Environmental Education

The City of Brampton offers FREE interactive and exciting classroom workshops about pollination, invasive species, tree health and stormwater management to schools across Brampton (K-8). Students can learn about bugs, plants and animals that live in our parks and understand the importance of maintaining a healthy environment and neighbourhood. Workshops focus on experiential and inquiry-based learning.

Topics include:

The needs and characteristics of pollinators, plants and animals
Parts of a plant
Emerald ash borer and its effect on Brampton’s biodiversity
Stormwater management

Hands On Learning

A wide variety of real-life bugs, plants, skulls and nests are provided.
All items are local and were found in a Brampton park
All lessons are directly linked to the Ontario Elementary science curriculum.
Workshops are facilitated and designed by an OCT qualified teacher
The duration of each workshop is approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour

The Parks Department is pleased to offer its Parks Education Program for the 2023/2024 school year. We will be offering interactive environmental workshops with a strong focus on experiential and inquiry bainquiry-based Each grade will benefit from engaging activities, experiments and hands-on examples.

New Program for 2023:

The City of Brampton is offering virtual stormwater pond tours to local schools in May 2023. Students will learn about pond safety, the benefits of stormwater ponds, and how the City of Brampton maintains these ponds.

Here is an outline of the Parks Education presentations that are offered this school year: ��

Kindergarten

Through hands-on activities and props, students will explore the various plants, nests, bugs and animals that can be found in Brampton’s parks. Option for an indoor session or a guided nature walk/activities outdoors.

Grade 1 – I Like Trees!

Through this workshop, students will explore the needs and characteristics of living things in Brampton parks. Students have the opportunity to touch animal skulls, tree cookies, insects, seeds and fruit. Students will understand the growth and adaptations of living things through a variety of fun games and activities.

Grade 2 – What’s In Our Parks?

Everything depends on us! Through this workshop, students will learn about the circle of life in Brampton’s parks. Physical examples of plant species, insects and a wasp’s nest will be brought in for student investigation. Students will understand the lifecycle and importance of pollinators in our environment. The positive and negative impacts of human activity is addressed and students will take on a variety of challenges that have an effect on our environment.

Grade 3 – Parts of a Plant

Through this workshop, students will explore the major parts of a plant and how they are important to humans and other living things. Physical examples of plant species, insects and a wasp’s nest will be brought in for student investigation and inquiry. The lifecycle and importance of pollinators in our environment is addressed through categorizing the types of food pollinators grow.

Grades 4 to 7 – Invasive Species and Biodiversity

Students will identify local invasive species in Brampton and Ontario and assess their impact on Brampton’s biodiversity. Students can touch and explore various emerald ash borer samples and insects. Exciting, interactive habitat and invasive species games will be played for thorough understanding.

Grade 8 – Storm Water Management

Where does storm water go? Through this workshop, students will explore runoff in Brampton’s urban landscape. After assessing different types of storm water management, students investigate Brampton’s storm water management ponds through a visual, interactive model. Students will then take on a variety of challenges that compare traditional storm water management techniques with more innovative approaches and gain a better understanding of the positive and negative effects of water pollution and treatment. Students learn the City of Brampton’s role in maintaining storm water management ponds by participating in role play activities and a neighbourhood case study.

National Tree Day Planting Event

The National Tree Day Planting Event occurs during the third Wednesday in September. This is an event for Brampton elementary schools geared towards students in Grades 4 and 5. Event activities and lessons include tree planting, information about pollinators, instructions on tree monitoring, and the benefits of trees. The event can accommodate up to 100 students.

Cost: Free of charge (includes free bussing)
Time: 3-4 hours
Location: Various Brampton parks

For more information about the event, email BramptonGreenCity@brampton.ca.