Hands-on learning in the forest! - Manitoba Forestry Association

Teacher’s Copy - 7page 1 of 3<strong>Hands</strong>-onlearningin theforest!A programof theManitobaForestryAssociationA Little Bit about the Sandilands Forest CentreSandilands Forest Discovery Centre was granted to the Manitoba Forestry Association in1957 by the provincial government for the purpose of providing educational programsabout forest conservation. We now offer grade specific programming for students fromkindergarten to grade 12. There are several activities for classes to choose from.Generalized programming is also available for groups of multiple grades.How to get to the CentreThe Centre is located near Hadashville, Manitoba approximately 2 Km south of theintersection of Hwy # 1 and PTH # 11. A bus ride will take a little over an hour from theeastern perimeter of Winnipeg. Arrival is usually between 9:30 and 10:00 a.m. anddeparture around 1:00 p.m., leaving approximately 3 hours for interpretiveprogramming. All times are dependent on location of the school and are flexible for yourneeds.What to ExpectWe offer a variety of activities at the Centre including: hands on learning in the forest,guided hikes, tours of our interpretive buildings, games, crafts, picnic area for lunch, anda souvenir White Spruce seedling for each student. Programs vary in cost depending onthe activities you choose for your class. Cost of is $3.50 per person. The Bannock bakeprogram is $5.50 per person. We can accommodate any group size between 10 – 60students. Large group sizes may be considered with special arrangements.Facilities and Trails at SandilandsThe Old Beaver Dam Trail - 0.7 km guided hike that begins by crossing oursuspension bridge over the Whitemouth River.The Sagimay Trail - 1 km guided hike through 3 distinct forest types, including aCedar Bog.The Museum - Showcasing a variety of Manitoba forest animals, forest products andforest management techniques.The Tree Planting Car - A train car that once traveled the prairie provinces teachingpeople about the importance of trees.The Old Dawson Cabin - A restored ranger station; showcasing both living quartersand a variety of fire suppression.Fire Tower - A kid sized fire tower that allows students to learn about fire safety andwildfire suppression tools.Bannock bake – Students will roast bannock over an open fire while learning about theimportance of this bread to the early Canadian explorers.Pineland Nursery - Tour of the facilities where the White Spruce seedlings are grown.The Auditorium - Useful on rainy days to escape the weather.Ph: 204.453.3182 ext. 2 Manitoba Forestry Association info@thinktrees.orgthinktrees.org 900 Corydon Ave, Wpg MB R3M 0Y4 fax: 204.477.5765

Teacher’s Copy - 7page 2 of 3Grade: 7Topics covered:Interactions within anEcosystemOutcomescovered:Science7-1-017-1-027-1-037-1-047-1-057-1-067-1-087-1-097-1-107-1-117-1-12Each group participates in a guided hike and a choice of activities that will fill theremainder of your time at the Sandilands Centre. The group will be split in two, half thegroup will go on a guided hike in the morning, and the other half will take part in theactivities. Groups will switch in the afternoon.Guided Hike (Approximately 1 hr in length)Option 1: Grade Specific hike on the Old Beaver Dam TrailStudents will explore the world’s largest ecosystems, the Boreal Forest. Students willlearn about the characteristics of the Boreal Forest and what makes it unique from anyother ecosystem on earth. There are many different organisms for students to discoverand how energy is transferred within this ecosystem.Outcomes Covered: 7-1-01, 7-1-02, 7-1-03, 7-1-04, 7-1-05, 7-1-06, 7-1-08, 7-1-09,7-1-0, 7-1-12Option 2: General Boreal Forest HikeHike through the forest with an interpreter who will introduce students to the BorealForest in their own backyard! Students will be introduced to tree identification and whatinfluences change in a forest.Additional Activities (approx. 1 hour)Choose from the following activities to fill an hour. Make sure to indicate which activitiesyou wish to do on the application form, please indicate your top 4 choices.Bannock Bake (1 hour)Life wasn’t always a walk in the park at Sandilands Forest; a lot of hard work went intothe exploration of this land. In this program students will discover the history of the furtrade and early settlement of the area; including some of the food the early inhabitantsate. Students will then have the opportunity to bake their very own bannock over thefire. The Bannock Bake program is $5.50 per person.Safe Fire and Forest Fire Fighters (1 hour)Students will learn how to build a safe campfire. Students will also tour our kid-sized firetower and see some of the tools that real fire rangers use to keep the forest green.Outcomes Covered: 7-1-04, 7-1-04Scavenger Hunt (30 minutes)Students will use their knowledge of interactions within their ecosystem to complete ascavenger hunt. Working in teams students must find objects, answers and completetasks before solving the answer to the mystery.Outcomes Covered: 7-1-02, 7-1-05, 7-1-09, 7-1-10Every Tree for Itself (30 minutes)An active game to help students understand what trees need to live and grow. Studentswill also learn that trees must often compete to fill their needsOutcomes Covered: 7-1-01, 7-1-03Ph: 204.453.3182 ext. 2 Manitoba Forestry Association info@thinktrees.orgthinktrees.org 900 Corydon Ave, Wpg MB R3M 0Y4 fax: 204.477.5765

Grade: 7Topics covered:Interactions within anEcosystemOutcomescovered:Teacher’s Copy - 7page 3 of 3Ecosystem Games (30 minutes)Students will become part of a small food chain where in an interactive game ofpredator-prey brings various interactions to life. Students will compete for limitedfood and water and attempt to stay alive while avoiding predators. The game takes atwist when the drinking water was polluted with DDT and has detrimental affects onthe whole food chain.Outcomes Covered: 7-1-11Photosynthesis Experiment (30 minutes)Students will perform experiments on leaves to learn how plants breathe anddiscover what happens when a trees does not receive adequate sunlight.Outcomes Covered: 7-1-08Science7-1-017-1-027-1-037-1-047-1-057-1-067-1-087-1-097-1-107-1-117-1-12Fire Tower Demonstration (1 Hour)Students will visit our weather station and learn how each instrument is used.Students will learn about the tools used by Fire Rangers to fight forest fires and havethe opportunity to use a pump pack. A discussion on ecological successionemphasizes the role of natural disturbances in the life of the Boreal Forest. We willfinish the activity with a tour of the old Dawson Ranger Station, the very first stationbuilt in Manitoba.Outcomes Covered: 7-1-04, 7-1-05Tour of Buildings (15-30 minutes)Students will explore the history Sandilands through tours of the Dawson Cabin(ranger station), Fire Tower with demonstration of fire fighting tools, Tree PlantingCar, and Sandilands Museum.Pineland Nursery Tour (1 hour)Students will tour the Pineland Nursery located a few kilometers from the SandilandsCentre. Students will see where and how their White Spruce Seedlings are grown.Please note schools are responsible to provide bus travel from the Centre to theNursery.Please note that the number of activities will depend on the length of your stay atSandilands Forest Discovery Centre.Possible Field Trip Schedule10:00 Arrival10:00-10:30 Introduction and Rules10:30-11:30 Session 1: Guided Hike11:30-12:00 Lunch12:00-1:00 Session 2: Activities1:00-1:30 Conclusion and departurePh: 204.453.3182 ext. 2 Manitoba Forestry Association info@thinktrees.orgthinktrees.org 900 Corydon Ave, Wpg MB R3M 0Y4 fax: 204.477.5765