Local Trail Resources

for Parents and Teachers

Outdoor experiences are highly-motivating for students, and meaningful first-hand experiences with the living world lead students to understand and remember important concepts.  Outdoor experiences also provide foundational experiences for life long learning.

Pathways to Learning for Teachers

Discovery Routes' is developing the Pathways to Learning program to make it easier for educators to take advantage of the region's valuable natural resources, the recreational trails that exist in every community across northeastern Ontario. 

The new program will provide educators with a self-guided trail resource kit that outlines various activities that meet curriculum expectations at the junior level in a variety of subjects.  The kit includes a detailed outline for teachers, as well as a handouts and an activity booklet for students that may be completed on the trail or in the classroom following a trail visit.  The trail kit is currently under review by a number of local teachers.  Educators interested in trying the kit can contact Jennifer McCourt at Discovery Routes for details.   

Funding to develop the Pathways to Learning program was provided by the Communities in Action Fund.  The support from the Government of Ontario is acknowledged. 

Pathways to Learning for Parents

Discovery Routes is currently developing activity sheets that can be used on our local trails.  The activities will be designed to engage youth while visiting the trails with their family.  

Local Youth Programming

The North Bay - Mattawa Conservation Authority offers educational programming on many of the local trails.

The Sturgeon River House Museum offers snowshoe tours along the Theodore Fouriezos Wetland Trails in Sturgeon Falls.  Programs are booked by contacting the museum.  

The Canadian Ecology Centre in Mattawa offers on-site and outreach environmental programs.