School Programs
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.
The QUILLS Programs
The Queen’s University Indigenous Land-based Learning STEM (QUILLS) Program is five STEM Learning Bundles bringing together Indigenous land-based knowledge, Ontario Science curriculum outcomes, and locally conducted STEM studies. QUILLS is a collaborative project, drawing on the expertise of local Indigenous knowledge holders, teachers, and Queen’s STEM faculty, and is geared towards integrating the themes of the biodiversity crisis, global climate change, traditional Indigenous knowledge systems and the environment, invasive species, and contaminants in the environment. Many elements of the QUILLS program can be implemented as part of a visit to Elbow Lake. Please visit the QUILLS program page for more information.
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, with things such as climate change and overfishing.
*This program is season specific and can only be done when the lake water is warm (May – September).
Diversity & Adaptations of Birds
The wide diversity of bird species in Ontario provides an excellent way to observe physical adaptations. Through hands-on activities, 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 how to identify them. The species that are focused on will differ depending on the season and what species are currently present at Elbow Lake.
Field games involving migration and the use of our binoculars will also be included.
*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 integral part of the study of life. Students will learn how dichotomous 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. A selection of bird specimens will be available for students to handle, providing a close-up view of these amazing adaptations!
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 sustainable forestry practices and how to be a conscious consumer.
Note – the Tree Identification and Forest Assessment pieces of this program can be selected separately as two half-day programs, or combined together to create a full-day forestry-themed experience for your students.
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 catch under the microscope.
Amazing 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 healthy ecosystem.
GPS Scavenger Hunt
Elbow Lake’s property contains a variety of habitats and species that are ideal for data collection. Groups will learn how to use a GPS and map to navigate to stations on the Elbow Lake property. At each station, students will complete tasks to learn about wildlife and ecology that relate to the current season. Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter programs available.
Cartography: Mapping your environment
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.
* This program is available for Grade 11 and 12 students only.
Orienteering Challenge
Learn the basics of how to use a map and compass to navigate around the Elbow Lake property! Depending on the age and skill level of the group, a variety of different orienteering challenges are available for students to try once they’ve mastered these basic skills:
1) Treasure Hunt – students hide a treasure and write a set of instructions using compass bearings and paces, so that another group of students can find the hidden prize.
2) Map Quest – students learn to plot locations on a map of Elbow Lake using latitude and longitude, then navigate to each location and complete a task to learn about various aspects of local ecology. There are seasonal versions of this activity available.
3) Orienteering Race – students use map and compass to navigate to a number of locations around the Elbow Lake property, gathering information at each location to unscramble a mystery word. This game is an excellent test of map-reading ability!
On The Threshold of Extinction
Discover the many challenges faced by Ontario’s species at risk. This active simulation is designed to demonstrate the factors, both natural and human-made, that are responsible for animals being included on Ontario’s Species at Risk List. Students role-play Ontario’s species at risk and must earn enough habitat points to be removed from the list. Other students act as limiting factors that contribute to the extinction of animal species. Students are encouraged to consider a positive plan of action that will benefit our endangered plants and animals.
Canoeing 101
Learn the basics of canoeing and head out on a short paddle around Elbow Lake! Participants will be given instruction on the parts of a canoe and paddle, how to properly size and fit a PFD, basic paddling strokes, and how to enter/exit a canoe safely from the dock. We’ll then head out onto the lake and enjoy exploring Elbow Lake. Weather conditions permitting we might also try a few simple canoe games!
Please note: For school groups – in order to participate in this program, students must have already completed a swim assessment as per OPHEA regulations, and this information must be provided to the Elbow Lake staff upon arrival.
We also offer ORCKA Canoeing certification to high school classes, outdoor education clubs, and youth groups such as Scouts and Guides. For more information about this program, please contact our Outreach Coordinator at qubsoutreach@queensu.ca.
Guided Hike
Take a hike with one of our outreach staff to explore the trail system at Elbow Lake. This program can be tailored to suit the needs of your class or group. Topics covered might include the biotic/abiotic components of ecosystems, the diversity of habitats encountered and the roles of key plants and animals, plant identification, birdwatching, insect collection, animal tracking, human impacts on ecosystems, and much more. This program is available at all times of the year.
Sensory Hike
Explore the natural wonders of Elbow Lake with all your senses! Students will participate in a variety of sensory activities that will increase their awareness of and sensitivity to the natural world around them. This program will be of particular benefit to those who have infrequent contact with natural spaces.