Junior Education Program

Endangered Species
Grades 4 to 6 (all seasons – half-day)
Also available as an outreach program.
This dynamic role-playing exercise introduces students to some of Ontario’s ‘Species at Risk’ and the reasons for their decline. Students will learn firsthand the devastating impact of habitat loss, climate change, pollution, etc. on these animals. Students discuss how they can minimize their impact on wildlife and will be introduced to a variety of monitoring programs in Ontario.​

Habitat Exploration: Biodiversity
Grade 6 (all seasons)
Full day program – half day option by special request only.
In this two-part (same day) program, students will be introduced to classification systems and their use in categorizing and understanding living things in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. Class discussion will focus on the meaning and importance of biodiversity and the impact of humans on wildlife populations today.

• Part 1: Acting as wildlife biologists, students will examine pond life to identify and investigate the characteristics and adaptations of several vertebrate and invertebrate groups.
• Part 2: Using maps and identification keys, students become foresters, locating and identifying several tree species along a marked orienteering course.
  Habitat Exploration: Habitats and Communities

Habitat Exploration: Habitats and Communities
Grade 4 (spring & fall)
Select forest, pond or wetlands – each ecosystem is a half-day program. Also available as an outreach program.

Acting as wildlife biologists, students will explore a habitat of their choice (i.e. forest, field, wetland) to investigate local plant and animal life.
Using an assortment of tools including dip nets, magnifying glasses, and identification keys – students will investigate the dependency of plants and animals on the environment and the adaptations different species have made for survival in their specific habitats. Hands-on activities will introduce students to the importance of space for wildlife and the impact of human populations on habitat loss. Students leave with a better understanding of how they may minimize their impact on the environment through daily personal choices.

Habitat Exploration: Interactions in the Environment
Grade 7 (spring & fall)
Select forest, pond or wetlands – each ecosystem is a half-day program. Also available as an outreach program.

Following an introductory discussion regarding ecology, biodiversity, and the interdependence of living things, students will participate in an exploratory hike to investigate the components and interactions of a forest and/or wetland ecosystem.

Using an assortment of tools – including dip nets, magnifying glasses, and identification keys – students will investigate the dependency of plants and animals on the local environment and the adaptations different species have made for survival in their specific habitats. Hands-on activities will introduce students to the importance of space for wildlife and the impact of human populations on habitat loss. Students leave with a better understanding of how they may minimize their impact on the environment through daily personal choices.

Predator-Prey
Grades JK to 8 (all seasons – half-day)
Also available as an outreach program.
This half-day program introduces students to the ecological food web. Through role play, students experience what life is like for all of the creatures that make their home in the Tiffin Forest.

Winter Wildlife
Grades 1 to 8 (winter – half-day)
This program introduces students to the main groups of animals, their characteristics, habitats, tracks, and traces. Students then become wildlife detectives, looking for signs of wildlife in their natural habitats. Adaptations of wildlife to survive the winter will be emphasized while trekking through the woods on snowshoes, weather permitting.

Enbridge Green Energy Education Program – New for 2018/19
Grades 5 & 6 (all seasons – half-day)
Students are introduced to energy types, forms and sources and the Law of Conservation of Energy in an short interactive presentation. Following that are stations set out on the property to highlight the several ‘Green Energy’ initiatives on-site here at Tiffin.

​Using hand-held tablets, students will utilize an interactive map to navigate to as many of the 8 stations as possible. Stations include Solar, Wind Turbine, Passive Solar, Pizza box S’mores, and in Spring 2019 a Biodigester. Additional stations highlight how natural features can sequester carbon to help off-set Green House Gases, and while students are travelling on-foot the tablet will be measuring their steps and comparing them to how much carbon emissions they can prevent by not burning non-renewable fossil fuels. Their steps are measured against the height of the CN Tower.

At least 4 parent volunteers are required to help run stations and make this program a success​.

Rocks and Minerals
Grades 4 & 5 (all seasons – half-day)
Also available as an outreach program.
Students become geologists as they examine, test and compare the physical properties of rocks and minerals. Students will investigate the formation and characteristics of rocks and minerals through a “rock cycle” scavenger hunt and participation in a variety of hands-on activities. They will also gain a better understanding of the many uses of various rocks and minerals in their daily lives.

This program best succeeds with an average of 5 adult volunteers to help facilitate activity stations.

