Learn adaptations and interactions within communities; analyze the effects of human activities on habitats and communities. Consisting of a guided hike, students will explore different habitats within the Rouge Valley, and determine what brings wildlife to specific habitats. This program allows students to asses the impacts of human activities and technologies on the environment, and evaluate ways of controlling and reducing these impacts. Also, it allows students to explain why an ecosystem is limited in the number of living things that it can support and describes ways in which human activities and technologies alter balances and interactions in the environment. In addition, students will search for cavity nesting birds by visiting existing cavity nest boxes, either man-made or natural, and learn some maintenance and monitoring techniques.

Target Audience: Grade 7 (Age 12-13).  

Offered: Year round.

Program Length: Full Day - generally 3.5 hrs (10AM-1:30 PM) unless otherwise noted. Students will have lunch by the river.  

Overall Goals

1. assess the impacts of human activities and technologies on the environment, and evaluate ways of controlling these impacts;

2. investigate interactions within the environment, and identify factors that affect the balance between different components of an ecosystem;

3. demonstrate an understanding of interactions between and among biotic and abiotic elements in the environment.