Program Levels:
Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grades 9-12
Course Types:
Afternoon, Morning, Outreach
Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s (TRCA) school planting program is a free, hands-on educational experience offered in Region of Peel as a field trip or school ground planting (subject to availability).
The goal of the program is to increase students’ awareness of the benefits of planting native species, including increased biodiversity, flood prevention, and climate change mitigation.
If you have any questions about the program or are interested in booking a school planting, please contact peel.education@trca.ca.
PROGRAM OPTIONS
1. Field Trip
- Students assist planting trees, shrubs, and/or wildflowers at a local restoration site.
- Once a date is confirmed, TRCA staff will match each school to the closest available restoration site within the Region of Peel. (Site information will be provided closer to the planting date.)
- The planting will take approximately 1.5 to three hours.
- It is the teacher’s responsibility to arrange and cover costs associated with transportation to the planting site.
- Students must bring a full water bottle, hat and sunscreen, and wear clothing that can get dirty. Students will receive a planting demonstration; all tools and equipment will be provided.
2. School Ground Planting
- TRCA will coordinate a small planting project on your school property.
- The planting will take approximately one to 2.5 hours.
- It is the teacher’s responsibility to seek approval from the school administration and complete requests for underground locates. TRCA is responsible for choosing and acquiring plant stock.
- School ground plantings are only available to schools located within TRCA’s jurisdiction.
- Students must bring a full water bottle, hat and sunscreen, and wear clothing that can get dirty. Students will receive a planting demonstration; all tools and equipment will be provided.
NOTE: The school planting program is suitable for students in grades 3 to 12.
- The program accommodates a maximum of 60 students per day, and requires a minimum of 10.
- To ensure equity and equal access to programs, we are only able to accommodate one booking per school at this time.
Curriculum Connections:
- Science and Technology: Life Systems; Earth and Space Systems