Education Field Trip Programs

Longwoods Road / Ska-Nah-Doht Village Education Programs – School Field Trip Programming

All programs have a unique blending of Western Science and First Nations Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). Programs are linked to the Ontario Curriculum and can be adapted to any grade level.

All programs are 1.5 – 2 hrs each unless indicated with an asterisk*.

Half day programs $8 per student – the minimum fee is $120 for 15 students or less.

Full day programs – (2 programs) $14 per student – the minimum fee is $210 for 15 students or less.

Payment is by Cash, Cheque, Debit or Credit Card day of trip.

Booking Field Trip – Call Agnes – 519-264-2420 Monday – Friday between 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or email: Agnes.Vriends@ltvca.ca

Program Specifics – Email: Jerry.DeZwart@ltvca.ca or Karen.Mattila@ltvca.ca

How to get to Longwoods Road Conservation Area / Ska-Nah-Doht Village & Museum

Owned and operated by the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority with financial support of the Member Municipalities, the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Foundation and the Ministry of Culture.

Education Programs 2019-2020 (watch this little video)

Available All Seasons:

Ska-Nah-Doht Experience – Museum Intro, Village Walk – 1,000 years ago the First Nations lived within their surroundings. Where there was a need, nature offered a solution. There is a “give & take”, a balance. This is life before Europeans came to Turtle Island. Pick your leaders! Will your village survive the upcoming winter?

Balance & Biodiversity – Indoor Intro, Trail Walk including Village – A presentation, short game and a walk along trails illustrates native organisms and invasive threats to our local plants and wildlife. Ways we can help Species at Risk (SAR) are revealed using First Nations’ Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and regard for the environment.

Orienteering Challenge – Outdoor Activity – Students learn how to use a compass and map, form groups that re-enforce teamwork, then set out to find their way to “control points” throughout the conservation area. (Students should have experience with maps).

Predator Prey Game – Outdoor Activity – Students play the roles of herbivores, omnivores, carnivores and environmental challenges in a simulated game of survival where the importance of habitat is experienced and internalized.

Sensational Seasons – Outdoor Activity – Discover the sights, sounds and textures of nature! Learn how animals and plants adapt to the changing seasons using our 5 senses through hands-on activities.

Species At Risk (SAR) – Indoor Intro, Trail Walk – A presentation, short game and reptile SAR models allow students to relate to the habitat needs and life-challenges facing Ontario SAR. A trail walk allows students to experience good habitat for these species.

Corn Husk Dolls – Museum Intro, Village Walk, Log Cabin & Take away – Learn about the beginnings of agriculture in SW Ontario! Haudenosaunee were the area’s first farmers and recyclers! Using every part honours the plant and teaches patience. Materials are natural and biodegradable. Plus we have legends to teach life lessons still needed for today!

Longhouse Clay Pots – Museum Intro, Log Cabin & Take away – Making pots the old fashion way! By hand with clay from Mother Earth, shape and decorate using traditional methods. Take pots with you, let dry and paint pots the next day as an extra art project!

Tool Making Challenge – Museum Intro, Short Village Walk, Log Cabin – This is a team building exercise where you have to work together to survive. Pick your leaders, assign tasks and make the tools you need. Trading is the key to success! Sorry, no take away for this one.

Treaties – Museum Intro, Village Walk – An introduction to the local treaties that shaped early life on Turtle Island and how it affects us to this day. A lesson in politics, conservation of lands and the lessons we need to learn and enact. Make a treaty with us! Can you honour it?

Fall/Spring Only:

Builder, Gatherer, Medicine Walk – Trail Walk, Outdoor Activity – See the surroundings in a new light! For survival the Haudenosaunee had everything they needed in the forest. Learn to identify trees, plants, flowers and appreciate all they have to offer us. No picking and no recipes.

Habitats & Communities – Indoor Intro, Outdoor Activity – Dividing into team-working groups, students discover the basic needs of wildlife and the importance of diverse healthy habitats at various interactive stations along our Millstream Trail. Forest, field and wetland await you!

Incredible Insects – Indoor Intro, Outdoor Activity – Students use various tools to find insects in forest, field and wetland habitats. Insect diversity and variety of adaptations to live in their habitats are experienced.

Wetlands – Indoor Intro, Outdoor Activity – Learn how wetland creatures are adapted to life in and around the water. Students use dip nets to search for aquatic invertebrates, tadpoles, and fish in our marsh habitat and can reflect on important aspects of habitat requirements for a healthy environment.

*Plants and Pollinators – Indoor Intro, Trail Walk/Outdoor Activity – This program is a Full Day – Focusing on native bees and European honeybee apiculture, this program illustrates how a diversity of pollinators can have a positive effect on native plants, crops and our own health. Includes an extended learning-walk with lessons along the way which takes us all the way to our honeybee boxes!

Winter Only:

Legends in the Longhouse – Village – It is the season of short days and long nights; time for story-telling! Sit in the longhouse with a fire going. Share stories to teach life lessons and to entertain. There will be games too. We will lead but you must bring at least one story to tell!

Snowshoeing – Outdoor Activity, Log Cabin – Is your class up to the challenge? Learn about traditional snowshoe types and how they are used and maintained. Then go on a snowshoe hike! Track, play games and explore winter wildlife habitat while on snowshoes.