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Photo by Chris MinerThe Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre (ELEEC) is the result of an agreement between the Queen’s University Biological Station (QUBS) and the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC). QUBS is one of the pre-eminent biological field stations in Canada known for research excellence and quality undergraduate learning experiences in field biology and other fields. NCC is Canada’s leading national land conservation organization that partners with corporate and landowners secure properties for conservation of biodiversity in perpetuity. The Education Centre was created in June 2011 to serve as a major site for environmental outreach and education for QUBS.
Our Mission
- Conserve and protect the natural heritage of Elbow Lake and environs for future generations of Canadians.
- Provide a unique venue for public outreach and educational programs in biodiversity conservation and environmental stewardship.
- Engage in programs for public awareness of biodiversity and environmental issues for people of all ages.
- Provide outdoor programs to enhance biological and natural history teaching components of school curricula.
- Foster partnerships with like-minded educational and conservation organizations.
The Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre can host a range of activities including school field trips, field courses, club meetings, individual or group retreats, and small conferences. We welcome visits from educators, academics, environmental organizations, and other conservation partners, and would be pleased to work with you to offer customized programming specific to your interests and needs.
Connect with us! @ElbowLakeEEC
Upcoming Event
December 8 (Saturday)- Bird Feeder Workshop
Join us Saturday, December 8 at Elbow Lake from 10am until noon to learn about birds that could visit your feeder this winter and make a cedar bird feeder to take home (or give as a gift!). You must register to attend this event. There is a $30 fee associated with building the bird feeder. You can choose between two styles.
Hopper Style Feeder: Includes walls and a roof to protect the seeds from the weather. This means you don't have to fill the feeder as often. This size feeder will attract most smaller birds while preventing larger species, like grackles, from monopolizing the feeder.
Table Style Feeder: A protected area where seeds can be spread and kept dry. Doesn't hold alot of seed so they need to be filled more often. Platform will drain to prevent water accumulation. These attract most species of birds, including ground feeding birds like juncos.
Register for this event here.
Elbow Lake Trail Guide
The essential travel companion for visitors to the Elbow Lake property.
Latest News
Nature: Explore IT! Workshop Series
Bridging Nature Appreciation and Technological Literacy
Society is increasingly reliant on information technology (IT) in our everyday lives. While some embrace these advances, others find themselves struggling to keep up with rapidly-evolving technology. Our new, four-part Nature: Explore IT! workshop series will familiarize you with the technology and capabilities of mobile devices (phones and tablets), using examples that build on an overarching theme of exploring nature using IT.
The Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre is excited to be teaming up with Debbie Fitzerman of DFC International Computing Inc. to translate IT lingo into language everyone can understand. Along the way, we will explore how new technologies can not only enhance how we understand and interact with nature, but also how we can contribute scientific knowledge about the world around us.
Each two-hour workshop will build progressively closer to ensuring basic technological literacy for all participants, although sessions have also been designed to stand alone. Sign up for the first workshop, or for all of them; or, pick and choose the ones that best meet your needs and interests:
- Part 1: Getting Started
- Part 2: Photos, Videos, Music & Social Media
- Part 3: The Internet of Things
- Part 4: Using Apps for Citizen Science
Participants are invited to share specific questions they may have related to each topic, and your questions will set the workshop agenda and guide our discussions. With a focus on teaching and learning IT basics in a relaxed and fun setting, and drawing upon the natural beauty of the Elbow Lake property, everyone will discover something new in Nature: Explore IT!