Youth Group Programs
Education programs for youth groups are available at MUN
Botanical Garden during the open season, May 1 - November 30, 10
a.m. - 4 p.m. daily. Bookings cannot be accepted in the
evenings. Program duration is usually 1.5 - 2
hours. Programs are available to youth groups such as
the Girl Guides of Canada and Scouts Canada.
The purpose of these tours is to promote an awareness of our
natural environment. Children learn about and gain respect
for the balance of nature, they gain a greater understanding of the
importance of biodiversity, while environmental stewardship
practices are encouraged. Participation in these programs can
assist children as they work towards a badge or outcome for their
respective programs. As some of the topics overlap, it is
best to discuss your programming needs with education staff at the
Garden. These programs can be modified to meet the needs of
specific badge requirements. All programs can include a
nature hike, a visit to the flower gardens, and duck feeding at
Oxen Pond.
Some group size restrictions do apply, including a minimum of ten
people per booking. Because space is limited and many
bookings are received each season, we recommend the program be
pre-booked well ahead of time. Last minute bookings often
cannot be accommodated.
The fee for youth group programs is $2.00 per person. A
limited number of youth group leaders and teachers are free of
charge. The conference and cafe are available upon
request for refreshments. All refreshments are provided
by the Garden Cafe. Please call 753 - 0173 for
prices and further information on refreshment choice.
Program Selection:
We encourage youth group
leaders to discuss program content with Education staff when
booking a group. If your group is working on a special
project, please let us know. Popular programs include:
bird-watching, basic forest ecology, endangered species, forestry,
bat buddies and Newfoundland wildflowers.
The Bird-Watching / Friends to Birds Program
introduces children to the world of birds. During a nature
walk, children develop an appreciation of wild birds and their
habitats. They learn the basics of bird identification
including calls and songs, as well as feather structure and
function. In addition, children learn about the importance of
protecting and conserving bird habitat. Migration
patterns, winter safety and biodiversity are also emphasized in
this program.
Conservation of Natural Resources is a program in
which children learn about how we can use our natural resources
without destroying, damaging, or wasting them. Children learn
about the importance of protecting the province’s
biodiversity and conserving plant communities in ecosystems such as
the boreal forest and wetlands.
The Forest Ecology Program includes a hike along
our nature trails to explore the interactions of plants and animals
in their natural environment (the web of life). An emphasis
is placed on the importance of biodiversity as well as ways of
conserving it. Children learn also about the various
stages of succession (how ecosystems may change over time).
This program often overlaps with the Naturalist
Program to encourage children to appreciate nature and to
learn about biodiversity in ecosystems such as the boreal forest,
bog, pond and meadow.
In the Nature Observer Program, children are
encouraged to develop skills in finding, tracking, and observing
animals in nature. The listening game is often used to
develop these skills. The use of camouflage is also discussed
as we look for signs of camouflage along our nature trails.
This program can also be incorporated into the Bat Buddies
Program. In this program, children become bat
detectives as they learn all about bats, look for bat houses, learn
about the Bat Recovery Team and other conservation initiatives, as
well as hike the batty bat trail.
The importance of preserving plant and animal species and their
habitats is better understood by reviewing terms such as
‘rare’, ‘endangered’, and
‘extinct’. In the Endangered Species
Program, children learn about plants and animals of
Newfoundland and Labrador that are listed as rare, endangered, and
/ or extinct. Through discussion, children are encouraged to
list reasons why plants and animals may be at risk, and offer
suggestions for the protection of the province’s
biodiversity.
The Forestry Program provides children an
opportunity to learn about the biodiversity of our forest including
the different forest types as well as the kinds of trees and shrubs
that inhabit them. The program also examines why forests are
important; the impact of human activity on the forest; as well as
the importance of conserving our forest resources for future
use. This program often overlaps with the Forest
Ecology Program.
The purpose of the Wildflower Program is to
observe Newfoundland wildflowers in various habitats including the
forest, wetland (bog), pond edge, and meadow. In doing so,
children learn about the importance of biodiversity in various
ecosystems. Children are introduced to plant identification,
ecology, and conservation measures.
