The Experience
Come and experience the beautiful ecology that surrounds us! In this full-day camp, participants will be involved in activities that connect them to the natural environment. The program will consist of science experiments, co-operative games and plenty of outdoor adventures. This exciting, fun-filled day camp experience will provide participants with an opportunity to explore local ecosystems and discover nature's wonders all the way down to a microscopic level. Specialized equipment will be used to make scientists out of all participants. Each day allows youth to explore and experience different environmental themes through activities, games, stories and songs. Participants will have the opportunity to visit the ocean, marshes or wetlands and participate in a variety of activities that allow them to discover the magnificent British Columbian coast.
The History
Richardson Sport began in 2005 by purchasing the licensing rights to Sportball, a non-competitive sports program for children 16mo-10yrs. Richardson Sport currently owns the rights to four Sportball franchises. For more information about Sportball please visit www.sportball.ca.
In 2007, programmers from Sooke and Richardson Sport recognized the need for a stronger connection between children and their environment; this inspired the creation of Ecoquest. The program was designed by Lee Richardson BSc., Bed., founder of Richardson Sport and his mother, Laurie Richardson BA., BEd., who both have a passion for the environment and for teaching children. EcoQuest began in 2007 as a two-week pilot project in Sooke. Following the success of this pilot, Ecoquest ran for six weeks at three different centers in 2008. In the following year ten weeks of programming were offered at six different locations. EcoQuest is a program that has daily themes related to the environment, consistent with the prescribed learning outcomes of the targeted age groups. Participants explore the environment using specialized equipment, field trips, activities and interactive classroom-style teachings. The program will be offered as a camp as well as a learning enhancement tool for primary teachers looking to develop upon their curriculum.
Richardson Sport is very excited to facilitate children learning about the environment, exploring the changes and challenges being faced by various ecosystems and exploring their world on an intimate level.
The Program
Ages
- 5-8 years old
- 9-12 years old
Daily Schedule
Journey around the world to learn about different land types and discover what they all have in common. How does soil rule the world we live in? Soil is much more than just dirt, and over the course of the day we will learn about the many layers and types of soil.
- Arrival Activities
- Lesson Plan and Activities - Morning
- Geographic zones around the would and close to home - 30 min
- "Where in the World is this Geographical Zone" - 45 min - Break
- Game - Morning
- Amazing Race Through the Zones of the World
- Lunch
- Lesson Plan and Activities - Afternoon
- Soil info session - Sing Along! "Soils is under our feet sing along"
- Game - Afternoon
- Name That Dirt!
- Break
- Super Cool Demonstration!!!
- Erosion Activity
- Wind erosion
- Glacier and physical erosion movement
- Water erosion - Wrap Up!
Water is the key to life on earth and has been cycling around the globe for billions of years. How does water move from the oceans to the clouds and across the land? Come discuss this ancient process that affects almost everything we do in life.
Lightning, hurricanes, tornadoes and more! Year after year millions of people are impacted by the occurrence of extreme weather, but why does it happen?
- Arrival Activities
- Lesson Plan and Activities - Morning
- Where do we get our Seasons 15min
- Seasons Crafts 30min" - Break
- Game - Morning " I am a Season
- Lunch
- Lesson Plan and Activities - Afternoon
- What Makes our Weather - 15min
- Act out our weather - 15min - Sing Along! "Where the wind blows"
- Game - Afternoon
- Rain Relay
- Break
- Extreme Weather Demonstration!!
- Thunderstorms
- Hurricanes
- Tornadoes
- Tsunami - Wrap Up!
Have you ever wondered how plants grow? Learn how the trees grow to heights of over 100 feet and live to be hundreds of years old. Discover what it takes for plants to survive in a desert or in a swamp. Grow your own plant from a seed. Learn how new species can invade an area and take over native lands.
- Arrival Activities
- Lesson Plan and Activities - Morning
- Intro to Trees, Shrubs and Grass 30min
- Leaves and Needles activity 30min
- How to plant a tree 30min - Break
- Game - Morning
- Scavenger Hunt
- Build you own forest - Lunch
- Lesson Plan and Activities - Afternoon
- Grasses and Wetland Plants - 15min
- Invasive Species - 15min - What makes plants different find out with their DNA
- Break
- Outdoor Game - Afternoon
- Plant Passport - Wrap Up!
"Old MacDonald had a farm…. And on that farm there was a…". Discover the rich diversity our agricultural land has to offer. From vast cattle lands to rolling yellow hills of wheat to vibrant green lands of vegetation, Canada produces an amazing range of food for you to discover.
- Arrival Activities
- Lesson Plan and Activities - Morning
- Where did my food come from? 15min
- Crop Activity 30min
- The Evolution of Farming 15min
- Historical Farming (Pictures) 15min
- How do we deal with our pests 15min - Break
- Game - Morning
- Organic vs. Non-Organic you decide! - Lunch
- Lesson Plan and Activities - Afternoon
- Let's talk about livestock 30min
- R.E.S.P.E.C.T - the animals the animals the fill our bellies 30min - Environmental Impacts of Farming
- Break
- Game - Afternoon
- Plant your own veggies!! - Wrap Up!
Have you ever wondered where you get the energy to run, jump and play? The food web provides energy for animals of all sizes. From mice to owls to coyotes and humans, we'll look at the amazing diversity of the animals in the food web. Learn about an owl's diet by dissecting an owl pellet.
