Outdoor Education Blog

Gray Tree Frog

2008-06-04T14:48:00.002-04:00

Check out these photos of a Gray Tree Frog I found the other day. Pretty Sweet. These guys are becoming quite vocal over these last few weeks in the evenings. Have you heard them yet in your neck of the woods?

Gray Tree Frog -- Hyla versicolor

General Description: 1.25 - 2" Relatively large compared to other tree frogs. Normally gray, but can be green in color.
Many different color variations. under parts of legs are usually orange or yellow and mottled with black. The light spot below the eye is usually distinctive.

Habits: Usually only seen on ground or by water during the breeding season. Spending most of thier time in trees.

Notes: They are masters of camoflague and blend in with thier surroundings, remaining invisible even at close distances.

Voice: Voice is a musical or flute-like trill. Speed of the trill is slower during colder weather.

Range: Found in eastern U.S. and southern Ontario and Quebec. Small colony can be found in N.B.

Learn more at ExpEd.ca

Marsh Marigold -- Caltha palustris

2008-04-24T22:23:00.004-04:00

Wilderness Arts -- Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants

#1 Marsh Marigold -- Caltha palustris

Flowers and Leaves

Flower Buds and leaves
Striking yellow flowers

Recently I harvested from a number of marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) plants that were growing along a clear stream flowing into a small creek here in Grey County. The Marsh Marigold is a beautiful plant that is one of the first flowers to attract our eyes growing in the wet areas throughout our area. Thier showy yellow flowers are very attractive and stand in sharp contrast to the 'dull' colors of the winter months. The green rounded leaves are the first to emerge from the moisture-laden soil and followed soon after by the flower buds and then the striking yellow flowers.

General Description: Buttercup-like flowers 1-1.5" 5-9 deep yellow sepals (appear as petals). Heart-shaped leaves are deep green. Stems are hollow and succulent. In flower from April to June.

Uses:It is the yoiung leaves and flower buds that are used in the early to mid spring. The leaves NEED to be boiled in 2-3 changesof water for 20 mins. as they contain poisons that need to be boiled in order to make them edible! Once boiled the young leaves are quite tastey and very appreciated as some of the first edible greens of the year. Remove the stalks from the leaves before boiling. The young flower buds can be boiled for 10 mins in two changes of water and 'pickled' in vinegar.

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Plan a School Field Trip in Ontario

2007-08-25T16:39:00.001-04:00

Teachers planning their school year are already thinking about where in Ontario to go for field trips.
We're ready to help your students experience the best of Ontario's nature on school experiences at the Edge.
Email Karen to learn how we make it easy for Ontario Teachers to visit our outdoor school.

Young Women from Rocklyn Journey to their Real Selves

2007-07-11T11:35:00.000-04:00

Last week's visit from the young women of Rocklyn Academy was not your average high school trip! Having all been teenaged women in our pasts, we decided that our week with Rocklyn would follow the theme of "journey to my real self." This proved to be an especially powerful theme for these young women ages 13-16: a time when life is rife with masks that we wear to cover who we really are.

In alignment with this theme, we did a guided meditation with Martha Lucier, who invited an aspect of our real selves to reveal herself to us. What does she look like? What special gift or message does she carry for us? The following day we began our mask-making project, one that took us through an intimate relationship with our partner as we trusted her to place the cast on our face. The end product was stunning as the students wore masks that represented their inner core at a final ceremony.

On the reverse side of the 'mask' theme, we played with the masks or personas that we wear in order to get through life and enjoyed a hilarious "persona party". There, "the guru", "rough rider", "boring", "the business woman" and "California yoga mom" all sat and enjoyed interacting over lunch. What fun!!

Of course, it wouldn't be an "edge" experience without the adventure of canoeing. In preparation for our Algonquin canoe trip in August, we put a focus on skills, learning a strong forward stroke, how to stern the canoe and canoe safety. The students put their knowledge of canoe over canoe rescues to work, submerging themselves and eachother and turning the boats into their very own playground! Quite a sight to witness!

Being blessed with the opportunity to work with these young women reminded me of the power of play and reconnecting with our own core. Rocklyn Academy is a special school for young women who have faced challenges at home or in the traditional school setting. Many of them had encountered trouble with drugs, alcohol, ADD and ADHD, abusive relationships, negative self-image, and sexuality. It was very inspiring to hear them request "can we PLEASE meditate tonight?" and "can we PLEASE go swimming and play with the canoe?" Of course, our answer to these questions was YES! It was truly a delight to support these unique individuals in the celebration of who they really are!

Staff team-building for Outdoor Education!