Living Landscape
All Grades (all seasons – half-day)
Also available as an outreach program.
Become inspired by the natural beauty of the Tiffin Centre through guided outdoor landscape drawing sessions.

Nature Photography
Grades 4 to 8 (all seasons – half-day)
Also available as an outreach program.
As nature photographers, students will embark on an exploration of the Tiffin site in search of interesting plants, wildlife and habitats. Upon return, students will have an opportunity to showcase their work and learn more about the organisms and environments they have photographed. Students learn principles of photo composition and do hands-on investigation of natural habitats with use of digital cameras.

Fur Trade
Grade 5 to 8 (all seasons – full-day)
Step back in time and learn about the early French voyageurs who traded with First Nation peoples for furs. Following a short presentation on the history of New France, students are then challenged to survive a simulated season as rugged adventurers: purchasing textiles and food items for survival and profit while developing map reading and problem solving skills. Teachers or adult volunteers will be required to assist and monitor this program.

Maple Syrup
Grades 1 to 8 (early spring – half-day)
Our maple syrup program provides an in-depth look at tree ecology and maple syrup production. Join us for an interactive tour of a working sugar bush that demonstrates the First Nations, pioneer and modern-day methods of maple syrup production. Students enjoy hands-on activities including drilling and tapping trees. All tours and programs include a visit to the Sugar Shack and a taste of fresh maple syrup!

​Map Reading and Orienteering
Grades 4 to 8 (all seasons – half-day)
This program allows students to work in pairs or in small groups to learn how to navigate through basic mapping skills. Students will utilize maps which are geared to their age and ability, and depending on age, compass use can be introduced. This program provides students with team building opportunities and challenges their cognitive and physical abilities. ​

GPS Navigation & Geocaching
Grades 6 to 8 (all seasons – half-day)
Introduce your students to GPS technology and the exciting world of geocaching! Following a presentation highlighting the history and applications of the Global Positioning System, students use hand-held GPS units to navigate their way through one of our challenging courses. The important relationship between map, compass, and GPS technology will be emphasized throughout the program.

Team Dynamics & Low Ropes Challenge
Grades 6 to 8 (all seasons – half-day)
Students will build confidence in themselves and each other as they work through a series of progressively challenging initiatives that aim to promote teamwork, leadership, trust, communication and problem solving. Once students have successfully completed a selection of team building activities they are then further challenged on our Low Ropes Challenge Course.
Please note that closed-toe shoes are required to participate in this program.

Kick Sledding
Grades 1 to 8 (winter – half-day)
After a brief introduction to the history and techniques of this traditional winter sport, students will glide through a winter wonderland with an instructor.

Snowshoeing
Grades 1 to 8 (winter – half-day)
After a brief introduction to the history and techniques of this winter sport, students will trek through the winter forest with an instructor.

Disc Golf
​Grades 5 to 8 (all seasons – half-day)​
Learn and enjoy a new game in a natural environment at the Tiffin Centre’s new and improved nine-basket disc golf course! Disc golf, like ball golf, requires participants to land their “disc” (i.e. Frisbee) in the target basket using the fewest number of throws. It’s a friendly, easy-to-learn game!​​

​For winter sports, ask about including a round of “snow snake” in your day!

Emergency Shelter Building
Grades 4 to 8 (all seasons – half-day)
​Working together in small groups students build emergency shelters capable of captu​ring heat while withstanding the elements. Strength meets stability as students put into practice their knowledge of structures and forces. (Curriculum connections Grade 5, 7) Always a class favourite, students learn different approaches to constructions that they often apply to their own outdoor spaces back home.
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Fire Building
Grades 4 to 8 (all seasons – half-day)
​How do you change a marshmallow from a solid to a liquid without turning it into a gas? Students learn and practi​ce the principles of combustion in small groups while creating their own campfire. Curriculum links abound, ​from Understanding Matter and Energy grade 5, to Conservation of Energy and Resources grade 5, as well as Heat in the Environment grade 7.

Our free play space allows children of all ages to explore the wonders of the forest!

One hundred-fifty sections of cedar rail fence snakes through our forest creating a well-defined labyrinthine space for free play in nature. As a build-it-yourself loose parts playground, students transform the Hive using child size rails, logs and planks. Free play forest is a place for imagination, exploration and problem solving through open-ended play.

Thanks to TD Friends of the Environment Foundation for their financial support of this project!​