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School Participation
In accordance with BCAF’s goal to promote the restoration, enhancement and conservation of our ecosystem through research, education, and action; BCAF is pleased to offer the following educational programs to all Lunenburg County schools.
Diana Saunders is BCAF's Education Coordinator. If your school or class is interested in learning more about the education programs offered by BCAF or would like to book a presentation, please contact Diana by email or phone at 902-624-9888.
 Fish Friends
Fish Friends provides elementary school students, grades 4 through 6, with an understanding of freshwater environments, marine environments, and the lives of wildlife, particularly Atlantic salmon, which relies on clean rivers and streams to survive. The program offers children the opportunity to raise Atlantic salmon from fertilized eggs to young fish (fry) and the chance to release them into local rivers. The program also provides a classroom curriculum that teaches children the significance of healthy streams and fish and their important roles in the natural environment. Over the past few years, BCAF has helped to coordinate the Fish Friends program by sponsoring the Bayview Community and Lunenburg Academy elementary schools and providing maintenance, monitoring, and assistance with the fry release into the Mushamush River.
The Fish Friends program is one way that local school children can develop a sense of environmental stewardship.
 Marine Environmental Prediction System (MEPS) School Program
n September 2004, various high school students throughout Lunenburg County were the first to experience the field component of the Marine Environmental Prediction System (MEPS) project. This exclusive and educational MEPS project boat tour offers students a chance to visit three mooring sites/buoys located throughout Lunenburg Bay and to see the Battery Point data collection site. Students also have the opportunity to participate in Niskin bottle and Secchi disk sampling techniques while in the field. In order to increase the educational benefits, introductory and follow-up classroom presentations, provided by the project coordinator, are also available. The Fall 2004 education program owes it success to Walter Flower who was kind enough to provide his Lunenburg Whale Watching Tour boat.
If you would like to participate in the Marine Environmental Prediction System School Program, or would like an educational booklet, contact us by email or phone the BCAF office at (902) 624-9888.
Species at Risk – Sign up for a School Presentation!
BCAF staff are available to deliver presentations on Species-at-Risk to schools in the Lunenburg County area. Through the use of interactive activities, digital photographs, and lively discussions, students will gain an interesting perspective on local species-at-risk.
These interactive presentations provide students with information on local species-at-risk, with particular focus on the endangered Roseate tern and Atlantic whitefish. The Atlantic salmon, in conjunction with the Atlantic Salmon Federation’s Fish Friends Program, is also discussed.
• A brief history of the Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation.
• Outline of the specific projects each project coordinator oversees (i.e., Mahone Bay Roseate Tern Recovery Project and Mushamush River Restoration Project) and his/her personal experiences working with species-at-risk.
• Threats to Atlantic whitefish.
• Potential threats to Atlantic salmon
• The main identification features separating Atlantic salmon from Atlantic whitefish (interactive ‘game’ available).
• Description of field work and what it’s like to work and live at a research field station.
• Information about actions students can take to minimize their “ecological footprint”.
• Volunteer opportunities at BCAF
Species-at-Risk Categories, restoration, spawning, aquatic, redd, habitat, anadromous, predator deterrence,social attractant
BCAF staff members are able to modify the presentation depending on the age of students. For more information or to sign up for a presentation please email Matt or Wendy or phone the BCAF office at 902-624-9888.
Climate Change Presentations
Learn about climate change and how you can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in simple but fun ways.
The presentations are designed for the elementary school level (P-6) and allow for participation and interaction from the students. Education Coordinator, Diana Saunders, introduces and explains climate change, global warming, and the effects of greenhouse gases on the earth and public health. Students are then asked to determine the causes of climate change and how they can personally reduce the effects. Various environmentally friendly materials are used throughout the presentation to encourage student participation.
A game of “true or false” is played to complete the presentation. Each student will receive a tree seedling kit to help with climate change efforts.
Presentations last approximately 30 minutes. For more information or to sign up for a presentation please email Diana or phone the BCAF office at 902-624-9888.
Bayview Outdoor Classroom – “Baywoods”
The Bluenose Coastal Action Foundation (BCAF) and Helping Nature Heal are partnering with a Grade 6 class at Bayview Community School in Mahone Bay, to teach and encourage the concepts of stewardship to local youth through the development of a natural area on school grounds. The project will involve a two-phased approach – a practical hands-on section and an in-class component. The objective of the project is to foster a healthy respect and appreciation for the natural environment in youth by offering them the experience of creating a small nature reserve at their school. This will include the planting of native trees and plants, developing interpretive signage for the area, and introducing the area to the rest of the school and community through guided tours.
BCAF is accepting both monetary and material donations for this project. Please contact our office for more information.
The students were asked to develop a name and logo for the Outdoor Classroom.
Pollution Prevention Education Program
Pollution affects everyone in Nova Scotia by contaminating our water, land, and air. We all contribute to pollution in one way or another, through the choices we make at home, at work, and in all aspects of our lives. By re-thinking our actions and making small changes in the way we do things we can all work to prevent pollution.
Pollution Prevention provides both environmental and economic rewards by reducing waste, increasing efficiency, and cutting energy and water consumption.
BCAF’s Education Coordinator, Diana Saunders, introduces water and energy conservation practices that can be done at home, at work, or at school. Presentations also include a discussion on wastewater using the Lunenburg Waste Water Treatment Plants as an example. Each student will receive an activity book full of pollution prevention ideas. BCAF also has an interactive floor game with water conservation and pollution prevention questions.
For more information please email Diana or phone the BCAF office at 902-624-9888.
Green Office Challenge
The Green Office Challenge is an opportunity for businesses to work with students from local schools to increase their awareness of pollution prevention options, in particular the reduction of waste and energy conservation. It will also provide a chance for students to interact with their community, become more aware of how our everyday activities affect the environment, and most importantly be part of an organization’s efforts to improve.
You may be asking “why businesses?” Consider what is leaving your office/business as garbage, as recyclables, and wastewater from washrooms and kitchens. Also consider wasted energy whether it is from office equipment use or heating and air conditioning. We don’t often think of an office using hazardous materials, but what about cleaning products and paints.
Each business will work with a team of 3 to 4 students from the school. Together they will give their team a name and work to improve environmental performance. This friendly competition is meant to be a fun leaning experience for all involved. We are asking for a change of thinking and a change of habits that will not cost the business any money at all, in fact some of the changes may actually save money. Each student team will meet with their business 3 times over a period of 6 weeks for approximately 30 minutes. A final wrap up party will be held with presentations by student teams.
For more information please email Diana or phone the BCAF office at 902-624-9888.
Last Modified: Fri, Jun 15, 2007
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