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OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS

School Classes Welcome

Visit the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory to experience nature upclose! Outdoor Education Programs will be offered this spring and fall at the PEPtBO. The observatory is situated in a National Wildlife Area which has also been designated as a Globally Important Bird Area (IBA).

SIX Programs have been developed for Grades 2 - 12 which cover subjects anywhere from Birds to Green Energy. Materials and program guidelines are sent to classes interested in visiting the observatory. Programs will be two hours in length and will offer opportunities for children to participate in hikes, outdoor experiments, collecting organisms and visiting some wildlife in the hand.

School Visit

Grade 11/12 Ecology class from Bayside Secondary School in Belleville. They had a great visit to the Observatory, Friday, May 13, 2011

Spring Migration Program

Migration is a very important event for hundreds of bird species in North America. In the spring, millions of birds leave their winter grounds in the south heading north to their breeding grounds. In the fall, most birds leave their northern homes for the warmer climate in the south. For many bird species their specific spring and wintering grounds are still a mystery. Through international bird banding programs information regarding their flyways, distance traveled, population trends and longevity of various bird species can be monitored. Banding involves placing a numbered aluminum ring around the bird's leg. Information such as wing length, species, age, fat content, sex and weight are recorded. This program will enhance the student's awareness and understanding about bird migration, their adaptations, biology and habitats. Visit our Amazing Recoveries to see the results of monitoring songbird migration

Monarch Butterfly Program

Butterflies are a very familiar sight of summer, and one that most everyone is curious and fond of. Probably the most familiar of these winged insects is the Monarch butterfly. This is a butterfly that displays some very unique and interesting behaviour, such as long distance migration (which is not just a phenomenon of the aviary kind), as well as other "cool" behaviours. Butterflies in general also have a fascinating life cycle, which in some cases is dependent on specific plants to be completed. Butterflies are often mistaken for moths, although they are quite distinct from one another if you know what to look for. There are also ways that we can help to ensure that Monarchs and other butterflies have the things they need for survival when they return for the summer.

This program should give an understanding of Monarch Butterflies needs, such as Milkweed and wintering areas. It should relate an understanding of what migration is and why it is important for many animals, with emphasis on Monarch butterflies. Students should get a sense for how far the butterflies go and what it's like in their winter habitat. Games will be used to help emphasize the main points. Stages in the life of a butterfly will be learned, and emphasized through game. Students will also be introduced to some interesting behaviours of Monarchs and other butterflies, such as shivering and puddling, as well as ways in which they can help provide habitat and food for butterflies at home. Through discussions and games the students should get a sense for the importance of habitat conservation and gain an appreciation for the natural world right around their own homes.

Owl Program

Birds are a very important part of the natural environment. They come in all sizes shapes and forms. One of the better-known groups of birds is the raptors. These are the birds of prey, which have a very special role in the natural environment. This group of birds preys upon insect, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, fish and even other birds. The family of birds known as Owls are a member of the raptor group, but one that has some very different features than other birds of prey. Saw-whet Owls are the smallest species of owl that is found around Eastern Ontario, and one that many are familiar with. These tiny birds are a regular inhabitant of the county, as well as a migrant, which is regularly caught and banded each fall at the observatory. It's small size; adorable features and unique behaviours make this Owl a favourite of many birders, and one that is fun to learn about.

This program should give an understanding of basic bird biology, such as parts of a bird, reproduction etc. It should relate different groups of birds, such as raptors and the differences of the groups. The roles of birds of prey, with Owls as the focus, should be explained as well as relationships between Owls and other animals in the natural environment. Students should become familiar with the concept of food webs and the interconnectedness of nature. To reinforce these concepts the students will play games and participate in discussions. The unique adaptations that owls have evolved with will be explained, as well as compared with other birds to show how Owls are able to hunt and find food when hunting at night. Concepts of nocturnal and diurnal animals should also be made clear. The students should also be able to understand what migration is and why animals (Saw-whet Owls) do it, as well as what habitat is and what makes for good Owl habitat or not.

Amphibians, Snakes and Turtles Oh My!

Students will understand the major differences between amphibians and reptiles. They will learn the basic differences between the major groups of amphibians and reptiles in Ontario in general and the Quinte/Prince Edward County area in particular (salamanders, frogs, toads, turtles, lizards, and snakes.) Students will gain an understanding and appreciation of the habitat and organism based on biological characteristics. They will also develop an appreciation of how herptiles fit into the ecosystem, their importance to a healthy environment and threats to their survival. Students will learn to identify local species of amphibians and reptiles and learn what they can do to conserve our local species.

Wildlife Ecology

Using Prince Edward Point as a backdrop students will be introduced to ecology as the study of the interaction of organisms(plants, animals, fungi, bacteria & viruses) with each other and with their physical environments. Students will be shown many of the key concepts of ecology including energy movement, resource partitioning, population ecology and the impact of human activities both on micro and macro ecological systems. Through field activities the sampling of both migratory and static populations will be discussed.

Green Power

One of our few programs that are geared for the high school curriculum, this "Alternative Sources of Power or Green Energy" will be looking at sources of energy produced naturally and are environmentally safe. Wind and Solar Power are two such methods that produce no emissions and are in abundant supply. Students will learn about PEPtBO's Solar Power System and how the solar panels collect the sunlight and how it is converted into electricity. As Prince Edward Point is one of the windiest places in Ontario, the students will study how windmills use the wind to generate power and how it is converted into electricity. Lastly the students will conduct experiments on the efficiency of solar power by reading amps as panels are covered or in shade and how the panels angle to the sun determine low or high input of solar rays.

Bookings can be made by emailing the Volunteer Coordinator at: fdonalds@magma.ca

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