School Programs

As a satellite facility of the Queen’s University Biological Station, the Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre offers curriculum-based programs year round that encourage students to explore and measure local biodiversity through field-based scientific investigation.

Our Programs

Our curriculum-based programs complement in-class lessons, teaching ecological principles and offering more in-depth study and hands-on experience in a variety of areas. These programs are a great fit for private schools, ESL classes, Eco-Teams, and home-schooled students!Our school programs are aligned to meet the needs of science, geography and environmental science courses, and for students from kindergarten to college.

In Person Programs
Click Here for more information and how to book.

Fisheries & Aquatic Ecosystems

Studying the diversity of fish species can help scientists assess the health of an aquatic ecosystem. In this workshop, students will have the opportunity to catch fish using seine nets, and learn about common fish species in Elbow Lake. We will discuss how humans may impact fish populations, such as climate change and overfishing.

*This program is season specific and can only be done when the lake water is warm (May – September).

Ornithology: Diversity & Adaptations of Birds

The wide diversity of bird species in Ontario provide an excellent way to observe physical adaptations. Students will learn about how the different structures of a bird (feet, wings, beak, etc.) are adapted to help them survive. We will also discuss common birds seen in the Kingston area, and students will have a taste of how birders observe and differentiate similar species. A selection of bird specimens will be avilable for students to handle, providing a close-up view of these amazing adaptations! The species that are focused on will differ depending on the season and what species are currently present at Elbow Lake.

*For younger grades, after students learn the features of a bird, they will work in groups to apply their knowledge and create a bird of their own, developing a life history profile and presenting it to the class.

*For older grades, there is an optional program that includes Classification and Dichotomous Keys. Identification and differentiation of species is an intergral part of the study of life. Students will learn how dichotmous keys are formed, based on morphological differences and similarities between species. This workshop can be tailored so that students design their own dichotomous keys, and/or get experience using an existing key for birds.

Winter Ecology Program

Discover what is living under the snow and ice. Learn about a season that many know little about! We have so many activities to partake in during these winter months!

Put on a pair of our snowshoes to navigate over the deep snow,
use our ice fishing rods to see what fish are lurking below the ice,
send an underwater dredge to investigate what invertebrates are living on the bottom of the lake,
sample lake chemistry,
search for animal tracks in the snow to learn what animals are still moving about,
discover the different strategies that local wildlife use to survive the winter,
and much more!

Tree Identification & Forest Assessment

Biologists, geographers, foresters, ecologists, and historians can all use the study of trees to learn about the local ecosystem. Groups will have the opportunity to learn about and use field techniques (such as transects, calculating tree size, and tree cores) to study biodiversity of forest ecosystems. Students will also learn how to identify common tree species in Ontario using dichotomous keys. We will discuss sustainabile forestry practicies and how to be a concious consumer.

Limnology & Ecosystem Health

A part of limnology is the study of the extremely small, free-floating organisms called plankton. Students will learn about the importance of plankton in the aquatic food web and how these organisms can indicate the health of the ecosystem. Furthermore, we will discuss how humans affect plankton populations and the overall health of the aquatic ecosystem. We will discuss the human impacts on an equatic ecosystems, including the introduction of invasive species. Each group will collect their own sample from Elbow Lake and observe what they cantch under the microscope.

Macro-Invertebrates

Macro-invertebrates are organisms without backbones and can be seen with the naked eye, including flatworms, crayfish, snails, and many insects. Students will have an opportunity to catch terrestrial and aquatic macroinvertebrates, identify them, and learn about the importance of these organisms in a health ecosystem.

Invasive Species

An invasive species is a group of organisms which are introduced to an area and have no natural predators, often resulting in uncontrollable numbers. Students will learn about some well-known invasive species in Ontario, how organizations try to control them, and what we can do to prevent them in the future. Students will also experience controlling an invasive species at Elbow Lake!

GPS Scavenger Hunt

Elbow Lake’s property containts a variety of habitats and species that are ideal for data collection. Groups will learn how to use a GPS and compass to orient themselves through the Elbow Lake property and collect data to analyze in the classroom.

Cartography: Mapping your environment

Though digital maps are everywhere, the ability to read and create a paper map is still important and provides fundimental skills. This workshop teaches students the characteristics of a map, how to calculate scale, and the different types of maps. Students will choose features on the Elbow Lake property that are relevant to their map’s theme and translate it to a flat medium.

Water Chemistry

Take water samples and analyze the chemical makeup of the lake and wetlands near ELEEC. Complete the chemical equations for each of the steps of our analysis. Use this data to make inferences of ecosystem productivity and the types of wildlife that lives within.

Orienteering & Geocaching

Use a map, compass, and GPS to find stations and complete tasks. Then use these skills to find Geocaches hidden on our site.

School Programs

Our Programs

Fisheries & Aquatic Ecosystems

Ornithology: Diversity & Adaptations of Birds

Winter Ecology Program

Tree Identification & Forest Assessment

Limnology & Ecosystem Health

Macro-Invertebrates

Invasive Species

GPS Scavenger Hunt

Cartography: Mapping your environment

Water Chemistry

Orienteering & Geocaching

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