Please check back August 1st. There will be lessons, worksheets, video and a whole lot of amazing facts and information about the desert that may be used in your school studies across Canada!

The Desert Studies Program is our series of innovative activities and lessons available to schools. These interactive programs enhance classroom field trips and provide important information about the desert ecosystem. The tours can be arranged for any age group from kindergarten to college and university students. Topics covered include general desert information and biomes, adaptations, ecosystem functions and conservation issues or can involve a specialized theme tour. See Sample tour below.

School tours are designed to comply with both the Prescribed Learning Outcomes and the curriculum put out by the Ministry of Education. Tours can easily be customized to accommodate teachers’ lesson plans or itineraries.

Students play an ecology-related game on the outdoor deck at the Interpretive Centre. (20 minutes)

Students are given a Scavenger Hunt worksheet and rules are explained. (10 minutes)

A guide takes students out onto the boardwalk and discusses desert adaptations, plant and animal identification, water cycles, and/or the teachers’ pre-arranged topic with the students. At the same time, students will check off the “found” items on their Scavenger Hunt sheet and answer the corresponding questions. (45 minutes)

Students have a chance to examine bugs, rocks, snake skins and other articles in the Interpretive trailer. (classes usually spend about 15 minutes here.)