Programs that provide information and guidance for people who want to protect the soil, water, air, plant and animal resources in their own backyards or in outdoor settings at school or work. Included may be tips for improving soil using composting, mulching and other techniques; managing nutrients and pests; implementing water conservation practices; restoring native vegetation; selecting a site for and planting trees for shade and wildlife habitat; establishing backyard ponds or wetlands systems; developing basking sites; and providing feeders, bird baths, nesting boxes, roosting boxes and other accoutrements that attract birds, butterflies, frogs, insect-eating bats and other small mammals to a backyard setting.

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Programs that house a collection of living creatures for the purposes of conservation, research, education and public viewing.

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Programs that offer open-air learning experiences, particularly for schoolchildren, that promote appreciation for and understanding of local ecosystems and our fundamental connections to the world around us. Activities may include identification of plants, insects and animals and exploration of their habitats, learning about weather and its relationship to environmental processes, geological history and demonstrations of the importance of biodiversity and sustainability. Students may investigate the life cycles of animals in a pond; observe the growth and reproduction of common plant species; examine the form and function of leaves, stems, roots and flowers and how these features help to classify plants; consider the interrelationship between predator and prey; learn how different animals grow and change with the seasons; learn and practice compass navigation and other outdoor skills; and/or make other discoveries which foster engaged and responsible environmental citizenship. Outdoor education programs may be provided through schools, conservation authorities or other organizations and depending on the program and the materials they incorporate, parents and/or caregivers may have a role to play in the process.

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