students to be introduced to and to discover many of the different types of frogs found in the Pacific Northwest. Discussion will also be held about the importance of preserving habitat for these sensitive creatures. Worksheets and activities will enhance the material presented during the walk. To participate in the stewardship, students will participate in a habitat cleanup. After this workshop, the students will have a valuable understanding of the importance of appreciating and protecting these fragile animals.
Owls
The students will learn how to spot these well-camouflaged creatures by using binoculars and owl calls. During the walk, the students will learn about the owl species living in the Lower Mainland and the characteristics of our coastal ecosystems that provide suitable habitat for them.
Many of our owls are on the endangered species list due to habitat loss. To help with the preservation of these creatures, the children will construct much needed owl boxes, which will provide safe nesting sites around the Lower Mainland for many owls. The students will also participate in an activity that will teach them about food webs and the role top predators, like the owl, play when it comes to finding food in the forest.
Salmon
This walk provides the opportunity to get a close up look at salmon and their habitat. The wildlife walk takes place along the banks of a salmon stream, allowing students to view the spawning habitat of salmon. During the walk, the students will learn about the difficulties salmon face throughout their lifecycles and how salmon play an important role in our coastal temperate rainforest ecosystems. After the nature walk, the students will take part in water quality testing and a role-play activity about the lifecycle of salmon. The activity aims to show the students the survival rate of salmon at different stages of their development, as the students will be asked to outsmart and compete with predators and various human-made obstacles.
Temperate Rainforest
They are among the rarest ecosystems on earth, and they are our home. Students will explore the world of the Temperate Rainforest and learn more about what animals depend on them and how important they are to British Columbia and in fact all of Canada. We will discover the differences and similarities Temperate Rainforests have to their tropical counterparts, and learn new ways in which we can protect these magnificent ecosystems.
Students will go on a wildlife walk throughout a temperate rainforests and learn about the intricate connections between species of plants and animals. To complement the walk, students will engage in a stewardship activity that directly helps this unique environment.
Urban Wildlife
Urban Wildlife is all around us, even in the heart of the city! An urban environment is an ideal environment in which to observe wildlife in the city. Diverse varieties of birds, frogs and small mammals can be seen in our city parks. This walk and workshop focuses on urban wildlife species, but also aims to show that many "wild" animals are coming back into the cities.
To complement the walk, the students will participate in a bird watching activity, a species scavenger hunt, a discussion about the space requirements of different species and a garbage clean-up or invasive species removal activity.