2007-06-11T13:06:00.000-04:00

Our staff was taken to the Edge this weekend with a pre-season team building event! We kicked Friday off with an inspiring circle at Points North to orient ourselves to the directions of the Edge: Dreamtime, Adventure, Nature, Tribal Community and Creativity. The energy in the room was fresh and exciting as we dreamed up creative ideas to bring magic to the experiences we facilitate for students.

Then, we turned our attention inward and discovered seeds within ourselves that we are wanting to plant this season at the Edge. As a symbol, we planted seeds in a small pot, to tend and grow. Myself, I was excited about the invitation to share my gifts in each program element that I facilitate. What better way to bring experiential education to life than to invite each educator to bring their unique self 100% to each program?

We set off on Saturday for an overnight canoe trip on North Tea Lake. We were blessed with gorgeous sun, calm waters and a starry night sky! Our blessings also included delicious food. Staff agreed that it wouldn't be hard to get used to enjoying Alo Gobi stew, organic foods and real maple syrup! It is nice to know that our students will be nourished physically and mentally by our programs.

With happy bellies, wilderness survival experts Chris Gilmour, Chris Mortimer and Alexis brought new life to environmental education for the rest of the staff. Throughout the weekend they invited us to widen our vision and learn to see nature through the owl's eyes, to walk lightly and consciously like the fox and to slow our heart beats to the rythm of Algonquin. Some of the highlights included identifying tracks on the beach, harvesting sweet gale and hemlock for nighttime tea and greeting a Mom and her two baby moose on Sunday morning. What a great way to greet the summer season at the Edge!

(Written by new Edge member Karen McMullen)

Summer Youth Experiences

2007-05-24T16:49:00.000-04:00

With the warm weather it seems that we have hopped right into summer. The great weather has many people inspired to start planning their summer outdoor adventures, and we are busy booking our summer programs.

This summer we are excited to announce our renewed vow to design our programs so that they reflect our mandate ‘to rediscover ourselves, empower others and heal our relationship with the earth’.

Now what exactly does this mean for our clients? Well, we have hired staff that are inspired by our mandate and have the creativity and passion to design adventure programs that are beyond the typical canoe trip or outdoor retreat experience. This means that groups will not only have excellent guidance for outdoor activities (canoeing, biking, kayaking etc.) but will also be facilitating learning on another level. They may foster youth’s interest in the natural environment by having them tap into their senses through art, play, tracking or facilitate the finding of a deeper sense of self by having them think about their life and experience in the outdoors.

Youth will still learn all of the important skills needed to safely travel in the outdoors but will leave our programs with something more- possibly a deeper sense of self, the importance of healthy communities (human and non-human), a new connection to the natural environment and a desire to continue learning about themselves, others and the natural environment.

Learn more at ExpEd.ca

Signs of Spring in Algonquin Park

2007-04-10T14:37:00.000-04:00

Although the sky continues to sprinkle fluffy flakes of snow on northwest side of Algonquin Park there are signs that spring is on the way. While doing some spring cleaning- I heard a soft tap, tap, tap on the side of my house. Well I looked out the window and there was this little baby woodpecker. Now is the time to get the kids outside to observe the first signs of spring!

Spring has Sprung Sap in Algonquin Park

2007-03-27T13:47:00.000-04:00

What a beautiful weekend we had. The sun was shining and the temperature was above zero. For me the official hallmark of spring is that the maple sap was running! We have numerous trees tapped and it is always exciting to lift the lid to the sap buckets and see what the trees have produced. I also like taking a drink or two straight from the tree- the sap has just a hint of sweetness and rumor has it (this is not proven) that this sap will give you lots of energy- it could also be the sunny spring weather or the sugar!

Collecting and boiling sap is a great activity to do with kids. They seem to love the process and are motivated by the outcome- sweet, sugary syrup. Taking kids out to a local sugar shack can be used as a trip for a variety of classes- Canadian history, chemistry, Home Ec., Math, Geography etc.

It is a great way for kids to experience the production of a naturally organic food source from start to finish- and to learn to appreciate the work that goes into producing syrup (and many other foods).

If you get a chance, take a trip to your local sugar shack as soon as you can- this season might be short. You will not only be experiencing the production of maple syrup but supporting local Canadians! For those of you wanting to do more with maple syrup- check out Maple Syrup Popcorn on the Edge’s Recipe Blog (September 2006).

