Early Childhood Education Programs
Outdoor activities for preschool children
The Tiffin Centre offers enjoyable outdoor activities and learning opportunities for pre-school children.
The following programs are half-day unless otherwise indicated.
Free Play Forest— The Hive
The Hive allows our youngest visitors to freely explore the wonders of the forest.
Defined by a cedar rail fence, The Hive offers a contained 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. It is a place for imagination, exploration and problem solving through open-ended play.
The Hive is available for both programming and free-time play.
Nature’s Art Room
Students will be nature explorers and Land Artists as they go on a guided hike to find a site for their work, collect some natural items to be used in their own artistic creation.
Predator-Prey
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.
Habitat Exploration: Nature Discovery Hike
After learning about the five senses, children will explore nature through experiential activities aimed to heighten awareness of the world around them.
Children will also compare the use of the senses in various animals and investigate ways in which animals respond and adapt to their environment and seasonal changes.
The Sweet Taste of Spring—Maple Syrup Season!
This half-day program focuses on the basic ecology of the maple tree and the production of maple syrup. An experiential tour of a working sugar bush demonstrates the indigenous, pioneer and modern-day methods of making maple syrup with hands-on activities.
Free Play Forest— The Hive
The Hive allows our youngest visitors to freely explore the wonders of the forest.
Defined by a cedar rail fence, The Hive offers a contained 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. It is a place for imagination, exploration and problem solving through open-ended play.
The Hive is available for both programming and free-time play.
Nature’s Art Room
Students will be nature explorers and Land Artists as they go on a guided hike to find a site for their work, collect some natural items to be used in their own artistic creation.
Life in the Pond
Following an interactive introduction to pond ecosystems, students will explore the fascinating world of the pond as they dip-net and search for aquatic life. Through close-up observation and hands-on discovery, students will investigate and compare common characteristics of various pond plants and animals.
Predator-Prey
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.
Habitat Exploration: Nature Discovery Hike
After learning about the five senses, children will explore nature through experiential activities aimed to heighten awareness of the world around them.
Children will also compare the use of the senses in various animals and investigate ways in which animals respond and adapt to their environment and seasonal changes.
Free Play Forest— The Hive
The Hive allows our youngest visitors to freely explore the wonders of the forest.
Defined by a cedar rail fence, The Hive offers a contained 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. It is a place for imagination, exploration and problem solving through open-ended play.
The Hive is available for both programming and free-time play.
Nature’s Art Room
Students will be nature explorers and Land Artists as they go on a guided hike to find a site for their work, collect some natural items to be used in their own artistic creation.
Life in the Pond
Following an interactive introduction to pond ecosystems, students will explore the fascinating world of the pond as they dip-net and search for aquatic life. Through close-up observation and hands-on discovery, students will investigate and compare common characteristics of various pond plants and animals.
Predator-Prey
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.
Habitat Exploration: Nature Discovery Hike
After learning about the five senses, children will explore nature through experiential activities aimed to heighten awareness of the world around them.
Children will also compare the use of the senses in various animals and investigate ways in which animals respond and adapt to their environment and seasonal changes.
Free Play Forest— The Hive
The Hive allows our youngest visitors to freely explore the wonders of the forest.
Defined by a cedar rail fence, The Hive offers a contained 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. It is a place for imagination, exploration and problem solving through open-ended play.
The Hive is available for both programming and free-time play.
Nature’s Art Room
Students will be nature explorers and Land Artists as they go on a guided hike to find a site for their work, collect some natural items to be used in their own artistic creation.
Predator-Prey
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.
Habitat Exploration: Nature Discovery Hike
After learning about the five senses, children will explore nature through experiential activities aimed to heighten awareness of the world around them.
Children will also compare the use of the senses in various animals and investigate ways in which animals respond and adapt to their environment and seasonal changes.
Our Facilities & Equipment
In addition to 300 acres of conservation lands with unique natural features, the Tiffin Centre boasts a wide range of facilities to accommodate your group including:
- 6,000 ft2 learning centre
- Fenced outdoor Free Play Space
- Outdoor classroom
- Picnic pavilion
- Group campground
- Accessible trail system
- Snowshoes and kick sleds
- Operating maple sugar bush
- All-terrain wheelchairs available
Booking a Trip
- Step 1: Email us at outdoored@nvca.on.ca or call 705-424-1479 ext. 280 to speak with our Manager of Environmental Education to select a date and discuss program availability.
- Step 2: Once your date has been selected and confirmed, you will receive a booking form.
- Step 3: Complete, save and return the booking form to outdoored@nvca.on.ca.
- Step 4: You will be sent an email confirming your booking!
Program Fees
Half Day: $10.00/student. Teachers and adult volunteers attend free-of-charge.
Minimum—20 students per program, or a minimum fee of $200 for a half day.
Hot Chocolate
Hot chocolate is available for $25 per class. Please bring reusable mugs.
Campfire lunch available!
Let us provide the hot dogs and all the fixings for $3 each! Students roast their own hot dogs over an open fire.
Cancellation Policy
There is no charge to cancel a booking provided at least two weeks’ notice is given before your scheduled visit. If a cancellation is received with less than two weeks’ notice, your group will be charged for 50% of the scheduled number of participants or the minimum fee.
Special exemption is given when school buses are cancelled due to inclement weather.
Please call to reschedule.
Transportation
Teachers are to arrange own transportation.
Damages
As with all NVCA clients, visiting groups are responsible for the condition of the property and the conduct of participants. Damage to NVCA property may result in withdrawal of future booking privileges and users will be charged for any replacement costs, repairs and/or cleaning.
For more information
If you have questions about our programs, facilities or reservation procedure, please contact our environmental education facilitator by phone at 705-424-1479 ext. 280 or by email at outdoored@nvca.on.ca.
Education Team
Environmental Education