Students take learning to the creek
The inaugural Day on the Creek event had the public and students from different schools in town learning about the waters and banks of Pincher Creek.
Kids from all grade levels spent their day learning about conservation, native species and local history outside on the creek bed, despite the heavy blustering winds and overcast skies.
“We took them out on a day where the forecast is frightening and the Calgarians were all shaking and hiding,” said Nora Manners, executive director of the Waterton Biosphere Reserve. “And us? We were out on the creek.”
Kindergarten students walked through Lions Park identifying different species of plants and animals native to the region, including all sorts of creepy crawlies collected by local arachnid expert John Hancock. Grade 4 students headed to Dillmer Park to learn traditional indigenous games and history from volunteer Jaron Weaselbear.
“It’s exciting for me because they don’t realize they’re learning,” said Canyon School kindergarten teacher Muriel Mcpherson. “They’re asking questions, they’re having fun, they’re finding out things about their natural environment.”
Meanwhile, Matthew Halton students toured the water treatment plant to learn how fresh water makes its way to their taps free of bacteria.
Manners first broached the idea of an entire day of classes outside during a Community Conversation on Learning meeting back in June 2014. Members of the community and different organizations, including the Waterton Biosphere Reserve which would come to host the Day on the Creek, came together to brainstorm new initiatives for education within the Livingstone Range School Division.
“We threw out the craziest idea we could think of,” Manners said.
Following that meeting, Manners attended several workshops with Alberta Green Schools — an initiative aimed at helping school divisions deepen their environmental, energy and climate change education.
The Waterton Biosphere Reserve had been doing similar events with elementary school students in Cardston for years. But taking all grade levels across several schools and creating an entire day of classes outside was a much bigger feat.
“The biggest problem is the high school kids, their scheduling is much stricter,” Manners said. “Elementary school and junior high are a bit more flexible.”
Manners said the feedback they’ve received after the event from teachers, students and parents has been very positive.
“People thought it was a fantastic opportunity for their kids and that it was very well organized,” Manners said.
With the feedback she’s received, Manners hopes to continue the tradition of the Day on the Creek in the hopes students will continue to learn about the history and conservation of their environment for years to come.
“After finishing school, all students would have knowledge and a holistic view about where we live, and their connection to place and environment,” Manners said.