OUTDOOR EDUCATION
There is a significant body of research-based evidence surrounding the value of outdoor learning experiences. There is also increasing demand within the education sector for programs and services that focus on environmental issues that are important today. ERCA's Outdoor Education programs provide experiential and engaging environmental programs and services for kindergarten to grade 12 students and teachers, meeting the objectives of the provincial curriculum.
2019 Achievements
- • Provided curriculum-based outdoor education for nearly 15,000 students, including delivery of Special High Skills Major Certifications
- • Expanded French-language human and natural heritage history programs, and introduced a new interpretive Monarch Life Cycle education program
- • Introduced new Indigenous Education program which was profiled amongst Conservation Authority educations across the Province.
2020 Actions
- • Scaling up the pilot Indigenous Education Program to all school boards in partnership with local First Nations
- • Expand school-based program offerings during shoulder season to broaden impact while responding to increasing bussing cost pressures.
2020 Pressures
- • Costs of bussing costs makes travel to conservation areas to access our outdoor education programs difficult for some schools – usually the schools who would derive the most benefit from these programs due to geographic and socio-economic conditions.
- • Aging facilities and accessibility issues remain at Hillman and Holiday Beach
- • Uncertainty surrounding provincial support for operations of JRPH as a community museum
OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT
Community programming (tree planting, cleanups, native gardens, workshops, events, tours, etc.) provides unique grass-roots learning opportunities for residents, stakeholders such as farmers, developers and others to engage in initiatives that promote sustainable communities, increase awareness of our impact on our landscape, inspire stewardship action, and connect people to our landscapes and the health of our watersheds.
2019 Achievements
- • 32 outreach events engaged more than 4,200 regional residents in conservation programs and activities, including creating the Rotary Legacy Forest, the Solcz Family Foundation Forest, and Climate Action Symposium
- • Enhanced Citizen Science Programs included Project Purple, Seed Collection, Garlic Mustard Pulls and Tree Monitoring and Assessment
- • Youth Engagement Ambassador (YEA) Team and How-To Crews were revitalized, providing community volunteers with an advanced level of training to assist with proper tree planting techniques during large scale outreach events
2020 Actions
- • Undertake a comprehensive cross-sectoral engagement review and develop strategies to meet gaps
- • Continued enhancements to Citizen Science programs to meet regional environmental objectives
- • Continue to streamline schoolyard greening and corporate engagement events
- • Continue to improve nature and heritage event implementation to engage more participants
2020 Pressures
- • Uncertainties around shared funding supports with Detroit River Canadian Cleanup
- • Increasing requests for engagement opportunities and delivery of donor-related opportunities compete for capacity due to shared position
- • Increased need for seed collection capacity support during fall outreach season