Come Experience Nature with Us
We are inspired by nature, and we love connecting with watershed residents and helping them learn how to protect the green spaces in our neighbourhoods. Our youth stewardship and education programs are essential to engaging the next generation in meaningful, environmental learning and action.
Branch Out is one of our unique youth programs that offers a layered learning opportunity for students in their classroom, schoolyard and at a local green space. The program offers a workshop that introduces students to CVC’s work and helps them understand the local impacts of climate change in the watershed.
After the in-class learning takes place, students get to roll up their sleeves and gain real world experience in the environmental field by participating in a stewardship project or environmental educational activity. This activity helps enhance their understanding of the local ecological issues we face in the Credit River Watershed.
Last year, over 2,400 students participated in 66 Branch Out events throughout the watershed. These students contributed almost 7,000 volunteer hours and helped steward, or look after, over 13,000 square metres of land by implementing environmental actions like removing invasive species. Students also removed over 30 pounds of litter and planted over 2,300 native trees and shrubs. That’s a lot of great work by youth in one year!
The two-part Branch Out program is open to schools within the watershed and links to the Ontario curriculum for grades six to 12. Programs run from April to June and registration is open now.
We look forward to exploring the Credit River Watershed with your class!
Learn more about Branch Out and register your class for the program.
Have questions about our Branch Out program? Connect with us.
By Jamie Williams, Specialist, Marketing and Communications