Soulful end to School Trip

2007-03-08T15:00:00.000-05:00

Niagara College joined us last weekend for the final night of a nine day course that took them winter camping and dogsledding. This travel weary group arrived just in time for dinner. Following a delicious and nutritious meal, they gathered around the campfire for their final evening together. To end this gathering our ever creative facilitator, Vicki, led a group meditation that had the students walk our candle lit winter labyrinth on the lake. It was a beautiful sight. Many of the students commented that this was an amazing end to their school trip.
Learn more at ExpEd.ca

The Value of Outdoor Education

2007-02-19T13:25:00.000-05:00

I just returned from a trip to Arizona. I had the privilege of hiking the Grand Canyon (pretty good for a pregnant woman!), visiting the ancestral homes of the Pueblo people and walking the trails between the red rocks of Sedona. Following these beautiful experiences I ended up on a road trip to Las Vegas with ten guys (yup I must have been crazy).

Now for those of you that have not been to Vegas- I believe it is ‘Walt Disney World’ for adults- bright lights, gambling, lots of naked women and booze. In my mind it is the epitome of North American gluttony. So how does this fit into outdoor education? Well in the presence of all of this excess I was thinking- is my dream for a healthy plant a lost cause? How can you ever convince a population of people who participate in such greedy consumerism to be contentious of their impact on the environment and grateful for the natural gifts that sustain them? The city of Las Vegas is so removed from the natural environment- geez they even have fake birds singing on the street!

What does this have to do with outdoor education? Well it reaffirmed my need to keep trying to facilitate meaningful experiences that help people to forge positive relationships with the outdoors. People need to see the connection between themselves as humans and the natural world, and to appreciate that our lives depend on natural systems remaining healthy.

My conclusion? Instead of visiting Vegas take a walk in a park- any park local, provincial, national….it is way nicer and definitely cheaper!

Learn more at ExpEd.ca

A Visit from Sir Sandford Fleming Eco and Adventure Tourism Students

2007-02-19T11:47:00.000-05:00

Last week we had a visit from Sir Sandford Fleming Eco and Adventure Tourism students. They came for a behind the scenes glimpse of how the Edge is run. We also hoped to provide an experience in which the students would have a taste of our programs and be able to take home something for themselves. We had them play games, explore the lake and bush by snowshoe and allowed them time to dream of what a fulfilling life for themselves would look like.

They were a really great group and we had some really good conversations about issues surrounding eco-tourism and life. We hope some of them can make it back to the Edge another time!

Learn more at ExpEd.ca

Keeping 'green' while it gets white outside

2007-01-15T16:31:00.000-05:00

We finally have snow...again! Thank goodness! I was starting to really feel like doomsday was close! Don't get me wrong I am still worried about the state of our environment and will continue to work to reduce my impact on the environment. In fact I am posting a few ideas to inspire students to work towards a healthy and sustainable environment. They are:

Take your students on a tour of an environmentally sustainable home or farm .
Have your students research an environmentally destructive practice or industry and have them write letters to applicable officials demanding change.
Have your students come up with a measurable challenge for themselves and their family that lowers their impact on the environment.
Have your students conduct a waste audit of your school or facility. Then come up with new regulations for reducing waste in the school.
Have your students illustrate and create a world with a healthy environment and then have them come up with ten steps they will personally take to work towards this dream.
Have your students create a green space in the school yard, and then produce a public education session on greening backyards .

...and of course we as individuals should model the 'green' behavior that we wish our youth to emulate.

Learn more at ExpEd.ca

100 Cool things for the Envronment

2006-12-20T13:36:00.000-05:00

100 Things
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Top Ten Healthy Kids Christmas Gifts

2006-12-18T13:43:00.000-05:00

Here are my suggestions for gifts to get kids off the couch and outside....or at least thinking!

1. Hockey equipment
2. Toboggan
3. Skis
4. Really warm long- johns (stripped ones make them even more exciting)
5. A book on how to build snow houses (with applicable equipment e.g. shovel, yard stick etc.)
6. Subscription to an eco-friendly kids magazine
7. Musical Instrument- harmonica, tin whistle, guitar etc.
8. Snow tires for bikes (and a warm toque that fits under a helmet)
9. Venus Fly Trap (almost likea pet but alot less work!)
10. Stilts

Learn more at ExpEd.ca

We have snow!

2006-12-05T11:47:00.000-05:00

I just thought I would share the exciting news...we have snow!
A nice fluffy layer that could possibly stay. Additionally, there has been a full moon the last few nights so night skiing has been awesome!
Let the winter begin!

Learn more at ExpEd.ca

We're Growing!

2006-11-22T15:48:00.000-05:00

This month our Greg, Matt and Steve (our handsome building team) got out the hammers and nails and started pounding...nope it isn't the Great Edge nail race- we decided to build a few more winterized cabins! Our winter programs have been growing and not all guests are adventurous enough to stay in quinzees!

