Fanshawe Outdoor Education Centre: Programs for Kindergarten and Elementary Students

These environmental educational programs are available for Kindergarten and elementary students at . All programs are a half day unless specified otherwise. All programs meet curriculum requirements within Health and Physical Education: Active Living.

Program Fees

Unless noted otherwise in the program description:

  • $8/student/half day
  • $16/student/full day
  • $136 minimum charge/half day for groups with fewer than 16 students
  • No charge for teachers or volunteers

Program Length

  • All programs are 1.5 hours
  • As we aim to accommodate as many requests as possible, we might ask to add you to a waitlist while we confirm availability. The morning time slot for all programs is 10:00 am – 11:30 am, and the afternoon time slot is from 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm. This helps us coordinate the large demand for programming and adhere to firm bus schedules.
  • If you choose to combine two programs to create a full day experience, we will secure an indoor or outdoor space for you to eat lunch.

Program Descriptions

Students use their senses to gain awareness and appreciation of plants and animals while exploring various natural communities. Games and activities throughout the hike encourage interaction with classmates and the environment.

  • Kindergarten 鈥� The Kindergarten Program
  • Grade 1 鈥� Science and Technology: Needs and Characteristics of Living Things

A Christmas-themed puppet show welcomes students to the forest, introduces familiar animals and their winter survival strategies, and helps get everyone excited for the holiday season. Heading outside, the students observe and feed birds as well as leave “presents” for animals that are active in the winter. We also celebrate the holidays with a winter story and sing-a-long accompanied by jingle bells.

Save $1/student by booking an afternoon visit!

  • Kindergarten 鈥� The Kindergarten Program
  • Grade 1 鈥� Science and Technology: Daily and Seasonal Changes

A wintery puppet show introduces students to familiar animals and their winter survival strategies. Key terms include hibernation, migration, and adapting. A short guided hike outside leads to observing and feeding birds and looking for evidence of animal life. The program concludes back inside with a cozy winter story.

Save $1/student by booking an afternoon visit!

  • Kindergarten 鈥� The Kindergarten Program
  • Grade 1 鈥� Science and Technology: Daily and Seasonal Changes

Just like us, animals and plants are getting ready for winter. Through hiking, exploration, and playing, students discover how wildlife are preparing for the seasonal changes ahead and how they are uniquely adapted to survive.

  • Kindergarten 鈥� The Kindergarten Program
  • Grade 1 鈥� Science and Technology: Needs and Characteristics of Living Things, Daily and Seasonal Changes

The return of songbirds marks the arrival of spring for many people. As friends of birds, we will gain a basic understanding of their behaviour by watching them with binoculars and playing games. In addition, the flush of new plant growth will not be overlooked on our hike. In the quiet of our Nature Corner, students can examine a collection of springtime secrets and mysteries.

  • Kindergarten 鈥� The Kindergarten Program
  • Grade 1 鈥� Science and Technology: Needs and Characteristics of Living Things, Daily and Seasonal Changes

A variety of pods, including a forest kitchen, featuring nature-related loose parts make our forest an exciting play space to encourage imagination, creativity, observation, and building. Students will enjoy using their senses, natural curiosity, creativity, and sense of wonder to discover and interact with nature in a forest. Activities connect with seasonal changes.

Supervising staff have received Forest and Nature School Practitioners certification by the Child & Nature Alliance of Canada.

  • Kindergarten 鈥� The Kindergarten Program
  • Grade 1 鈥� Science and Technology: Needs and Characteristics of Living Things; Daily and Seasonal Changes

Discover how different animals adapt to life in the forest. Solve puzzles and explore how animals have different behavior and physical adaptations through various hands-on activities.

  • Grade 1 鈥� Science and Technology: Needs and Characteristics of Living Things
  • Grade 2 鈥� Science and Technology: Growth and Changes in Animals

Explore and discover the wonders of insect adaptation. Experience the stages of complete metamorphosis and discover how some bugs eat, move, and see! Students will get to catch and examine insects that live in the meadow at Fanshawe Conservation Area.

Learn about the hazards and thrills of Monarch butterfly migration in a 鈥渃hoose your own adventure鈥� map reading exercise. Additional activities focus on learning cardinal directions as well as the anatomy and life cycle of a butterfly.聽

Bring your running shoes! This program includes movement-based activities.

