Our Nature Education Program is now in its fifth year. It is well established and enjoys an excellent reputation. As the last of the four pillars of our activities to be developed, it now plays an important role in our commitment to preserving a green and thriving Massawippi Valley.
What began as a pilot project in 2022 has grown to welcome students in Grades 3, 4, and 5.
This autumn, 457 students from 10 schools are participating in the program, compared with 374 students from 9 schools last year. During 2026, more than 50 outings will take place at Scowen Park and on the Mont Massawippi Trail.
Grade 3 and Grade 4 students explore Scowen Park, while Grade 5 students visit the Mont Massawippi Trail, where they can apply their knowledge and develop new skills in a different natural environment.
Science Comes to Life
Following the great success of the Grade 5 pilot project last year, it has now officially become part of our Nature Education Program.
The Grade 5 program allows students to deepen their scientific knowledge through a promising collaboration with Dr. Levac of Bishop’s University and her citizen science project, TreeTraque. As part of this project, students learn to identify trees and understand their seasonal cycles by observing and recording important changes throughout the year, including bud break, leaf development, and colour changes in the autumn.
By participating in this project, students gain hands-on experience with scientific observation while contributing to meaningful research.
Thanks to Our Financial Partners
Our Nature Education Program is made possible in large part through grants from the Pollock Foundation and the R. Howard Webster Foundation. We are grateful for their generous support, which allows us to provide students throughout the Massawippi Valley with learning experiences that connect them with nature.
Investing in the next generation is essential to protecting our planet. By introducing children to nature from an early age, we spark their curiosity, deepen their understanding of the connections that unite us with the natural world, and inspire them to become the environmental stewards of tomorrow.
