Registration for Fall 2026 Ecology Park Class Visits Now Open!
Ecology Park School Programs
GreenUP Ecology Park provides nature-based programs that bring the curriculum to life. Our lessons involve experiential learning and hands-on exploration and activities delivered by experienced educators. Our programs are cross-curricular with a focus on the Science and Language expectations, incorporating transferable skills as well as listening, speaking, and effective communication during group discussions.
Our programs focus on a variety of environmental education themes such as soils and compost, plant and animal life cycles, connections between pollinators and our food, and stream health. If there’s a topic you’d like to explore at Ecology Park but don’t see here, please contact us.
Programs at GreenUP Ecology Park are offered May through October. The subsidized cost for our programs is $10 per student. We also offer classroom programs during the winter months upon request.
Program Options
Grade-specific curriculum connections are given in parentheses.
Available dates are listed on the registration form.
Life Cycles in the Park (K-3)
Explore the life cycles of some animals and plants of Ecology Park. What stage of their life cycle are they in right now? Engage in an environmental stewardship activity.
Seasonal Changes (K-3)
What signs of the changing seasons can we observe at Ecology Park? Students investigate how animals and plants prepare for the changing seasons and alter their behaviour to survive.
Dig In (2-4)
Celebrate soils! Students learn about the particles that make up soil, the critters that call the soil home, and the superhero of soil – compost!
Geology 101 (3-5)
We’ll explore the geological processes that form igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, as well as fossils. Students will engage in a mini archaeological dig.
Stream Study (5-8)
What creatures are living in the Otonabee River? What can we learn from them about the health of the creek? We’ll collect water samples, identify and create a tally of the critters we find, and talk about how we can keep the creek safe for these living things.
Invader Raiders (5-8)
Learn to identify and manage invasive species that threaten our native plant and animal diversity. Students engage in invasive species removal and discover creative uses for these local invaders.
FAQs
What is the cost?
Our programs continue to be offered at the rate of $10 per student, taxes included. We require a minimum of $250 to run our programs. If your class is smaller than 25 students and funding the remainder is a barrier to participation, please connect with us.
Accompanying teachers and chaperones are always free.
How can my class get to Ecology Park?
Transportation to/from Ecology Park is the school’s responsibility. Book your bus early to avoid disappointment.
Can I book with another class?
We can only accommodate ONE class per am or pm session to a maximum of 30 students at a time.
We do, however, encourage teachers to consider bus-pooling with another class and making it a full-day field trip… each class enjoys a morning/afternoon at Ecology Park and the other half day is filled with your own programming at Beavermead Park, Rogers Cove, or our new neighbour, The Canadian Canoe Museum.
What happens after I book?
You will receive a confirmation to the e-mail address you entered on the registration form. You will be invoiced during the month of your field trip.
What programs do you offer?
See below for a list of our program offerings.
What Teachers Are Saying About Our Programs
“I’ve already recommended your Pollen Power to two teachers as soon as I got back to school. I loved the games, the information and the engagement…my students were engaged the whole time.”
“…the different settings were well thought-out. Both the gazebo by the pond, and tarp area by the river allowed everyone to be fully engaged… I liked how lessons were broken up into activities where students first listened and learned key teachings, then… moved during games/activites to reinforce learning, then had moments where they got to explore the settings around them… The little make-and-take seed pods were a fun way to involve students in… taking care of the animals.”
“We loved how hands-on it was. All the leaders were so wonderful with the children and we walked away feeling excited about gardening and soil!”