  • Grade 1- Science and Technology: Needs and Characteristics of Living Things
  • Grade 2 鈥� Science and Technology: Growth and Changes in Animals
  • Grade 3 鈥� Science and Technology: Growth and Changes in Plants
  • Grade 1, 2, 3 鈥� Mathematics: Algebra and Spatial Sense
  • Grade 1, 2, 3 鈥� Health and Physical Education: Active Living

In this program, students search for and observe a variety of aquatic life with dip nets at the pond. Discover how bugs help us learn about the quality of the water, and join in the games to better understand metamorphosis by becoming a dragonfly, damselfly, and other aquatic animals. Remember your boots and sense of awe!

  • Grade 2 – Science & Technology: Growth and Changes in Animals
  • Grade 3 – Science & Technology: Grow and Changes in Plants
  • Grade 4 –聽 Science & Technology: Habitats and Communities

Exploring plantations and meadows, playing games, and using dichotomous tree keys, students will gain a basic understanding of plants. Watch out for the 鈥淓nemies of the Forest鈥� in a tree survival game!

  • Grade 3 鈥� Science and Technology: Growth and Changes in Plants

Special program fee: $20/student

3.5 hr / full-day program

After an interpretive tour across the top of Fanshawe Dam, this special hands-on STEM program focuses on the local issue of flooding and erosion, told from the perspective of a local mink we call 鈥淢uddy鈥�.聽 Students work cooperatively in small groups to complete experiments with surfaces and soils, and learn about the important water control functions and services provided by plants.聽 Students go back outside to discover more about plants found at Fanshawe.

  • Grade 3- Science and Technology: STEM Skills and Connections聽
  • Grade 3- Science and Technology: Life Systems- Growth and Changes in Plants
  • Grade 3- Science and Technology: Structures and Mechanisms- Strong and Stable Structures
  • Grade 3- Science and Technology: Matter and Energy- Forces and Energy
  • Grade 3- Science and Technology: Earth and Space Systems- Soils in the Environment
  • Grade 3- Social Studies: People and Environments聽
  • Grade 3- Math: Number Sense and Numeration

Students will role play as soil scientists to test soil and learn about its different properties and types. By getting their hands dirty, they will discover how soil sustains life. We are sure they will “worm” up to it!

  • Grade 3 鈥� Science and Technology: Soils in the Environment

Explore what these three natural communities have in common and what makes them distinct. Through collecting and identifying organisms, students are encouraged to discover animal adaptations and habitat requirements. Insect sweep nets and pond dip nets are supplied. Rubber boots or old running shoes are recommended.

  • Grade 4 鈥� Science and Technology: Habitats and Communities

Learn what orienteering is and how to use a compass. Pairs of students are given a set of directions and use their map reading skills and a compass to find their way to a series of locations. Compasses supplied.

  • Grade 4, 5, 6 鈥� Mathematics: Algebra and Spatial Sense
  • Grade 4, 6 鈥� Social Studies: Spatial Skills

Catered to your grades鈥� science curriculum and age level (see below), we will use a variety of games and simulations from the long-standing and trusted Project Wild and Project Wet resources to highlight science topics in a fun, active way.聽聽

  • Grade 4 鈥� Science and Technology: Habitats and Communities
  • Grade 5 鈥� Science and Technology: Conservation of Energy and Resources
  • Grade 6 鈥� Science and Technology: Biodiversity
  • Grade 7 鈥� Science and Technology: Interactions in the Environment
  • Grade 8 鈥� Science and Technology: Water Systems

Urban sprawl has claimed the natural habitat of many wildlife species. In this game, students role play as animals commonly found in towns and cities to experience their challenges for survival. Survival will depend on meeting their individual needs while avoiding predators – and the 鈥渄estroyer鈥�! Running shoes are required.

  • Grade 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 鈥� Health & Physical Education: Active Living
  • Grade 4 鈥� Science and Technology: Habitats and Communities
  • Grade 6 鈥� Science and Technology: Biodiversity
  • Grade 7 鈥� Science and Technology: Interactions in the Environment

Special program fee: $20/student

3.5 hr / full-day program

This special hands-on STEM program focuses on the local issue of flooding in the watershed.聽 After a tour across the top of the Fanshawe Dam to learn about flood control, students work cooperatively in small groups to complete a number of investigations including identifying why and how floods occur.聽 Students will participate in floodplain simulations, and test the water-holding abilities of natural land covers and LID solutions. This is an indoor program.

