We offer numerous opportunities for community members and groups to engage in nature-based learning. Our hands-on, experiential outdoor education programs are designed for all ages, including youth groups and clubs, homeschoolers, day camps, and adult groups. Visit rare with your group and enjoy the fun of outdoor learning! Explore our available community education programs below.
Our community education programs are 2-3 hours in length and cost $12 per person. Full-day programs are also available for $15 per person. Full-day programs are 3-5 hours in length and may combine two of our education programs. A minimum fee of $150 for half-day or $225 for full-day programs will apply.
Have an idea for a program not listed below? Contact us at [email protected] for more information about custom education program offerings.
Project Researcher:
Elaina Greaves, MSc Candidate
Project Supervisor:
Dr. Brian Husband
University of Guelph, Department of Integrative Biology
In this field study, I will determine if adding hybrid pollen to native crabapple trees can have an impact on the reproduction of the native species. This native species is relatively uncommon in Ontario and often grow in areas close to commercial grown domestic apple trees, or in areas where these domestic trees have escaped (called feral domestic apple trees). These two species can then hybridize, which is the crossing of two closely related species that produces an offspring. Using several series of pollination treatments on native crabapple trees at rare Charitable Research Reserve and one other location, I will address three questions: 1) what is the impact of hybrid pollinations on the population size and dynamics of crabapples; 2) does hybrid pollination influence the frequency of asexually produced offspring; and 3) what is the primary source of hybrid pollen, from orchards or feral trees? The results provide insights into the impacts of agricultural environments on native biodiversity. This information can also be transferred to other native species who have the ability of reproducing with their domestic relatives.
Project Researcher:
Aleksandra Dolezal, PhD Candidate
Project Supervisor:
Dr. Andrew MacDougall
University of Guelph, Department of Integrative Biology
The aim of the study is twofold: 1) to understand the combined effects of semi‐natural area and insecticide spraying on insect predator-prey populations and, 2) evaluate the importance of habitat for predator biocontrol service. An in-field cage experiment will be conducted using three treatments (habitat, crop, habitat+crop) and two levels of insecticide (sprayed and unsprayed) to assess recovery of predator and prey populations and the baseline level of biocontrol. The habitat treatment will consist of a plant community dominate in the oldfield ecosystem at rare Charitable Research Reserve, the crop treatment will be conventional soybean, and the habitat and crop treatment will be a 20% oldfield and 80% soybean plot which follows the Alternative Land Use Service (ALUS) model of farming. Each cage will be stocked at the beginning of the growing season (May 15) with 15 ladybird beetles (Hippodamia convergens) and 100 soybean aphids (Aphis glycines). Insect density and biocontrol will be monitored during the whole growing season from May- August. We expected that: (a) habitat plots will have a smaller benefit to biocontrol in sprayed than unsprayed cages and (b) recovery of biocontrol service after insecticide spraying will be faster in plots with habitat.
Project Researcher:
Kathleen Church Mitacs Accelerate Postdoctoral Fellow
Project Supervisor:
Dr. Christina Semeniuk
University of Windsor, Department of Integrative Biology, Great Lakes Institute of Environmental Research (GLIER)
Monitoring behavioural changes in animals can tell us how pollutants, like microplastics (plastic particles < 5 mm), are likely to affect populations. High numbers of microplastics are currently present in freshwater habitats, and these habitats are becoming more susceptible to microplastic pollution over time, especially in cities. Freshwater fishes, including salmonids, are known to mistake microplastic particles for food, and eat them. Laboratory studies show that behavioural changes often result from microplastics ingestion, including altered swimming and foraging behaviour, but it is currently unknown how these behavioural changes scale up to affect population size. This project aims to fill this knowledge gap by using Agent-Based Models (ABMs) to assess how behavioural changes that occur following microplastics ingestion will affect the population viability of stream-dwelling salmonids. This study identifies targets for microplastics pollution likely to prevent declines in salmonid populations, in combination with educational material for rare that aligns with the Canadian government’s intention to ban single use-plastics by the end of 2021, a first step toward zero plastic waste in Canada by 2030.
Project Researcher:
Aleksandra Dolezal, PhD Candidate
Project Supervisor:
Dr. Andrew MacDougall
University of Guelph, Department of Integrative Biology
BugNet is a global network of scientists that aims to better understand the impacts of invertebrate herbivores and fungal pathogens on different aspects of plant communities. While a few studies have shown big impacts of invertebrates and fungal pathogens, we know little about how generally important they are, and how their functional composition varies across a range of different ecosystems. A powerful tool to quantify the variation in plant consumer communities and their impact are globally coordinated experiments, using standardized measurements and replicated experiments across ecological gradients. The “Bug-Network” will be such a project and aims to explore the context dependency of biotic interactions within a coordinated research network comprised of many grassland- and shrubland sites worldwide.
Learn all about bird adaptations and experience what it’s like to be a bird through various hands-on activities and games. Learn how to use binoculars and identify bird species, then explore your schoolyard with a rare educator to see what birds you find. Binoculars will be provided.
Availability:
Module available year-round
Recommended Ages:
Children 4 years + , Teens, Adults
Cost: $12/person
Take a snowshoe hike to look for signs of winter wildlife at rare and investigate animal migration, animal hibernation, and plant dormancy. Snowshoes will be provided.
Availability:
Module available from December to March, dependent on seasonal weather. In the case of minimal snow accumulation, a hike without snowshoes is possible.
Recommended Ages:
Children 4 years + , Teens, Adults
Cost: $12/person
Learn how to survive outdoors! Learn some survival basics such as shelter building or fire lighting with flint & steel.
Availability:
Module available year-round
Recommended Ages:
Children 8 years + , Teens
Cost: $12/person
Learn about insect lifecycles and what makes different types of insects unique! Then try to search for different types of insects that live at rare and catch them using containers or butterfly nets.
Availability:
Module available in Spring, Summer & Fall
Recommended Ages:
Children 4-12 years
Cost: $12/person
For older youth groups we offer mirrored research programs where teens can experience the hands-on research and monitoring activities that we do at rare! Mirrored Research Programs include salamander monitoring, forest health monitoring, butterfly monitoring, and benthic invertebrate monitoring. For a full description of our mirrored research programs see our Field Trips page.
Availability:
Modules available in Spring, Summer & Fall
Recommended Ages:
Teens
Cost: $12/person