These cabins will be quite comfortable with propane heat (Wahoo- no stoking the fires at night!) and their own composting toilets. This means we can share our winter programs with more of your students! They are scheduled to be finished at the beginning of January- we hope you get a chance to check them out this winter!

Learn more at ExpEd.ca

Have a Healthy Winter

2006-11-13T16:46:00.000-05:00

The leaves have fallen off the trees and we have a regular sprinkling of snow. Unfortunately, this is the beginning of the season that many people dread. Sadly, it is one of the most tempting seasons for many kids to stay inside and watch tv. This is not a healthy option- and as highlighted in recent national studies, many of our kids are developing unhealthy lifestyles and showing physical signs of medical malaise.

As educators, parents and role models we need to be sharing (perhaps even discovering) the many great activities that you can participate in seasonally. Winter is a great month for playing outside- the snow is a great medium for so many fun activities, skiing, snowshoeing, skating, dog sledding etc. There are also a number of great games you can play with children- build snow forts, snow people, observe animal tracks, have a 'below the neck' snowball fight etc.

As a part of school curriculum, these activities can be built into classes with a little creativity- art 'snow sculptures', chemistry- insulating factors of snow demonstrated with snow forts, etc. In upcoming months, in our newsletter 'Beyond the Walls', I plan on introducing a number of great activities for teachers to use to get students outdoors in the winter.

Of course, you could also book a youth winter retreat with us and we could introduce you and your youth group to a variety of fun and adventurous winter activities.

Approach winter with a positive attitude, and help your students to see how fun the winter can be. Not only will you be happier but your students may be healthier.

Learn more at ExpEd.ca

English- Algonquin Style

2006-11-06T11:45:00.000-05:00

Last week students from the College Lycee, in France, came to experience Algonquin wilderness, and learn English. These teenagers were full of enthusiasm- and had so much energy we decided that they needed to start off with a few games- there was alot of noise and laughter as students ran into each other while playing 'huckle/ buckle' (while learning English words for body parts) and used their acting skills for 'bear, frog, mosquito'.

We also took the students on a hike on the 'One-a-Day' trail where we introduced students to Canadian trees and animals. I was interested to hear that many of the students came from the city and had never been in the forest before. I felt privileged to introduce them to a place (the bush) that I love so much!

I had them meet the trees in the hardwood bush. Students had an opportunity to touch a variety of bark, leaves and twigs. I was surprised that this group of city kids did not hesitate to step off the trail and get their hands dirty! They really enjoyed themselves.

We had a great evening talking about Algonquin wolves and their niche in the local environment. Then we howled our way up to the fire pit for a campfire and smores!

The next morning we awoke to a winter wonderland! I was concerned that the students and their chaperones would be a little ‘put off’ by the weather. Boy was I wrong! They could not be more excited about the snow! Apparently they don’t get a lot of snow in the city where they live and were delighted to see Canadian snow before they left for home.

At the request of the group, we ended up walking through the woods and having a crazy snowball fight! After everyone was exhausted we finished the morning by making dream catchers and sipping hot chocolate around the woodstove.

Their visit was short and I was sorry to see the group leave- however I was tiered!

Learn more at ExpEd.ca

A Sense of Community

2006-10-19T13:59:00.000-04:00

It was a dark and rainy afternoon when a large orange bus pulled up in front of the Kiln House and out poured students from Georgian College's ecotourism course....
The students appeared to be apprehensive when they learned that that they would be staying outside- with rain jackets, of course. Their intrepid guides, myself and Jen, attempted to warm them with an introduction to the program we had designed- entitled 'A Sense of Community'. Since this group of students had come to experience 72 hrs. in the life of the Northern Edge we strove to tap into the human senses sight, touch, taste and smell to experience the Edge community, human and non-human, at the Edge and within the bush... in hopes that they would remember more then the tapping of rain drops and the smell of wet earth- we had the students play some active games that encouraged them to work as a human community and introduced them to some non-human organisms...and turned them into 'tree huggers'- literally. They also recieved a 'behind the scenes' talk and tour of how our facility is run as a company with an ecological focus.
I hope they took home information that will helpful within their courses as well as life.

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A 'balanced' Education

2006-10-04T13:46:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, students from Dr. Brown's BioChem lab, McMaster University, came to the nature retreat. Their experience was a little different from many of the educational programs that we usually provide. They wanted a relaxing space to get away and discuss their research ideas, with a nice balance of outdoor activities.

