School Watch

School Watch introduces students, grades 6 to 12, to the world of citizen science through curriculum-linked classroom and on-site activities, customized to suit your curriculum needs.

Working with EcoSpark staff, teachers use environmental projects – such as tree inventories, pollinator monitoring, and bird surveys – to help students expand their understanding of nature and the environment.

Classes engage in real scientific research and the data gathered contributes to larger research projects. The information from these projects is used by scientists and government officials to assess environmental concerns and develop policies to protect and improve local ecosystems.

All sessions help students relate environmental data to climate change and identify positive actions for supporting ecological health.

Caterpillars Count!

*Note: Season - April to October

In this workshop, students will undergo Caterpillars Count! training, a citizen science project for measuring the seasonal variation, also known as phenology, and abundance of arthropods like caterpillars, beetles, and spiders found on the foliage of trees and shrubs.

Students will learn to collect data by conducting surveys on trees and shrubs and recording all of the arthropods observed.

The data collected is used by researchers to relate trends in arthropod populations to bird population trends, and to better understand the impact of how changes in climate and land-use, impact the plants and animals around us.

Environmental Leadership

*Note: Grades - 9 to 12

In this workshop, students will be equipped with the knowledge, tools and skill sets required to become the next generation of environmental leaders in their community.

They will master the art of utilizing citizen science apps and field guides to identify local plants, insects, and animals. Through hands-on experiences and interactive species ID tools, participants will learn to contribute valuable data to online databases, actively engaging in scientific research.

Students will not only gain expertise in biodiversity monitoring but also learn effective teaching methodologies, enabling them to educate their peers and fostering a community of informed environmental stewards.

Digital Mapping SHSM

*Note: Duration - Full school day

In this workshop, students will explore interactive ways to visualize and analyze environmental data collected in their own school grounds and create compelling StoryMaps to showcase their findings.

Students will spend the first half of the workshop in-field, collecting tree survey data for ArcGIS using simple urban forestry tools (such as spherical densiometers, measuring tapes, etc.) to measure and learn about trees on site.

Using this data, they will spend the second half of the workshop in-class, with access to computers and ArcGIS, to conduct spatial analysis and calculate environmental and economic benefits of local trees using carbon, water storage and air benefits calculators.

Students will then use this information to create data visualization GIS StoryMaps and plan stewardship actions to inform their learning.

Certification

Students upon completion of this workshop, may receive the following certifications that may be applied to a variety of SHSM sectors including Environment, Non-profit, etc.

• Geographic Information System (GIS)

• Land and Forest Survey Skills

• Environmental Awareness

Health & Wellness SHSM

*Note: Duration - We offer both, half-day (2.5 hr) and full school day SHSM workshops

In this workshop, students will learn about the science behind nature connectivity and mindfulness for health and wellness, and about positive actions for health and wellness in communities.

Students will delve into local environments through immersive hands-on activities, promoting positive interoception and fostering connections to mindfulness and mental well-being.

They will demo activities to engage others with soil through sensory exploration, providing a tactile learning experience and yielding valuable citizen science data.

Students will also learn to craft their own organic body products, empowering individuals to prioritize sourcing natural ingredients with health benefits and develop the skills to create their own personalized wellness solutions.

Certification

Students upon completion of this workshop may receive either of the following SHSM Health & Wellness certifications for a half-day, or both certifications for a full day:

• Equity and Inclusion : Investigating the connections between human wellbeing and environmental health. Through the lens of equity and inclusion, in small group activities woven through the workshop, students develop practical ways to support caring for the Earth and for each other as a necessary component of caring for ourselves.

• Stress Management Techniques : Exploring science-based principles linking the workshop activities with physiological and mental health. Through practicing stress management techniques, in small group activities woven through the workshop, students learn to facilitate these activities with others as student leaders to support community wellbeing.

SUMMER: Art & Science

In this activity, students will explore the connections between art and science by learning to create sun prints, a photography technique for school ground citizen science.

Using sun prints, students document natural features of their school grounds/parks (such as trees, flowers, leaves, twigs and seeds) for local and online nature study.

Student works of art can then be collected to create a class field guide or journal, contributing to environmental stewardship of their school ground, community wellbeing, and positive environmental attitudes by sharing their projects with others.

WINTER: SkNOWLEDGE

In this activity, students will dive into the fascinating world of snow, exploring its impact on the environment and its crucial role in water resources within our communities.

Utilizing simple tools like a ruler, thermometer and engaging in hands-on techniques such as making snowballs, students will record their observations on a simple data sheet and submit them to sknowledge.ca.

Students can then see their data live and use interactive mapping tools to delve into the nuances of seasonal snow variability and the localized effects of climate change.

school watch-changing currents Joint program

A combination of EcoSpark’s School Watch AND Changing Currents program, this option combines a half-day of terrestrial environmental monitoring with an additional half-day of stream studies offered through our Changing Currents program.

In the Changing Currents program, students assess the health of a local river or stream using EcoSpark’s modified OBBN protocol, contribute data to a GTA-wide study of watersheds and participate in a “Take Action” activity in their community during and/or following the field trip.

School Watch-Changing Currents joint program can accommodate up to 30 students per workshop for a morning AND afternoon session.

Duration: ~ 5.5 hrs, whole day Changing Currents (morning session) and School Watch (afternoon session)

Virtual option

We offer Virtual sessions for the following workshops:

• Biodiversity or Tree Benefits

  • Duration: 1hr

• School Watch-Changing Currents Joint Program

  • Grades 6-8: 2 hrs

  • Grades 9-12: ~2.5 to 3 hrs

Virtual Platform: Flexible

Virtual session duration is flexible and can accommodate up to 30 students per session.