THE FIELD GUIDE TO THE OCDSB OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTRES

Spring 2015

BILL MASON & MACSKIMMING OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTRES

“Open Trail” Event at Bill Mason Centre on May 2nd

This open house event on May 2nd, 2015 is to provide an opportunity for everyone to

Sculpturefrom the “Voices of the Land” workshopon September 29th,2014 explore the centre. Normally the centre is closed to the public because of visiting students and groups but the site will be open to the public on this day. Come and take a hike in the woods, bring your binoculars or camera to take pictures of the plants and animals that inhabit the Centre. The wetland, ephemeral ponds and forest will be very active with frogs, birds, insects and many other signs of spring. There is no cost for the event and centre instructors will be available along the trails to help you with explore-based activities. The centre will be open from 10am to 3pm on May 2nd, 2015. MacSkimming’s Open House event will take place on October 3rd, 2015.

“Going Outside!” Visual Arts Workshops This coming fall, OCDSB Curriculum Services will be offering full day workshops to OCDSB elementary teachers at the centres focusing on visual arts through the exploration of the natural world. The workshops will be based on art curriculum expectations and offered for each elementary division (primary, junior and intermediate). The objective is to get students to play with art in an inspiring, natural setting. Starting in January 2016, visual art outdoor programs based on these workshops will be offered at both outdoor centers to visiting school groups. Dates and registration of the workshops will be posted on the Board’s EPLC this coming fall.

The construction of the New” Bill Mason Centre Field Centre is progressing well!

1 Page 2 THE FIELD GUIDE TO THE OCDSB OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTRES

What some students “experienced” this winter at the Centres: On January 8th, our volunteer Kathrin Ehrmann found moose tracks, scat and a moose bed while exploring the forests around MacSkimming Centre. On January 12th, Grade 8 students from Greenbank did timed loops on cross-country skis on the trails at Bill Mason Centre. One student did the ski loop in 6.19 minutes and it was his first time on cross- country skis.

On January 12th, the OCDSB Personal and Professional Leadership MacSkimming at Program Team of staff from various Board departments, built fires with steel & flint as an outside initiative task at MacSkimming Centre. Weston Family The On January 20th, a Grade 6 class from Hawthorne Public School went on a night hike at MacSkimming Centre and saw the moons of Jupiter as part of the Weston Family Environmental Leaders of Tomorrow Program. On January 30th, Grade 7/8 students from 's tracked two porcupines through the snow while cross-country skiing at Bill Mason. On February 20th, Chief Custodian Gordon Nesbitt watched an American crow do a threatening display to a bald eagle as it flew over West Carleton Secondary School/ Bill Mason Centre. February 23rd, Grade 2 students from Manor Park Public School found an owl imprint in the snow while searching for animals signs at MacSkimming Centre. On February 24th at MacSkimming Centre, Grade 3 students from Regina Street Public School witnessed an eastern gray squirrel fall from a tree to the ground when the branch it was on broke. The squirrel was OK.

On March 2nd, Technical Secondary School’s Autism Unit Hawthorn Public School Grade 6 students at 6 Public Hawthorn students Grade School students went snowshoeing at MacSkimming Centre and took part in a of EnvironmentalTomorrow Program Leaders snow angel making session. On March 4th, a grade 6 class from Vincent Massey Public School learned to call barred owls and got a response during their night hike at MacSkimming Centre. This was part of the Weston Family Environmental Leaders of Tomorrow Program On March 11th, Grade 7 students from D.A. Moodie Intermediate School

discovered huge swarms of snow fleas feeding on top of the snow while imprint owl cross-country skiing at Bill Mason Centre. On March 23rd, Grade 7 students from Metcalfe Public School spotted a black-backed woodpecker while playing the prey/predator game at MacSkimming Centre. On March 25th, SK and Grade 1 class from York Street Public School attended their first of 10 “Forest School” sessions at MacSkimming Centre. They discovered “naked” pine cones and had fun climbing on quinzees. ManorP.S ‘s Park This program was made possible by TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.

Kayley Fowler from Queens University did her practicum placement at MacSkimming Centre from February 17th to March 13th, 2015. Kayley used her placement to: Learn how to maintain classroom management in an outdoor setting and to practice effective strategies to engage a wide variety of learners through hands-on, exploration-based and inquiry-based activities She was also able to take part in the Weston Family Environmental Leaders of Tomorrow Program with Vincent Massey P.S. Grade 6 class and assist at the OCDSB Elementary Teachers Environmental Inquiry & EcoSchools workshop on March 11th. Kayley was very successful in her placement and the staff of the OCDSB Outdoor Education Centres wish her the best of luck in her future.