  • Grade 5- Science and Technology: STEM Skills and Connections聽
  • Grade 5- Science and Technology: Human Health & Body Systems
  • Grade 5- Science and Technology: Structures and Mechanisms- Forces Acting on Structures
  • Grade 5- Science and Technology: Earth and Space Systems- Conservation of Energy and Resources聽
  • Grade 5- Social Studies: People and Environments聽
  • Grade 5- Math: Number Sense and Numeration聽

Students will get a glimpse of what it鈥檚 like to be a scientist.聽 They will make predictions based on simulations using a Ward鈥檚 Stormwater Floodplain Simulation System, use dip nets and classification guides to gather information on water quality indicators, and practice using a precipitation monitoring device.聽 These examples will help build an understanding of how to monitor changes over time, and how data is used to understand our changing climate.聽 Students learn about the local impacts of climate change and analyze how extreme weather and water quality are impacting habitats and species.聽聽

We recommend combining with Climate Change Helpers to create a full-day program.

Are there aliens among us, cleverly disguised as familiar flora and fauna? Students will discover and distinguish between native and non-native species and explore steps to take toward eliminating invasive plants. This program includes a scavenger hunt, movement-based games, and species collection in the meadow with sweep nets.

  • Grade 6 鈥� Science and Technology: Biodiversity
  • Grade 6 鈥� Health and Physical Education: Movement Competence
  • Grade 7- Science and Technology: Interactions in the Environment

Dynamic and cooperative activities help foster awareness of how human impacts and pressures endanger our local environment. Themes include habitat loss and degradation, population growth, pollution, invasive species, and over consumption.

  • Grade 6 鈥� Science and Technology: Biodiversity
  • Grade 7 – Science and Technology: Interactions in the Environment

Students discover basic ecological concepts as we explore aquatic and terrestrial communities to identify and classify a variety of plants and animals. Discover how ecosystem health depends on biodiversity, and use authentic field work tools including sweep nets to explore habitats.聽

Optional focus: Additional component on Invasive Species.

  • Grade 6 鈥� Science and Technology: Biodiversity
  • Grade 7 – Science and Technology: Interactions in the Environment

Looking for ways to help your students support each other and strengthen their connection to one another? Participate in a series of team building and leadership activities centered around understanding their local environment. Get ready to have fun while working on collaboration and problem solving skills! Your class will participate in various activities that involve listening, communicating, teambuilding, and trust-building skills.

Learn how we can help navigate and adapt to a changing climate. Students will experience a guided tour of Low Impact Development features by the Watershed Conservation Centre, as well as the top of the Fanshawe Dam to discuss flooding and clean energy. Together, we will discover local actions to combat climate change, including Conservation Authority projects. There will also be games and simulations to help students understand the local impacts of climate change.聽

We recommend combining with Climate Change in Our Watershed to create a full-day program.

Learn what orienteering is and how to use a compass. Pairs of students are given a set of directions and use compasses and their map reading skills to find their way to a series of locations. Note: the Intermediate orienteering course map is more challenging than the Beginner map. Compasses supplied.

  • Grade 7, 8 鈥� Mathematics: Geometry and Spatial Sense
  • Grade 7, 8 鈥� Geography: Concepts of Geographic Thinking

Special program fee: $20/student

3.5 hrs / full-day program

The program will highlight how Conservation Authority staff in STEM careers survey and evaluate local ecosystem health. The program starts with a guided tour across the top of Fanshawe Dam to learn about the Thames River. Students then take part in a series of hands-on activities that mimic some of the water quality monitoring that occurs as part of the Watershed Report Cards (WRC), including identifying benthic invertebrates and conducting a habitat assessment. We explore how pollution gets into the Thames River, code WRC information using ozobot robots, and learn to identify a variety of species at risk.

