Background on the Bruce Peninsula

Environmental Education at BPDS

UNESCO Associated School Designation

Specialist High Skills Major

Community Partnerships

Environmental Education in Bluewater

Part of the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve

Large peninsula surrounded by 285 km of shoreline on Lake Huron and Georgian Bay

Largest remaining intact natural habitat in southern Ontario with more than 19% protected land

Over 3436 people living within the municipality

Diverse and unique ecosystems, including globally rare alvar and cliff ecosystems

Amazing array of flora, including 44 species of orchids, 50 species of ferns, and several endemic species

Oldest trees in eastern North America, some over 1000 years old

Wide range of fauna, including black bears, fishers, flying squirrels, and massasauga rattlesnakes

Traditional homeland of the Saugeen Ojibway Nations, with over 250 archeological sites

Local industries have depended on the environment, including logging, fishing, and eco-tourism

Highest number of conservation organizations in Canada

First year for the Outers course was in 1968/9

Students of all pathways have traditionally been part of this program

Strong community support

Program owns its own equipment

Fundraising

Program has expanded in recent years to include orienteering, dog sledding and indoor rock climbing

The following are some course goals:

…to develop a sound character through

challenges not met in the classroom…

…to demonstrate respect and

responsibility for self, others and the natural

environment...

…to develop physical stamina, conditioning and perseverance…

…to provide opportunities for cooperation and

teamwork…

…to develop principles and practices for a variety of outdoor

skills…

…to provide opportunities to

demonstrate initiative, leadership and

responsibility for personal and group

safety…

…to promote positive attitudes and good

stewardship concerning the wilderness...

…to provide an opportunity to

exercise judgmentand assess risks in

the outdoors…

…to provide an opportunity to gain a Standard First Aid

qualification…

…to promote an awareness and

personal action on environmental issues

affecting outdoor pursuits.

Outers Fall Hike

Outers Winter Camp

Outers Dogsledding Trip

Outers Algonquin Canoeing

Risk Management on Outers Trips

• Preparation and Practice, Practice and Preparation

• Highly qualified and experienced supervisors

• Local knowledge of tripping areas

• Use of satellite phone

• Emergency and Evacuation Plans for each practice and expedition

• Grade 12 Co-op students lead by example and assist leadership team

• Personal hygiene, water treatment and first aid training

All of this allows us to run this unique and amazing program

Footprints Program

• BPDS Alternative Education Program began in 2005-2006 with the generous support of Student Success funding and community donations

• Inclusive program with participation from all pathways

• Combines interdisciplinary courses, outdoor education, media arts, geography and leadership courses with the four UNESCO learning themes

Footprints Program

• Students take the initiative to develop their own problems/projects to solve or complete through negotiations with teacher

• All students enrolled in the Footprints program have experienced success

Experiential Learning

• Students participate in a variety of hands-on learning experiences that take place outside the regular classroom setting

• Frequent field trips to the IOEES and the National Parks allow students to practice survival skills, orienteering, GIS mapping and serve to develop their leadership and teamwork skills

• Tree identification, tree plotting and a variety of other field studies that highlight human impacts on our environment

Duke of Edinburgh Award

• Footprints program was structured so that enrolled students could fulfill the requirements for the Duke of Edinburgh‟s Award (DEA)

• Historically we have had large numbers of students in all pathways achieve success

• Currently 92 students at BPDS are enrolled in DEA and are working toward achieving their Bronze, Silver or Gold awards

Cameron and Emmett Lake Study

• Worked with local partner to develop monitoring manual to study the water quality of a developed and protected inland lake

• Ongoing since 2002

• Students sample chemical, biological, and physical parameters

Killarney Acid Rebound Study

• Recovery from acid rain

• Basic water chemistry

• Invertebrate monitoring

Local Ecosystem Monitoring

• Several multi-day field camps

inside local national park

Excellence in Science Fair

• Many students have gone on to compete at Canada-wide and international competitions

Ideas Fair

• Provides opportunities for sharing of ideas in different disciplines

• Community members are involved as advisors and judges

• Fair represents a culminating experience for students to showcase their research

Environmental Resource Management (CGR 4M/E)

• Evolved from the Environmental Science course into CGR 4M/E

• Course includes multi-day field camps, such as field study monitoring and research on local forests and waterways

• Evolved into community-based action projects, including community garden at seniors‟ centre

• Recognized provincially at Leading Edge conference in 2004

Envirothon Competition

Challenges youth to work as a team to explore environmental issues pertaining to forestry, soils, aquatics, and wildlife

Coordinated various events, including: training workshops, special activities, and guest speakers

Success at regional and provincial levels

Grey-Bruce Children’s Water Festival

Regional event for grade 4 students on water conservation and freshwater resources

Senior science students from BPDS and other Bluewater high schools volunteer to teach young students

UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network (ASPnet)

International network of 7,793 educational institutions in 175 countries

Laboratories for innovation

Provides a holistic, multi-disciplinary approach to learning in context of global citizenship with a focus to „think global, act local‟

Projects must be conducted based on four themes of study:

1. World concerns and the role of the United Nations

2. Human rights, democracy and tolerance

3. Intercultural learning

4. Environmental concerns

These themes are integrated into curricular and extra-curricular programs

BPDS involvement began in 2002

Designated as National UNESCO Associated School in June 2008, along with sister school in Tobermory