2 EXPLORE, EXPERIENCE, APPRECIATE AND LEARN Page 3

Photographs donated by Bill McMullen are on display at MacSkimming’s Forest Edge Centre. Pictures from left to right: Eastern screech owl (red phase), spring peeper and eastern tree frog.

OCDSB Elementary Environmental Education Inquiry Network and Ecoschools

On March 10th & 11th, about 100 OCDSB elementary teachers took part in the second session of the Environmental Education Inquiry Network & EcoSchools workshop at Confederation Education Centre. Environmental education workshops were provided by OCDSB Curriculum Services art coaches, Jane Craske from Longfield Davidson Heights Secondary School on “Bring Food into the Classroom” and OCDSB Environmental Management coordinator Tom Thistle on Ecoschools certification. Networking sessions included discussions: with Jeff Kaster from Toyota Evergreen on school yard greening projects & John Perks, Adam Bradley and John Cameron from Regina Street P.S. on getting students outside. In the afternoon, Centre Instructors took the teachers outside and guided them through some activities that the teachers could use in their classroom to introduce their students to local birds and their calls. On June 8th, the OCDSB Environmental Stewardship Day for elementary students will take place at Confederation Education Centre.

Special congratulations to Claire Beaudoin (Centres Office Administrator) and her husband Pierre Lafrance who will be getting married on April 14th in Mexico .

DOVERCOURT RECREATION CENTRE OVERNIGHT SUMMER CAMPS return to MACSKIMMING CENTRE

Dovercourt Recreation Centre and MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre have teamed up again to offer a series of summer camp programs for this coming summer. This three day & two overnight program is perfect for both first-time and returning overnight campers and will provide many opportunities for outdoor adventure, exploring the 400 acre woods and playing active outdoor games. The camp is specialized for 10 to 13 year olds ($398 + tax) and is available : “Girls Only”- July 20 to 24th & August 24th to 28th and “Guys Only”-July 13th to 17th & August 24th to 28th, 2015 For more information, or to register for Dovercourt camps, visit www.dovercourt.org or call 613-798-8950.

3 Explore, experience, appreciate and learn!

BILL MASON & MACSKIMMING OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTRES

“Amazing Things to Do Outside!” Weekend Kids Program

Children between the ages of 7 to 11 will work their way through a bucket list of amazing outdoor activities and adventures. During the day, they will spend the entire day outside and doing fun explore and hands-on based activities. The objective of this OCDSB General Interest program is to give children, the opportunity to play in the outdoors, learn about the natural environment and connect with nature. Centre Instructor Kathleen Tanner will help participants work their way through their checklist of outdoor activities. At the end of the day, children will return home with the excitement and confidence of spending the day outside and of doing everything on their list. May 2nd, 2015-9:30am to 2:30pm– Course Code# 76926 June 6th, 2015-9:30am to 2:30pm– Course Code# 76927 Location: MacSkimming Centre Forest Edge Field Centre (3640 Highway #174) Young northern water snake at Bill Mason Centre.

“One Day Flat Water Canoeing Workshop!” This one-day Fundamentals of Safe Canoeing workshop which will take place at MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre (3635 Highway #174) on the Ottawa River will be facilitated by centre instructor Fabien Dupont-Mattar. Based on the Ontario Regulations of safe boating curriculum, participants will become familiar with equipment and safety regulations, theory of manoeuvering a canoe on flat-water and practice 5 basic canoe strokes. Participants will gain hands-on experience practicing the theory learned on shore. In the afternoon, the group will then go on an interpretative canoe tour on the Ottawa River. Please bring a lunch. May 23rd, 2015– 9:00am to 3:00 pm….$49.00 +hst -Course code# 76914 June 13th, 2015– 9:00am to 3:00 pm….$49.00 + hst - Course code #76917 For information or to register for both the “Amazing Things to Do Outside” and Canoeing, please call the OCDSB General Interest program at 613-239-2751.or register on-line at https://e-connect.ocdsb.ca

On April 23rd, 24th and May 1st is the Eastern Ontario Regional Envirothon at MacSkimming Centre. Thank you to our partners and supporters of this event! Rideau Valley Conservation Authority Ottawa-Carleton District School Board City of Ottawa Canaan Blueberries Inc. Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary Bill McMullen Photography Nature Davies Family Sugar Bush Ducks Unlimited Canada Margaret Wallace Michael Harrison James MacDonald

Brian Boucher Forest Ontario Envirothon to teams winning bethe awarded photograph will that Owl’ “Barred Jamesthis donated framed MacDonald’s

OCDSB Outdoor Education Centres- Bill Mason & MacSkimming Centre Phone: 613-833-2080, Fax: 613-833-0770 Email: [email protected] Website; www.ocdsboutdooreducationcentres.ca Twitter: @OCDSBoec

PleasePlease consider consider the environmentthe environment before before printing printing this this letter! letter!

4