Working on the unceded territory of the K’ómoks First Nation .

Working with the K’ómoks Nation towards Q’waq’wala7owkw on their unceded territory.

Keeping It Living Field Trips

An outing to either the Courtenay River Airpark, Goose Spit, Kus-kus-sum or Simms Millennium Park where students participate in educational and stewardship activities at different stations.

Depending on number of students they will be split into groups up to a minimum of four and a maximum of 17-18 students in each group. Each group will need to have at least 1 teacher and 1 parent accompany them. There will be up to four stations and the groups will rotate between them. Each station will have at least 2 station personnel. The four stations will be chosen from the following: planting, bird/fish monitoring, beach seining, plant identification, nature scavenger hunt, water quality monitoring, salt water wedge demonstration, fish traps, salmon and seal tag.

PLEASE NOTE: Project Watershed does not arrange for transportation to or from our field trip locations. Teachers can arrange a bus, parent drivers or take public transportation.

Contact

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projectwatershed@gmail.com

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250 703 2871

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Map of location to be included with Stations and Washrooms highlighted

Possible Stations

Bird Monitoring

To be lead by a local naturalist. The students will count the number of birds by species at three locations (i.e. estuary, lagoon, river). List of birds and photos to be included and sent to teacher prior to field trip . At Kus-kus-sum and Holly hock flats we will compare and contrast the birds seen.

Native Plant Identification

To be lead by a local naturalist. Students to find two or three native species and draw identifying features – flower, bud, leaf, stem. Better for older students grades 4-7. List of native species with photos to be included and sent to teacher prior to field trip. At Kus-kus-sum and Holly hock flats we will compare and contrast the plants seen.

Fish Monitoring Beach Seine

To be lead by DFO Community Advisor (Dave Davies). Catch fish with seine nets, identify, count and record species. List of fish and photos to be included and sent to teacher prior to field trip (each location to have different list Airpark/Simms).

Fish Traps

Only at Airpark. There are 2 activities at this location. A) Is to look for and if time allows flag the remnant stakes on the mudflats B) is to build the wooden model and put fish in.

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Fish Traps Pre-teaching and Lesson Materials

Planting

Either intertidal eelgrass, salt marsh or native planting. Depending on their age children may need a lot of assistance digging the holes for planting. Younger students to pair up with seniors or older students. Everything may not get planted and that is okay. Students should bring gloves if they have them. List of plants to be planted to be included and sent to teacher prior to field trip.

Salmon and Seal Tag

Only at Kus-kus-sum. A game of tag where most students are salmon and a few are seals. The game is played on a blue tarp to indicate a river and hoola hoops are used as habitat. The game is to be played in two parts – first with the hoola hoops to illustrate fish going through or by Holly Hock Marsh and after with no hoola hoops to illustrate the steel wall in front of Kus-kus-sum.

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Saltwater Wedge Activity

Scavenger hunt/Naturists Walk

To be lead by a local naturalist. Students to check off items as they see them. Better for younger students grades 2/3.At Kus-kus-sum and Holly hock flats we will compare and contrast the items seen.

Story

Depending on the age of the children this could be used as a downtime station. Story to be read is “The Great Plastic Round Up”. The story will be read aloud and there is a follow up activity.

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Water Quality Monitoring Actvity

Example Itenerary

Time	Salmon v Seals	Naturalist Walk	Fish Traps
9:15 – 9:30	———–Groups move to their Station———–
9:30-10:00	Group 1	Group 2	Group 3
10:00-10:05	Move to next Station
10:05-10:15	Recess
10:15-10:45	Group 3	Group 1	Group 2
10:45-10:50	Move to next Station
10:50-11:20	Group 2	Group 3	Group 1
11:20-11:30	Move to trasportation/lunch
11:30-12:00	Lunch*optional

Field Trips

From Sewage Lagoon to Wildlife Haven: Airpark Restoration Crew Wraps Up a Great Season

Every Thursday from April to October, a dedicated group of green-thumbed heroes gathered at the Courtenay Airpark. Rain or shine, these volunteers rolled up their sleeves to care for the thriving restoration site – what was once a sewage lagoon has become a cornerstone of local conservation.

Nurturing the Energy Bars of the Sea

Pacific sand lance are small, silvery fish with a big job. Think of them as the “energy bars” of the Salish Sea as they fuel salmon, seabirds, and even whales. But before they can fuel the marine food web, they need the right shoreline to lay their eggs. So, what kind of beaches do they prefer?