Meewasin is the steward of the river valley in Saskatoon and area, which is upwards of 67 square 
kilometres of area. Our staff works hard year-round to conserve and monitor the natural spaces that provide habitat for wildlife, provide opportunities for outdoor learning, and offer engaging public experiences in the Meewasin Valley.
In-Person Education Programming
Typically, Meewasin offers education programming for a variety of age groups at the Northeast Swale, Saskatoon Natural Grasslands, and Beaver Creek Conservation Area (BCCA).
Please note that due to the pandemic we have had to minimize our current program offerings. We are currently offering the following programs:
BCCA Grade Five Winter Ecology Program:
The Beaver Creek Winter Ecology program includes a full day of learning out in nature! You and your students will learn how plants and animals survive Saskatchewan’s winter climate by exploring winter ecology concepts combined with unique nature experiences while hiking one of the trails at Beaver Creek Conservation Area. Your class will learn about birding, animal tracking, understanding predator prey relationships and the basics of snow science. This program will take place on Thursdays starting January 14th. Cost is $325.00.
BCCA Grade Five Ski Program:
In this full day program, students will have an opportunity to feed the resident Black-capped Chickadees at Beaver Creek and to discuss topics such as: animals that are active in winter and their adaptations, the importance of snow as habitat, and discovering animal tracks on the open prairie. The students are introduced to skiing through a short lesson, followed by a 60 – 90 minute ski on the upland prairie in the afternoon, with stunning views of the South Saskatchewan River Valley. This ski trail is both fun and accessible for all skill levels! This program will take place on Fridays starting January 15th. Cost is $375.00
FOR PROGRAMS AT BEAVER CREEK: The registration link for this program will be provided to teachers via the Saskatoon Public and Catholic School Divisions the week of January 4th. Questions about the programming can be directed to Beaver Creek staff at 306-374-2474.
Cameco Meewasin Skating Rink @ Nutrien Plaza:
Join an interpreter at the Cameco Meewasin Skating Rink @ Nutrien Plaza in downtown Saskatoon for an outdoor skate and a chance to learn more about Meewasin and the importance of the river valley corridor. There is no target age group for this program, it is open to any class that would like to participate. This program will take place on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1:00 – 2:30 pm starting January 20th. Please note that Meewasin is unable to provide access to skate rentals or the chalet this year – classes will need to bring their own skates. Cost is $75.
FOR THE SKATING PROGRAM: The registration link for this program will be provided to teachers via Saskatoon Public and Catholic School Divisions the week of January 11th. Questions about the programming can be directed to the Rink staff at 306-229-8827.
Classes are responsible for booking their own busses, and preference for these programs will be given to classes that did not partake in our Fall 2020 programming.
We are currently gauging interest in and demand for additional programming and we’d like your feedback! If you are a group or educator interested in programming for other age groups and/or at other Meewasin sites, please help us better understand your needs by completing this survey.
Questions? Please contact us at: meewasin@meewasin.com
K-12 Educator Resources
Are you an educator interested in accessing resources to help you get started or give you more ideas in regards to outdoor education?
Meewasin, in partnership with the Public and Catholic School divisions have been hard at work over the summer to develop a series of materials to help educators to achieve curriculum outcomes in an outdoor environment. It is important to Meewasin to have educators taking students into the Meewasin Valley and other natural areas to engage in further learning about conservation and other environmental learning.
These materials will help you prepare for and engage your students in outdoor learning and include resources such as:
- Outdoor Learning – Setting up for Success
- Excursion checklist
- Interpretive program guide
- Grade-specific lessons
- Quick facts and more!
Educators can submit a request to access our K-12 educator resources by completing a short form at this link.
This allows Meewasin to track usage of materials and resources and plan for further development.
You can also visit our Activities to do at Home section for at-home learning resources!
Meewasin will be expanding and digitizing additional resources for educators to use in the future. Keep an eye on our website or subscribe to our newsletter for updates.
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we are now beginning to understand the importance of maintaining dark skies for human health, plant physiology and nocturnal wildlife populations. Many studies have identified the negative effects of light pollution on human health, correlating greater light pollution with disrupting sleep patterns, negatively affecting the regulation of a variety of hormones, and lessening memory retention.
skies for their survival. Nocturnal species, such as the endangered common nighthawk and the big brown bat, rely on natural darkness for foraging and movement patterns. Northern leopard frogs and tiger salamanders, both given a status of Special Concern under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), depend upon dark skies for the their normal behaviours, such as the timing of their vocal calls during their reproductive seasons. Smaller aquatic macro-invertebrates that are a vital source of nutrition in wetland environments, depend on light-dark cycles to govern their feeding behaviors. Even small changes to the illumination of our natural areas can drastically affect their ecological health and the survivability of the species that encompass them.
ecosystem – a complex association of grasses, flowering and non-flowering plants, birds, animals and insects representing 10,000 years of natural history since the glaciers receded. Join Meewasin interpreters on an experiential hike through the past, present and future of conserving natural areas within urban environments. Students will learn about why the grasslands are an important ecosystem, how humans effect the environments around them, and what sustainable practices we can implement in our daily life to aid in conserving these important habitats.
wildflowers, rare short-grass prairie and an abundance of mammals. The site offers many opportunities for your class to discover nature via the hands-on activities in the interpretive centre and the three nature trails. Join the interpreters on an educational hike along the creek and into the many valleys that are sure to inspire your students.
information pertaining to your current curriculum outcomes. Examples include visiting Chappell Marsh for a wetland fieldtrip or Cranberry Flats to learn about the South Saskatchewan River Watershed on the Meewasin Trail.
to help the natural world around us. In this presentation we talk about the current environmental threats facing our natural world (i.e., climate change, habitat loss, invasive species, etc.) and what individuals can do to help create a better balance with nature through sustainable practices. Activities include brainstorming solutions, building a vermicomposter (additional $50), building bird boxes (additional $50), or a visit by a critter.
pollution puts an unwanted spotlight on the need for more adaptive conservation practices. Activities include a visit from a nocturnal creature, identifying nocturnal biofacts, building bat houses (additional $50), and darkness/light activities.
are able to develop or adapt our programs to your educational needs surrounding the topics of: our environment, biodiversity, ecosystems, sustainability and conservation.
