Secondary Outdoor Education Field Trips

The day consists of two programs where each program is two hours in duration. Two programs are combined for a full-day field trip (approximately five hours onsite-time is accounted for lunch but not included). Of the two programs, one is predetermined (underlined in the list below). Teachers choose their second program based on available options. 

See descriptions below. Note, field trips may be modified slightly.

Water Quality Indicators (Science focus) - The health of an aquatic ecosystem can be determined by the presence/absence and abundance of different types of aquatic animals and certain chemicals. Students will collect water from Scanlon Creek to perform both chemical and biological tests and analysis to determine water quality.

Water Quality Indicators (Geography focus) - The health of an aquatic ecosystem can be determined by the presence/absence and abundance of different types of aquatic animals and certain chemicals. Students will collect water from Scanlon Creek to perform both chemical and biological tests and analysis to determine water quality. Students will also explore how scientific data collected by the Conservation Authority is shared through a variety of maps to help educate about what current best practices/threats exist within the Lake Simcoe watershed.

Choose one program below to pair with Water Quality Indicators:

Climate Escape - Students will learn about the carbon cycle, the greenhouse effect and climate change from a global and local standpoint. As a culminating activity students will participate in a game called Climate Escape, which will challenge them to work together to navigate around the Scanlon Creek property solving various puzzles in order to reveal the locked “answer to climate change”.

Introduction to GPS - This program will introduce students to the exciting recreational activity of "geocaching", which uses GPS technology to guide learners through nature in search of hidden treasures. Students will learn how to input coordinates into a GPS unit and then use the GPS unit as a tool for navigation as they search for the secret cache.

Lake Study (Science Focused)– Students will participate in sampling and measurement techniques to analyse the health of Lake St. George. From on board a solar powered pontoon boat students will create a depth profile, measure temperature, pH, Oxygen concentration and complete chemical analysis of water samples collected directly from the lake. 

Lake Study (Geography Focused)– Students will gain an understanding of the formation of the Oak Ridges Moraine and the importance of this landform feature to the movement of water to the region and about the formation and unique characteristics of kettle lakes. From on board a solar powered pontoon boat students will have the opportunity to create a depth profile and use field equipment determine the health of Lake St. George, a sheltered inland kettle lake.

Choose one program below to pair with Lake Study: 

Fish Management – Students will participate in a hands on catch and release program to identify fish species and population size in Lake St. George. Through use of a seine net, students will be actively involved in preparing the net, hauling it in and transferring fish to aquaria. Fish will then be identified, weighed and measured before being released back into the lake. 

Plankton – Students will gather live plankton samples directly from Lake St. George. They will identify, sketch and photograph their specimens through use of microscopes and projection screens. 

GPS/Geocaching - This program will introduce students to the exciting recreational activity of "geocaching", which uses GPS technology to guide learners through nature in search of hidden treasures. Students will learn how to input coordinates into a GPS unit and then use the GPS unit as a tool for navigation as they search for the secret cache.