Only UNESCO Associated Schools in Ontario

Joined national network of over 40 schools across Canada

UNESCO themes of study are integrated into existing curricular and extra-curricular programs

Classroom projects

School-wide initiatives

Courses

Events

Student initiatives

Part of the Free the Children Foundation created by Marc and Craig Kielburger

Integrating „Me to We‟ philosophy which focuses on building a culture of cooperation

Provides skills for to work together to address global issues through local action

Books and workshops

Websites

Canadian Commission for UNESCOwww.unesco.ca/en/interdisciplinary/aspnet

Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association www.bpba.ca

Provincial Contact Sean Liipere

bpba@escarpment.org519.596.2233 ext 242

Pilot Project at BPDS

• In June 2007, BPDS was selected by the Ministry as one of two schools in the Bluewater Board to pilot a Specialist High Skills Major program

• Our program focuses on skills and experiences in the environmental sector

What is a Specialist High Skills Major?

• The SHSM allows students to:

– obtain specialized knowledge and skills

– receive certifications and training

– obtain an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with a special seal recognizing the completion of the SHSM requirements

– identify and explore career goals using the Ontario Skills Passport

– make informed decisions about post-secondary destinations while participating in Reach Ahead and Experiential Learning Opportunities

Bundled Courses

• Four core courses (sample only for college pathway: CGR4M, PAD40, SBI3C, CGF3M)

• Two co-op credits connected to the four core credits

• Other required credits (including Contextualized Learning Activities)

Sample Course Content for Workplace Pathway

SNC 3E Pilot:

• Sustainable and renewable energy studies

– Designing and testing wind turbines

– Enrichment field trip to local wind turbines

• Natural resources– Water as a natural resource– Minerals– Forestry– Biodiversity studies– Agriculture

• Human health and the environment

– Air quality inquiry

– Water quality inquiry

– Industrial exposure case studies

– Hurricane Katrina study

• Action Research

– Lion‟s Head Harbour Water Quality Monitoring

Certifications and Training

• Four Compulsory Certifications– First-Aid – CPR– Greencheck GPS Certification– WHMIS

• Four additional awareness and education courses (examples)

– ORCKA Flatwater Canoeing A– Orienteering– Leave No Trace– Habitat Restoration

Annual Footprints Conference

• Designed in Fall 2007 to offer Reach Ahead and Experiential Learning Opportunities for secondary school students across Bluewater Board

• Support from many local partners such as:

– Parks Canada– Celtic Sports Camp– Canadian Coast Guard– Municipality of Northern Bruce

Peninsula– Institute for Outdoor Education and

Environmental Studies– Ontario Provincial Police– Many local businesses

Annual Footprints Conference

• Two-day conference where students camped at national park

• A variety of activities for students, including:

• marine

• municipal systems

• emergency response

• science

• outdoor leadership/canoeing

• local food

• renewable energy

• outdoor leadership/Duke of Ed

• environmental arts

• ropes/climbing

Community Partnerships

• More conservation groups than any municipality in Canada

• Diverse array of local partners with vested interests in our future leaders

– School Community Council

– School Board Partners

– Local Government

– Non-profit organizations

– Service Clubs

– Businesses

Our National Parks

• Bruce Peninsula NP is one of Canada‟s national parks

• Fathom Five NMP was the first of three national marine conservation areas

• Largest protected area in Southern Ontario and last stronghold for many rare species

• Located in the centre of the Great Lakes watershed

Learning Sites for Young Canadians

• Terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems

• Cultural landscapes

• Recreational opportunities

• Community Stewardship

• Links to most local environmental groups

Our Vision

• “Canada‟s treasured natural and historic places will be a living legacy, connecting hearts and minds to a stronger, deeper understanding of the very essence of Canada.”

Methods to Achieve Vision

• Protection

• Visitor Experience

• Public Education

Our Local Partnership

• Formal education programs offered since 1988

• Forged new relationship with BPDS since 2002, recognizing need to support our future leaders

• Offer students experiential, hands-on learning opportunities that focus on real issues that are locally relevant

General Awareness Programs

• Guided Hikes

• Camping Trips

• Environmental Events

• Classroom Presentations

Youth Engagement Programs

• Field Camp on environmental resource management

• Water Quality Studies

Source of Knowledge

• Natural and Cultural Archives

• Knowledge Forum

• Visitor Centre

Employment and Training

• Career Events

• Summer Jobs

• Internships

• Cooperative Education

• Volunteers

Institute for Outdoor Educationand Environmental Studies

• For 30 years, the IOEES has been striving to inspire students and instil a sense of wonder by bringing the Ontario curriculum to life in an atmosphere of fun and adventure.

• Every year they connect 4000 students with nature, their classmates, and their own potential

Specialist High Skills Major: Environment

• Pilot project at Grey Highlands Secondary School in Flesherton began in September 2007

• BPDS and GHSS have worked in partnership to transition our unique environmental science programs to comply with SHSM Environment requirements as set out by the MOE

• Members of both BPDS and GHSS serve as members of both a central and sector-specific SHSM steering committees

Strong community partnerships and support unique to your community

Teacher buy-in

Effective marketing of program

Culture of environmental education

Links to regional, national, and international networks

Sources of funding

Jennifer Cameron

jennifer_cameron@bwdsb.on.ca

Dr. Michael Laing

mike_laing@bwdsb.on.ca

Jodi Naves

jodi_naves@bwdsb.on.ca

Sean Liipere

sean.liipere@pc.gc.ca

Students on the Road to Success