Overview of Field Programs

There are two field programs for each grade group which alternate each year as Program A and Program B (other than grade 8). The programs are listed below as they would occur in a school year, starting in the fall.

Program A

Grades 2&3 Cultural & Natural Stewardship

Season: Fall
Location: Burgoyne Bay Provincial Park
Theme: Plants, animals and history of Burgoyne Bay
Description: The pre-trip session involves the students constructing a field journal and discussions on how to respect a provincial park (living and non-living things). Four stations include: Compass work to find clues to Burgoyne’s history, nature journaling, nature identification, and forest sensory search. The post-trip session: Student reflections, creation of a food web.

Grade 8 Planet Ocean Stewardship

Season: Late winter
Location: Ganges Harbour, creek and estuary
Theme: Ganges Harbour water environments
Description: This program involves 4 sessions: Introduction to Ganges Harbour and water testing; field sampling for water quality; viewing marine plankton and freshwater invertebrates in the high school biology lab; review of findings and pollution scenarios.

Grades 6&7 Water Stewardship

Season: Early spring
Location: East side of Ford Lake on Ducks Unlimited Land
Theme: Wetlands are critical ecosystems
Description: The pre-trip session involves the students constructing a field journal and discussion of aquatic biomes and adaptations. Field stations: Creek, pond, marsh, and forest/beaver pond biomes. Post-trip session: Where is all the water in the world?

Grades 4&5 Marine Stewardship

Season: Late spring
Location: Burgoyne Bay Provincial Park
Theme: Marine Ecosystems and First Nations
Description: The pre-trip session involves the students constructing a field journal and Marine Jeopardy game. Station activities: First Nations midden, nature journaling, seine netting an eel grass meadow, and intertidal substrate animals. Post-trip session: dialogue on the importance of marine stewardship, and a stewardship game.

Program B

Grades 4&5 History & Forest Stewardship

Season: Fall
Location: Ruckle Provincial Park, Cusheon Cove
Theme: Evidence of Asian & European settler land use
Description: The pre-trip session involves the students constructing a field journal and an introduction to the importance and function of the sawmill at Cusheon Cove. Station activities include: History with compass work, museum, First Nations plant technology, and wood craft. Post-trip session: The meaning of trees to us.

Grade 8 (as above)

Season: Late winter or late spring

As above

Grades 2&3 Wetlands Stewardship

Season: Early spring
Location: West side of Ford Lake on Ducks Unlimited property
Theme: Wetlands Ecosystems
Description: The pre-trip session involves the students constructing a field journal and discussion of stewardship. Station activities: First Nations plant technology, nature journaling, pond invertebrates, and silent walk. Post-trip session: Dialogue on importance of fresh water stewardship and a stewardship game.

Grades 6&7 Garry Oak Ecosystem Stewardship

Season: Late spring
Location: Andreas Vogt Nature Reserve
Theme: Stewardship of Garry Oak Ecosystems
Description: The pre-trip session involves the students constructing a field journal, dialogue on what is stewardship, and plant cards. Station activities: Plant identification, invasive species, quadrat studies, and wildlife trees. Post-trip session: Dialogue on stewardship of sensitive ecosystems and a stewardship game.