Up and Down the Hills in Ranchlands

One of the best parts about getting outside and doing citizen science is forming a connection to place. Over the past few weeks we've had the chance to deliver our YYC's Young Citizen Scientists program to the Grade 3s and 4s at St Rita School in Ranchlands. The knobby hills and slopes in Ranchlands Park behind the school are a great place for sledding, walking and yes, bird watching! Unlike many communities in Calgary, the natural hills and valleys have been left intact: you'll even find native grassland here (somewhere under all that snow!).

We like to imagine what this place would have looked like three hundred years ago. We acknowledge that the land where we learn and play today is the traditional territory of the Blackfoot, Stoney Nakoda, and Tsuut'ina First Nations. It's also the home of the Métis Nation Region 3. Can you imagine millions of bison roaring across this place? What other animals might we have seen? How can we learn to care for this place in the way it has been cared for for thousands of years?

Outdoor Education in Alberta does not have to wait for the warmer months. The students dressed for the weather and we enjoyed learning and playing outdoors even in November and December. Here are some highlights of our time at St Rita:

Learning about native bird species and how they're connected to everything else. Even us!

Biodiversity is a big word! We can break it down, learn what it means and learn to protect it.

It wouldn't be YYC's Young Citizen Scientists without the skit. Will young Vanessa be convinced to leave her Pokémon behind and go outside to count birds??

When we're outside we love to run and play. Nature Games get us moving.

With binoculars at the ready, we head out to count the birds we see in the community. Students were proud to point out where they lived and what birds they've already noticed. Who will we see today?

Black-billed Magpie

Black-capped Chickadee

We were also delighted by Gray Partridges, Common Ravens, House Finches, House Sparrows and large flocks of Canada Geese flying overhead.

Back inside to learn to submit our checklist to eBird. Now we're all citizen scientists!

Finally, we always like to finish off the day with a sharing circle. What did we learn? How can we keep working to help birds and other species? How do we feel when we're outside, quietly listening for birds?