Wetland Wonders

Wetlands are complex ecosystems and Elk Island National Park is full of them! This field-study style program explores a spectrum of wetlands found in Elk Island National Park. Unique wetland sites will be visited: one site with a bog and fen and a second site with a pond and marsh. At each location, students will participate in hands-on and inquiry-driven activities to explore the fauna that inhabit wetlands, unique flora that are specially adapted to live there, as well as properties such as temperature and pH.

Learning Objectives

• Students learn about interactions among living and nonliving things in the wetland;
• Adaptations that suit pond organisms to their environment;
• Interactions among wetland organisms and about the role of each organism as part of a food web;
• The environmental significance of national parks and protected areas in Canada.

Designed for students in Alberta in grade 5, this school program addresses the Wetland Ecosystems topic in the Science curriculum and Physical Geography of Canada topic in the Social Studies curriculum.

Teacher information

• To book: Email interp.elkisland@pc.gc.ca
• View cost on fee page
• Capacity: Two groups maximum per day; 30 students per group
• Offered: Monday to Friday, each program is 4 hours. Generally, 10 am to 2 pm (can be adjusted slightly if needed)
• Language: Available in English or French
• Please ensure that all schools have a fair chance to participate in our programs: give us at least two weeks' notice of any cancellations, so that we may offer the time slot to another class.
• Supervisor to student ratios:
  • A minimum of 1 supervisor for every 10 elementary students is required

How the program works

• The booking contact will be informed of your program meeting location about a week prior to your scheduled program. Some classes may start at the bog location, while others will start at the pond location.
• Your class(es) will take part in a series of field-study activities at two field sites including:
  • Pond/marsh study:
    • Pond food web activity
    • Pond dipping
    • pH and water tests
  • Bog/fen study:
    • Observation stations including modules on: water, food, flora, pH and temperature
• This program is a total of 4 hours in duration with approximately 3 hours dedicated to program time with a lunch break midway
• Please note: a school bus will be required for the entire day to bus students between the two field sites.