- Arrival Activities
- Lesson Plan and Activities- Morning
- Invertebrates vs. Vertebrates-15min
- Food Chain-30min
- Mammals-30min - Break
- Game- morning
- Food Web Game - Lunch
- Lesson Plan and Activities-Afternoon
- Bird Habitat and Prey lesson
- Construction of Bird Wings and Nests - Outdoor Activity
- Bird Tag- Hawks and Birds-30min - Break
- Game- afternoon
- Owl Pellet Discovery - Wrap up!
Did you know insects are the largest class of animals in the world? Learn about the unique characteristics shared in this class. Discover the amazing abilities of amphibians and reptiles that allow them to survive in extreme habitats.
- Arrival Activities
- Lesson Plan and Activities- Morning
- Introduction-15min
- Am I a reptile, amphibian or insect?-30min
- Spiders, Spiders, Everywhere-30min
- Pond Study - Look under microscope to see what you can find-45min - Break
- Game- morning
- Insect Fossil Dig-up - Sing-along "Stevie the Slug"
- Lunch
- Lesson Plan and Activities- Afternoon
- Amphibians lesson and activity
- Reptiles lesson and activity - Arts and Crafts
- Arts and Crafts- Build your own frogs/reptiles - Break
- Game-afternoon
- Reptile/Amphibian Hunt - Wrap up!
We are fortunate to live on one of the most rich and biologically diverse coastlines in the world. What creates the waves we surf and the changing tides? Do you know what types of fish and animals live in the water around you? Learn how the movement of the earth effects the movement of the oceans. Discover how water flows from one side of the planet to the other and back again.
- Arrival Activities
- Lesson Plan, Activities - Morning
- Tides with demo- 15min
- Waves with demo- 15
- Currents with demo -15min - Games - Morning
- Ride the current game- 30min - Break
- Arts and Crafts
- Different Marine Ecosystems/ Habitat Inter-tidal, Benthic, Pelagic and what are found in each.
- Team art project with different ecosystems: plants and animals. - Lunch
- Lesson Plan and Activities- Afternoon
- Marine Animals and Adaptations to habitat.
- Invertebrates info session using props-15 min
- Fish info session photos (Alaskan shark!!!) -15 min
- Mammals info session photos - 15 min - Break
- Info to make you think!
- Human impacts of the ocean and what we can do (photos). Ocean Wise Cards. - Game-Afternoon
- Kelp Bed Tag - Wrap Up!
Aquatic habitats are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Learn about rivers, bogs, lakes and wetlands and the critters and plants that inhabit them.
- Lesson Plan and Activities- Morning
- Bogs and Wetlands with demo-15min.
- Lakes, rivers and streams-15 min.
- Name BC Rivers- Big and Small - 15min - Activities-morning
- Group River Game- Freshwater body - Break
- Lesson Plan and Activities- Morning
- Invertebrates and build a caddisfly larva - 30min
- Fishes from the lakes activities-15 min
- Who am I, and where do I live?-15min
- Riparian Zones and why they are important-15min - Lunch
- Lesson Plan and Activities-Afternoon
- What makes a healthy ecosystem, what do fish, bugs, amphibians, plants need- 15min
- Water quality pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen- Test it yourself!- 15min
- Ecosystem scenario and survey activity-30min
- Human impacts on freshwater ecosystems: farming, hydro, drinking water. What you can do- 10min - Break
- Game- Afternoon
- Fishing relay - Wrap Up!
Canada has abundant natural resources, and a wide range of industries utilize them. From fishing, crabbing, mining, drilling and refining, Canadians thrive off the rich and diverse land we live on. The environmental damage these industries can have is great; learn how they are affecting our earth. Come experience the making of your own paper and discover the vast array of fish species that British Columbia has to offer.
- Arrival Activities
- Lesson Plan, Activities - Morning
- Industries- Where does our "stuff" come from? - Arts and Crafts
- Pulp and Paper Lecture
- Making your own paper - Break
- Game-Morning
- Oil and Gas - Where it is found and what does it make?
- Lunch
- Oil separator demonstration
- Electricity-Power our World!
- Different types of electricity around the world and at home-
- Make your own power - Break
- Game-Afternoon
- Environmental effects of power and the environment - Wrap up!
Worms, newspaper and a plastic box are all you need to return the nutrients from the food you eat to the ground it came from. Composting is just one of the many ways you'll learn to help combat climate change. The planet we live on today could be a very different place 20 to 30 years from now and our actions as humans are a big reason for that change. Learn the facts on climate change and what we can do at home to help slow the change.
- Arrival Activities
- Lesson Plans and Activities-Morning
- Waste Stream Activity
- What is Climate Change? (Demonstration)
- Dirty Transportation (Climate Change Activity) - Break
- Game-Morning
- Dr. Zeus Lorax Play - Lunch
- Lesson Plans and Activities-Afternoon
- Reduce Reuse Recycle-30min
- Worm Compost building-30min
- Sustainability-15min - Game-Afternoon
- Green Energy Relay - Break
- Sing along! The 3 R's (Jack Johnson)
- Arts and Crafts
- Collect Materials for Recyclable Arts and Crafts - Wrap up!
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