Using Your Senses

Using Your Senses incorporates the senses of grade primary . Exposing children to different settings is important in helping them to better understand our world. Walking through the Park, students will have many opportunities to use their senses and observe nature. Inquiry is used to understand how the senses of bald eagles, cougars, deer, Sable Island horses, reindeer, and wolves are used differently. To book this program click here.
For more information contact: Sue Penney (penneysl@gov.ns.ca)

Needs and Characteristics of living Things

Needs and Characteristics of living Things is a program designed for grade 1 to assist in their understanding of how wildlife are able to meet their needs in the wild and compare that to the wildlife at the park who have their needs met by humans. Communication between animals by their use of sight, hearing, scent, and touch will be explored. Seasonal changes in wildlife will be demonstrated and observed. To book this program click here. For more information contact: Sue Penney (penneysl@gov.ns.ca)

Animal Growth and Changes

Animal Growth and Changes compliments the grade 2 curriculum incorporating wildlife’s physical characteristics, and life cycles. Antlers, cocoons, furs, bird nests and sea shells will be viewed and discussed. Examples of different methods used by wildlife to care for their young are explored. Students are asked to comment on the care of the animals in the park and whether the animal’s needs are being met. To book this program click here.
For more information contact: Sue Penney (penneysl@gov.ns.ca)

Adaptations

Adaptations utilizes grade 2 curriculum topics of animal growth and changes. It investigates the relationship between the environment and wildlife’s physical and behavioural differences.Students will observe the wildlife here at the Park focussing on certain physical characteristics, such as webbed feet on the beaver and seasonal fur changes of the snowshoe hare. These adaptations are essential for survival in our North American climate. Outside activities will reinforce the children’s awareness of camouflage of such animals as the hare, the bobcat, the deer, the fox, or the owl. To book this program click here. For more information contact: Sue Penney (penneysl@gov.ns.ca)

Species at Risk

Species at Risk is a dynamic program that can be delivered to most grade levels from primary to grade 12. The topic stresses how loss of species effects us all and how we can take responsible actions to limit or reverse loss of species in the world and in our own backyard. The grade level dictates the amount of detail that is explained to the students. Habitat loss is the main reason for a species to become endangered. Some of the wildlife in Nova Scotia have already disappeared. After walking through the Park, students will recognize some of the species that are at risk in this province such as the Peregrine Falcon and the American Marten. Students will learn the species at risk categories of extinct, extirpated, endangered, threatened and special concern. Several artifacts of species at risk from around the world will be displayed and discussed in the classroom. To book this program click here. For more information contact: Sue Penney (penneysl@gov.ns.ca)

Habitat

Habitat focuses on grade 4 curriculum for habitats and communities of living things.
People and animals need a place to live: home. Habitat includes food, water, shelter and space in a proper arrangement. All living things are interrelated and wildlife serves as an important indicator of environmental health. Students will be able to identify the components of habitat, recognize how humans and wildlife depend on it and how a loss or change in habitat can impact both. To book this program click here. For more information contact: Sue Penney (penneysl@gov.ns.ca)

Biodiversity

Biodiversity develops the grade 6 curriculum for communities of living things. Students will better understand nature when they recognize the interdependence in ecological systems. After walking through the Park and observing the various animals that live here, students will better understand how wildlife depend on one another for survival as predators and prey.The purpose of this program is to help students become aware of how biodiversity issues impinge in subtle ways on all aspects of our lives. A simulated activity highlights the way nature and humans affect a waterway. The students learn how all kingdoms of life are important and will learn species names. They will understand how adaptations of living things work in a changing environment. To book this program click here. For more information contact: Sue Penney (penneysl@gov.ns.ca)

Wetland Ecosystems

Wetland Ecosystems is a special program for grade 7 students fulfilling the curriculum requirement of interactions within ecosystems. Our special wetland trail and pond systems are incorporated into the learning experience by hiking and observing the function of our wetland system. The interaction amongst the water plants, invertebrates, birds and mammals is fully investigated. Weather permitting students use nets to dip in the ponds and share their findings. The class will brain storm on how to make a difference in the quality of our wetlands. To book this program click here. For more information contact: Sue Penney (penneysl@gov.ns.ca)

