Youth Education Programs

Learning Through Participation

Peninsula Streams Society brings environmental education programs into the classroom. Students learn by actively participating in watershed model activities, streamside planting, growing alder trees for riparian zone restoration and raising and releasing salmon fry. We have recently expanded our environmental education program into middle schools, and also work with secondary schools.

Activities with the Girl Guides and Scouts, such as watershed model presentations, invasive species removal and storm-drain painting, are ongoing projects.

Learning through participation - fry release at Chalet (Chalet (Tatlow)) Creek

2010 Programs

As part of our outreach and education activities, we have developed stream ecology awareness activities for Grade 3 classes (including fry releases!). Our main tools are interactive watershed models (picture right) of the airport watershed area and Tetayut Creek. All of our programs are currently offered free of charge to classes on the Saanich Peninsula.

Watershed Model Presentation:

The Watershed Model Presentation was presented to approximately 460 students at seven elementary schools on the Saanich Peninsula during spring 2010. We are looking for volunteers to help build another model of areas not covered by the current two models.

Tree Seedling Program:

We also enlist students’ help in growing trees for riparian restoration through the Alder Seedling Program. This program aims to meaningfully engage students in real restoration projects on the Saanich Peninsula. It is our hope that through participation students will learn to appreciate the natural environment.

We distributed about 460 alder seedlings during spring 2009 to students to cultivate in pots over the summer. In the fall the students helped to plant their trees at restoration sites at Chalet, Sandhill, Hagan and Reay Creeks and in Gowland Tod Provincial Park.

Salmon Jeopardy Program:

This program was tested in one classroom last school year. It aims to build on the knowledge and experience from the DFO sponsored Salmonids in the Classroom program. We hope to be able to deliver this program to more classes next school year. Interested teachers should contact us for more information.

Future plans and opportunities:

At Bayside, there is a half hectare of quite rare ‘wet forest’ ecosystem that could become a significant outdoor classroom with interpretive signage.

We are also looking for volunteers to help build two new watershed models to show areas not covered by the current model.

Our aim is to have a program in place that will “connect” with children with their local environment at each of the Grade 3, Grade 6 and Grade 10 levels.

Learning with the watershed model