Hiking with students- our education program

As the education intern with Chloe McMillan, my role is to help lead our guided walks for elementary school children in the Ottawa Valley area. During my first few times accompanying Chloe and learning the ins and outs of our guided tours, I was able to experience a new side of our local nature through her expertise and vast knowledge of forestry, wildlife, plants and the area itself, such as its history and uses. As I did not have a previous background working in the education sector, these experiences thus far have been new, interesting and exciting. We have visited several sites in Ottawa such as the Jack Pine trail and the Mer Bleue Bog, in which we guided elementary students as young as Grade 1. We have had the opportunity to share our knowledge of the surrounding areas, interact with their inquisitive personalities, and to share our excitement for learning and being in nature. Our hikes usually start off with introductions, formalities, and safety guidelines and rules for the day. Usually only a few hours long, we pause for a snack break somewhere in between. Chloe, who is very familiar with the trails, leads us into the environment at a slow pace so that every child (as well as parents and volunteers) can keep up. Occasionally, we will stop to discuss something interesting that we see or that is of importance to the environment, such as an animal sighting, woodpecker holes in a tree, a habitat, or a certain type of plant. One of the more interesting things for me was a beaver lodge at the Mer Bleue bog. With luck, we were even able to see two beavers interacting! They did not even shy away. These types of point stops during our walk are a great way for the children to interact or learn more about nature and what it does. Our walk eventually concludes after completing our stops, with an activity or game to wrap up- we want to ensure that our students are always having fun! We are always happy to see children enjoying themselves and getting the chance to experience something that is part of this natural world.