Updated: October 5, 2010

Switzer's Outdoor Classroom.
William A. Switzer Provincial Park is a choice location for hands-on educational activities. Environmental education programs focus on topics relevant to the park's natural surroundings. These programs are designed not only to supplement the school's curriculum set out by Alberta Learning, but also to enhance any organized group's park experience.

Environmental Education 2010/2011 (2 pages | 6.0 mb)

Kinderscience

Let us bring nature to your classroom. Kinderscience programs offer young learners the opportunity to explore science concepts through fun activities. This school year, we will be discovering the ungulates of the Northern Rockies…deer, elk, caribou, moose, sheep, and goats. (1 hour Classroom Session)

Curriculum Connections:
Kindergarten: Environment and Community Awareness

Lost in the Woods (Kindergarten)
Available September/October and May/June

All children should learn what to do if they are lost in the forest. Students will practice basic survival skills that could save their life some day. Each student will receive a small survival kit. (1 hour fieldtrip)

Curriculum Connections:
Kindergarten: Physical Skills and Well-being
Kindergarten: Personal and Social Responsibility

Nature Detectives (Grade 1)
Available September/October and May/June

Give your students the opportunity to dive head-first into nature discovery using their five senses. Activities will also highlight how animals perceive their
world. (1.5 hour fieldtrip)

Curriculum Connections:
Grade 1: Senses
Grade 1: Needs of Plants and Animals

Bugology (Grades 2 and 3)
Available June and September

Step into the world of tiny monsters and creepycrawlies. Learn how to identify bugs and about their unique life cycles. Discover the important role of invertebrates in the ecosystem. (2 hour fieldtrip)

Curriculum Connections:
Grade 2: Small Crawling and Flying Animals
Grade 3: Animal Life Cycles

Big Teeth (Grade 3)
Available November to April

We bring the excitement of the park to your classroom. Discover the large carnivores of the Rockies – cougars, wolves, and bears. Learn about carnivore food needs, classification, research, and habitat preservation. (1.5 hour fieldtrip)

Curriculum Connections:
Grade 3: Animal Life Cycles

Wetland Wonder (Grades 3 to 5)
Available May, June and September

Role up your sleeves for some classic pond-dipping and explore the fascinating realm of wetlands. Learn about mysterious aquatic creatures and plants. Don’t forget your boots! (2 hour fieldtrip)

Curriculum Connections:
Grade 3: Animal Life Cycles
Grade 4: Plant Growth and Changes
Grade 4: Waste and Our World
Grade 5: Wetland Ecosystems

Winter Survival (Grades 4 and 5)
Available December to March

Since the ice age, through the fur trade, and up until the present day, people have learned to survive winters in the Rockies. Students will learn to build a variety of shelters and how to prepare survival kits. Snowshoes will be provided (if snow conditions permit). (2 hour fieldtrip)

Curriculum Connections:
Grade 4: Safety and Responsibility – Dangerous Situations
Grade 4: Alberta – The Land, Histories and Stories
Grade 4: Skills in an Alternative Environment - Teamwork
Grade 5: Safety and Responsibility – Recreational Situations
Grade 5: Canada – The Land, Histories and Stories
Grade 5: Skills in an Alternative Environment - Teamwork

Art in the Park (Grades 3 and up)
Available September/October and May/June

Be inspired by the beautiful scenery and explore nature through artistic expression. Learn sketching techniques, watercolour, and landscape painting. Take home your artistic creations. All materials provided. (2 hour fieldtrip)

Curriculum Connections:
Fine Arts: Grades 3 and up

Northern Rockies (Grades 4 and 5)
Available November to April

Discover the land, histories and stories of the Northern Rockies in this exciting social studies presentation. Students will gain an appreciation of our large network of parks and protected areas, as well as an understanding of the landscapes, recreation, history and current environmental challenges. (1 hour classroom presentation)

Curriculum Connections:
Grade 4: Alberta – The Land, Histories and Stories
Grade 5: Canada – The Land, Histories and Stories

Forest Foresnics (Grade 6)
Available September/October and May/June

Who knew that studying forests could be so fun? Teams of students will explore a forest trail, investigating trees, habitats, forest management, and environmental issues. (2 hour fieldtrip)

Curriculum Connections:
Grade 6: Trees and Forests
Grade 6: Evidence and Investigations

Environmental Monitoring (Grade 7)
Available September and May/June

How can we monitor changes in ecosystems to evaluate the impacts of our actions? In this fun and provocative program, students learn to be field scientists, using real equipment to gather data on the health of our provincial park. (2 hour fieldtrip)

Curriculum Connections:
Grade 7: Interactions and Ecosystems

Booking Procedure
Choose the program that best suits your needs. Contact Scott Sunderwald at
scott.sunderwald@gov.ab.ca (e-mail preferred), or by phone at (780) 817- 3797 with your request at least two weeks prior to the day you wish to visit. Specify the grade level and number of students. Bookings will be made on a first come, first served basis.

Payment
Programs cost $2.50 per student (maximum group size 30 per program). After completing the program, teachers will sign a receipt and each school will receive an invoice for all fieldtrip fees – payable to Minister of Finance.

Schedule
Programs are offered Tuesdays through Fridays. In general, morning programs will run from 9:30 am – 11:30 am, and afternoon programs will run from 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm. However, program length and start times can be flexible depending on transportation needs. Please communicate these details upon booking.
Note: Programs run in all weather.

For more information, contact Scott Sunderwald

Technical questions should be sent to: Parks Webmaster