  • Grade 7- Science and Technology: STEM Skills and Connections聽
  • Grade 7- Science and Technology: Life Systems- Interactions in the Environment
  • Grade 7- Science and Technology: Structures and Mechanisms- Form, Function and Design of Structures
  • Grade 7- Science and Technology: Earth and Space Systems- Conservation of Energy and Resources聽
  • Grade 7- Geography: Physical Patterns in a Changing World, Natural Resources Around the World, Global Settlement聽聽
  • Grade 8- Science and Technology: STEM Skills and Connections聽
  • Grade 8- Science and Technology: Structures and Mechanisms- Systems in Action
  • Grade 8- Science and Technology: Matter and Energy- Fluids
  • Grade 8- Science and Technology: Earth and Space Systems- Water Systems
  • Grade 8- Geography: Settlement Patterns and Trends

Learn the basics of GPS technology and apply your skills to a nature-themed game of The Amazing Race! Using GPS units out on a set course, students are challenged to find answers to natural science questions and to locate specific eco-caches.

  • Grade 7, 8 鈥� Mathematics: Geometry and Spatial Sense
  • Grade 7, 8 鈥� Geography: Concepts of Geographic Thinking

Recommended Pairings for a Full-day Program

Grade Curriculum Theme(s) Recommended Full-day Program Combinations
Kindergarten The Kindergarten Program Combine Fabulous Fall or Spring Sensations with Sensory Nature Hike or Forest Free Play
Grade 1 Needs and Characteristics of Living Things, Daily and Seasonal Changes Combine Fabulous Fall or Spring Sensations with Sensory Nature Hike or Forest Free Play
Grade 2 Growth and Changes in Animals, Air and Water Combine Flap and Map or Watery World with Amazing Adaptations: Forest Animals! or Amazing Adaptations: Bugs!
Grade 3 Plants, Soils Combine Plant Studies and Get the Dirt on Soil or choose Soak it Up STEM+ (special full-day program)
Grade 4 Habitats and Communities Combine Habitat Tour: Pond, Field and Forest with Watery World, Environmental Games or Survival Game
Grade 5 Conservation of Energy and Resources, Structures and Mechanisms, Forces Acting on Structures Combine two: Environmental Games, Survival Game, Climate Change in Our Watershed, and Climate Change Helpers or choose Focus on Flooding STEM+ (special full-day program)
Grade 6 Biodiversity Combine two: Environmental Games, Survival Game, Climate Change in Our Watershed, Climate Change Helpers, Alien Invaders, Threats to Biodiversity, BIO: Biodiversity and Interactions in Our environment
Grade 7 Heat in the Environment, Interactions in the Environment, Physical Patterns in a Changing World Combine two: Environmental Games, Alien Invaders, Threats to Biodiversity, BIO: Biodiversity and Interactions in Our environment, Climate Change in Our Watershed, Climate Change Helpers
Grade 8 Water Systems, Global Settlement Patterns and Sustainability Combine two: Environmental Games, Survival Game, Climate Change in Our Watershed, Climate Change Helpers or choose Watershed STEM+ (special full-day program)

Quick View: Elementary Outdoor Education Programs Listed by Grade

Grade Programs Offered
Kindergarten Sensory Nature Hike, Christmas for the Animals, Winter for the Animals, Fabulous Fall, Spring Sensations, Forest Free Play
Grade 1 Christmas for the Animals, Winter for the Animals, Fabulous Fall, Spring Sensations, Flap and Map, Forest Free Play, Amazing Adaptations: Forest Animals!
Grade 2 Flap and Map, Watery World, Forest Free Play, Amazing Adaptations: Forest Animals!, Amazing Adaptations: Bugs!
Grade 3 Flap and Map, Watery World, Plant Studies, Get the Dirt on Soil
Grade 4 Watery World, Habitat Tour: Pond, Field, and Forest, Survival Game, Environmental Games, Beginner Map and Compass Orienteering
Grade 5 Survival Game, Environmental Games, Beginner Map and Compass Orienteering, Climate Change in Our Watershed
Grade 6 Survival Game, Environmental Games, Beginner Map and Compass Orienteering, Climate Chang in Our Watershed, Climate Change Helpers, Alien Invaders, Threats to Biodiversity, BIO: Biodiversity and Interactions in Our Local Environment, Team Building
Grade 7 Survival Game, Climate Change in Our Watershed, Climate Change Helpers, Threats to Biodiversity, BIO: Biodiversity and Interactions in Our Local Environment, Intermediate Map and Compass Orienteering, The Amazing Race – GPS Style
Grade 8 Survival Game, Climate Change in Our Watershed, Climate Change Helpers, Intermediate Map and Compass Orienteering, The Amazing Race – GPS Style, Team Building