Spruce Meadows Education Program

AGRIUM Growing the Next Generation

School Tour Sessions from June 5-9, 2013 (National Tournament)
 

Spruce Meadows, in partnership with Agrium presents the GROWING THE NEXT GENERATION School Tours Education Program:  Highly interactive sessions that focus on agriculture, wetland ecosystems, watersheds, equine history and welfare and the sport of show jumping.

Since the initiation of the ‘School Tours’ program in the spring of 1976, tens of thousands of Calgary and surrounding area students have participated.

Spruce Meadows provides a unique representative environment of the growth and change of Alberta, its people and the School Tours program itself. Initiated in 1976 by Mrs.Southern herself the program has evolved over time and continues to incorporate Alberta based curriculum within its existing five stations. Set in an interactive venue to engage and challenge the students, our program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and consciousness to make informed decisions.

This guided field trip will include five key stations:

Station #1: “Eyes on The Wetlands”: Watershed & Bio Facts
		Here students will learn about the Spruce Meadows watershed and its role in the watersheds of Calgary and Alberta as well as the Urban/Rural Interface, what it is and the role we play.
Station #2: “Eyes on The Wetlands”: Aquatic Invertebrates
		This interactive station has students pond dipping for the catch, identification and release of aquatic invertebrates, while learning their rolls within the Spruce Meadows wetland ecosystem.
Station #3: Horse Care: Animal Welfare and Wellness
		Students break up into four smaller micro-stations to see and discuss a real mare and foal, feeding and waste management, dressing and grooming and the structure and form of the horse. Another highly interactive and exciting station.
Station #4: History of The Horse: War Horse to Sport Horse
		This station, with so much detail offers students a chance to learn what horses were used for in early times, throughout the ages and of course today. Discover the human relationship with the horse and the importance of the role it plays in Alberta.
Station #5: Seed Survivor: Soil, Nutrients, Water & Light
		Agrium sponsors this interactive station with computer games and a hands on ‘real planting’ session. Watch the students become enthralled as they tour through stations about farming, crops, water management, plant nutrients and taking care of the land around us.

Spruce Meadows has been approved by the Calgary Board of Education as an “A” Off-Site Activity.  

Applications and a brochure for this program can be downloaded and are based on a first come-first-served basis, space is limited so please apply early.

FULL for 2013, please look for more information in January 2014.