Well, I thought this was a really great idea....not too long ago I was a university student so I am familiar with the pressures of school and often felt unhappy when I realized I had spent my whole day inside with only my computer for company.

Balance is important for everyone- and for people who spend time inside of a lab looking for answers to life’s mystery's it is important that they also understand the natural world beyond the walls of a humanly controlled environment. It helps us to see the 'bigger' picture in our personal and professional lives.

Dr. Brown's students are lucky enough to have a supervisor who understands this need for balance and shares not only his knowledge of science but his love for the outdoors. So I would like to give him a virtual pat on the back!

While they were here, students spent the mornings presenting different research ideas to their peers, and the afternoons we hiked and paddled.

On the Loxton Beaver Trail we saw claw marks on beech trees left behind from bears climbing to the tops to retrieve nuts, and lots of moose and deer tracks. We had a lot of fun looking at the wide variety of mushrooms and fungus that have flourished in the recent damp weather. The colours and textures were amazing...velvety brown, bright orange, yellow with polka dots...each one seems unique.

Despite an unplanned chilly dip in the lake- we had a nice canoe trip up the Amble du Fond- seeing a grey heron and the beaver lodge...hey I even got the rare treat of being the princess (third person who sits in the middle of the canoe) for awhile.

Well the students have promised to send a few photos- so I will attach them when they arrive.

Have a great long weekend and for those eating a turkey dinner...remember 'balance' :)

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Too Cool - Keep a snowflake forever

2006-02-28T16:50:00.000-05:00

Before the winter snow fades from memory, capture a crystal snow flake and keep it forever.
This link shows how.... now that's cool.
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/how20/e5fb1e4e0fca9010vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html

Learn more at ExpEd.ca

Student Canoe Trip Pictures - Algonquin Style

2005-05-15T11:49:00.000-04:00

Students paddle Voyageur Canoes and have a fine time at the Edge. Check out these pictures of Mastery Academy making waves canoeing the Voyageur canoes and posing at the lakefront on their student trip to Northern Edge Algonquin: Mastery Academy at the Edge
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Outdoor Education for Students at Risk

2005-05-11T21:23:00.000-04:00

There are a number of students who have a difficult time in a traditional classroom setting. Getting those students outside can demonstrate capabilities that are sometimes hidden or misunderstood in a classroom setting.

This week, students from Mastery Academy (near Toronto) are joining us with their students who are slow learners for a variety of reasons. For these children, outdoor experiences are an opportunity to spread out and escape the sometimes extremely challenging indoor environment that often leaves them confined to a table or desk.

At this moment, over twenty such students are playing the Wolf Denning Game. A wonderful night time adventure that inspires students to look after the wellness of the pack, while at the same time celebrating the wisdom of their own true voice. As I type, mixed howls escape from the forest as beta wolf packs go in search of a den. They are teased by the other wolves who cannot supress the urge to howl in response to the howls of other packs.

As a classroom teacher, you may think about what opportunities you give your charges to howl and express themselves passionately, while inviting your class to look out for the pack and act with a genuine concern for others. Out here at the Edge, these are natural outcomes to a nature-based experiential learning program.

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Algonquin Park Student Canoe Trip #1

2005-05-01T21:14:00.000-04:00

Students from Holy Names High School in Windsor, Ontario are first to canoe on the #1 Access Point to Algonquin Provincial Park!

Teacher, Dwayne Brunet has been traveling to the Edge with students to dip their paddles in the waters of Algonquin Park, to canoe, hike, mountain bike, snow shoe, find adventure, and imagine a better world. By connecting with nature, building relationships with one another and discovering more about themselves for the better part of a decade, this school has discovered their Edge - AlgonquinStyle!
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WebQuest Blogs

2005-04-23T19:43:00.000-04:00

The essence of experiential education is to involve students in experiences that are real vs. responding to assignments with just the teacher's needs in mind. Think about how you can engage students in reporting, writing, journaling, recording, editing using Blogger to create student Blogs.

The resulting Blogs can be used to display student learning to other students, parents, the school community and the teacher. As well, inspired students can respond to issues of personal concern by writing refined Web content in a Quest to let the world know more about their feelings, knowledge and beliefs regarding a wide variety of issues.

Writing for the Web can be an empowering educational experience. Students respond to such challenges with an inspired attention to good diction, spelling and other issues much like Science Fair Projects that are on public display often result in higher student performance.

Of course, this enhancement of effort and student results are directly proportional to the amount of freedom students have to choose the projects which make it to the Web on their personal WebQuest.

Northern Edge Algonquin is dedicated to presenting outdoor experience that lead to student empowerment. Learn more at ExpEd.ca