Constructed Wetland Ecosystems

Constructed Wetland Ecosystems is specific for the grade 10 curriculum to help students become aware of how wetlands are important and how joining technology with natural processes, constructed wetlands have wide and varied implications. The students will learn the benefits of constructed wetlands. They will have a guided tour of some common wetland animals and be told how adaptations of living things work in a changing environment. By learning and thinking about these issues, they can start to understand wetlands and our planet’s, as well as our own dependence on them. To book this program click here. For more information contact: Sue Penney (penneysl@gov.ns.ca)

Outreach Programs

Using Your Senses

Using Your Senses incorporates the senses of grade primary and 1 students. They will explore the natural world and will understand how some wildlife use their senses. Hands-on workstations, utilizing items from nature, accent the use of the senses individually and how they can work together. The students will marvel how our senses can fool us and discover with role playing games how bear cubs learn from their mothers. The importance of animal signals becomes apparent when the children must find similar species by sounds alone. An audio tape teaches them real wildlife sounds. To book this program click here. For more information contact: Sue Penney (penneysl@gov.ns.ca)

Adaptations

Adaptations utilize grade 2 curriculum topics of animal growth and changes. It investigates the relationship between the environment and wildlife’s physical and behavioural differences. The students are guided through ocean, wetland, desert and arctic adaptations by animal artifacts, crafts, games and imagination. Experimentation and role-playing are used to help understand migration. Hibernation is discussed and a hibernating bear in a cave is crafted. To book this program click here. For more information contact: Sue Penney (penneysl@gov.ns.ca)

Species at Risk

Species at Risk can fulfill the curriculum requirement for grade K to grade 12 by developing concepts of stewardship, sustainability and stressing habitat awareness. The grade level dictates the amount of detail that is explained to the students. It concentrates on categories of endangered species, and stresses that all wildlife is vulnerable. Artifacts, a short slide show and props are used to stimulate learning. Various issues and problems facing wildlife are presented and reinforced with games and hands-on activities. Students will learn about the status of the piping plover, the effect oil has on birds, and the problem of introduced species. Remember everyone can make a difference! To book this program click here. For more information contact: Sue Penney (penneysl@gov.ns.ca)

Habitat

Habitat focuses on grade 4 curriculum for habitats and communities of living things. It stresses the 4 basic needs of living organisms. The classroom becomes transformed into a wildlife habitat drawing the information from the students by discussion, slide show, games and activities. A terrarium is constructed that is left with the class and can lead to more learning activities. Carrying capacity of wildlife is demonstrated by a group activity. How we can help wildlife in our own backyards is information that is conveyed to the class. To book this program click here. For more information contact: Sue Penney (penneysl@gov.ns.ca)

Food Chains

Food Chains develops the grade 2 and 3 curriculum for life cycles of plants and animals and communities of living things. Herbivore, carnivore and omnivore are defined and skulls are examined to identify how different teeth are used to eat different foodstuffs. Several food chain activities demonstrate the energy exchange amongst the sun, plants and animals which develop into an understanding of food pyramids and food webs. A salt marsh food web is examined in detail utilizing description and classification. There is an option available of starting a worm bin to explore the role of the decomposer through an extended experiment. This is an opportunity to decrease waste and provide compost, both will benefit wildlife. To book this program click here. For more information contact: Sue Penney (penneysl@gov.ns.ca)

Birds of Prey

Birds of Prey is a special program aimed at grade 6 and 7 students fulfilling the curriculum requirement of interactions within ecosystems and diversity of life. Birds of prey or raptors demonstrate a healthy ecosystem by being at the top of the food chain. Students learn through role-playing games: the food pyramid needed to sustain a peregrine falcon, prey populations affect osprey, and chemicals can accumulate to the top of the food chain and affect bald eagle reproduction. Experimentation with feathers, paper gliders and binoculars utilize hands-on activities to understand physiological characteristics. Students learn how to recognize raptor silhouettes from shape, movement and hunting techniques. To book this program click here. For more information contact: Sue Penney (penneysl@gov.ns.ca)