The pandemic made it almost impossible for schools to take field trips during the past two years, but the situation appears to be improving with the return of an outdoor wildlife program.
The Moose Jaw branch of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation (SWF) launched its Classrooms on Ice program in early March and will host schools at Buffalo Pound Lake throughout the month.
This is the first time since 2020 that the federation has held the program, considering COVID-19 was declared a worldwide pandemic in March of that year.
One of the first groups to participate this year was Kyle Lichtenwald’s Grade 5 class at Sacred Heart Community School. Lichtenwald told the Moose Jaw Express that it was a privilege to gather on March 2 with his students, classroom EA and federation volunteers to learn more about the natural environment.
“We were so excited for this outdoor learning after not having field trips for a couple years. The experience was rich and important,” he said.
SWF volunteers helped the students better understand fish physiology, their habitats, and the lake’s water quality, he continued. Moreover, students heard more about the area’s history, investigated the ecosystem themselves, discussed the current and future importance of water, and learned about fishing laws, protocols, equipment and strategies.
Students were also able to ice fish.
“We practised preparing for being outside, learned strategies for staying warm, and discussed fire, water and ice safety,” Lichtenwald said. “Beyond all this learning, there was something else to this experience. The children had a glow. I could see it in their eyes. They connected deeply with the land and with each other.
“With everything going on in the world, I’m so thankful to do this again.”
Courtenay Smith, chairwoman of Sacred Heart’s school community council, also expressed enthusiasm for the program after her daughter participated in the initiative.
“She had such a great time ice fishing and learning about the fish and their habitat,” she said. “Thanks to the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, students were given not only a new learning experience but also an opportunity for classmates to bond in the great outdoors.
“It was a day that won’t soon be forgotten by my daughter.”
Todd Smith, a member of the SWF and teacher at École Ducharme, explained that while learning about nature in the classroom is great, students make a deeper connection by going outside and becoming hands-on. They also learn to care about the environment and conserve the resource.
“When I do get my students out there, it’s a whole new world for a lot of them. I get many students who have never ice-fished before,” he said. “They maybe have never considered the possibility of getting out onto the lake in the winter or have any idea about what happens to the lake and the animals during the winter seasons … .
“It really lets them figure out that what we see in class has real-world applications.”
The SWF offers the Classrooms on Ice programs in March, so if teachers want their students to participate, they should contact the organization in December to book their spot.
