Ecological field trips available this September and October; both spring and fall programs are now free of charge
One of Wildsight’s environmental education programs is offering a fall series for the first time this September. Classroom with Outdoors is now available to classes who want to enjoy the fall weather while they learn about grasslands, wetlands and forest ecosystems.
In addition, the field-trip-based Classroom with Outdoors is now offered free of charge to Grade 4 to 7 classrooms in the Columbia Basin—a wonderful development, according to Monica Nissen, Wildsight’s Education program manager.
“This is such good news,” Nissen said. “We’re delighted to offer fall field trips—and we’re very pleased to be able to offer both fall and spring field trips free of charge.”
Nissen said more funding means Wildsight can offer the programs and busing for free. “Thanks to our funders, these excellent programs are now more attainable by schools in the Columbia Basin.”
Teachers requested a fall series of Classroom with Outdoors, Nissen said, because they were finding their spring calendars crammed with other year-end events. As well, “We’ve had requests to offer the trips in fall to give teachers more time to connect the learning from the trip to the science units they do during the school year,” Nissen said.
“And some teachers wanted a field trip at the beginning of the school year to help the kids get to know each other and to bond as a group. Well—we’re trying it out!”
Teachers can book field trips starting September 7; the dates of delivery are between September 13 and October 22. Teachers can contact Wildsight at 250-427-9325 to book a trip for their classes.
Classroom with Outdoors has been offered to school kids throughout the Columbia Basin for a decade. “It’s become an important part of the regional science curriculum.” Nissen said. “It helps kids learn about plants and animals and other ecosystem components—and how important healthy ecosystems are to healthy human communities.”
Nissen said this year the curriculum focuses on biodiversity in honour of the United Nations’ International Year of Biodiversity.
