Experience Nature
Our conservation education programs are designed to be experienced outdoors covering engaging and exciting topics with school curriculum ties, either on-site at the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area, or potentially at your own site.
Below are listed programs that we can offer, however we are excited to work with educators to develop unique experiences that meet their expectations. Programs must be booked at least 2-3 weeks in advance. Due to the volume of requests we receive we are not able to guarantee program availability. Educators also have the option to borrow resources to deliver our programs themselves.
Teacher in-services are no longer required however we recommend scheduling a meeting or orientation visit before your program date.
There is no fee to book our programs however a donation to support our conservation efforts is appreciated.
Educators are responsible for securing and covering transportation costs.
Please visit our Bookings Calendar for an idea of dates that may be open.
Our Programs
See below for more details and curriculum ties for each of our programs.
- Winter Walkabout – Grades 1-2
- Amazing Mini Adventure – Grades 1-3
- The Web of Life – Grades 3-5
- Keepers of the Land – Grade 4
- Forest Explore – Grade 6
- Care for the Land – Grades 7- 9
Please complete a Program Intake Form and indicate which of the below programs you are interested in.
Winter Walkabout – Grades K-2
Become Cross Conservation Officers and look for signs of life in winter, discover animal tracks and signs, experiment with snow and uncover ways that plants and animals survive in winter.
Offered: December – March
Curriculum Ties: Seasonal Changes, Needs of Animals and Plants (Grade 1); Creating Colour (Grade 1); Small Crawling and Flying Animals, Hot and Cold Temperature (Grade 2)
New Curriculum
How can objects, humans, and other animals move? (Kindergarten)
How can properties of an object be distinguished from one another? (Kindergarten)
How can environments be explored? (Kindergarten)
How can movement of objects and animals be understood? (Grade 1)
In what ways can environments change? (Grade 1)
How do plants and animals survive? (Grade 1)
How do plants and animals live and grow? (Grade 2)
Link to download program guide
Amazing Mini Adventure – Grades 1-3
Investigate the amazing world of insects in pond, forest and grassland habitats. Explore life cycles, adaptations and food chains through this hands-on adventure.
Offered: May – June
Curriculum Ties: Needs of Animals and Plants (Grade 1); Small Crawling and Flying Animals (Grade 2); Animal Life Cycles (Grade 3)
Link to download program guide
New Curriculum
How can objects, humans, and other animals move? (Kindergarten)
How can environments be explored? (Kindergarten)
How can movement of objects and animals be understood? (Grade 1)
How do plants and animals survive? (Grade 1)
How do plants and animals live and grow? (Grade 2)
How do plants and animals interact? (Grade 3)
The Web of Life – Grades 3-5
Get caught up in the connections in the web of life, uncover the important role each species plays in the forest and grassland habitat, and discover how people fit into the web of life.
Offered: May – November
Curriculum Ties: Animal Life Cycles (Grade 3); Plant, Growth and Changes, Waste and Our World (Grade 4); Wetland Ecosystems or Patterns and Relations (Grade 5)
Link to download program guide
New Curriculum
How do plants and animals interact? (Grade 3)
In what ways do the structures of organisms support survival? (Grade 4)
How does Earth sustain life? (Grade 4)
How are organisms supported by vital biological processes and systems? (Grade 5)
Keepers of the Land – Grade 3-4
Explore the ways people have used the land in the past, how we use it today and imagine a future of land use and conservation. Examine our relationship with the land and how we use it to meet our needs and wants.
Offered: May – November
Curriculum Ties: Alberta: The Land, Histories and Stories (Grade 4)
Link to download program guide
New Curriculum
How does Earth sustain life? (Grade 4)
What visible changes can be identified by examining Earth’s surface? (Grade 3)
Forest Explore – Grade 5-6
Learn about trees and forests through plant identification, forest ecology and investigating the value of forests to wildlife and humans. Discover how trees mitigate the impacts of climate change. Reflect on the importance of conserving forests and other habitats, and what can be done by humans to protect natural areas and wildlife.
Offered: May – November
Curriculum Ties: Trees and Forest (Grade 6)
Link to download program guide
New Curriculum
How are organisms supported by vital biological processes and systems? (Grade 5)
In what ways are ecosystems complex? (Grade 6)
Care for the Land – Grades 7- 9
Take on the role of natural area managers and investigate biodiversity, conservation, stewardship and their relationship to ecosystems and land management.
Offered: May – June
Curriculum ties: Interactions and Ecosystems, Plants for Food and Fibre (Grade 7); Freshwater and Saltwater Ecosystems (Grade 8); Biological Diversity, Environmental Chemistry (Grade 9); Environmental and Outdoor Education.
Link to download program guide
Note: Only the main curriculum ties are listed. Each program may connect to several other curriculum areas.