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SHSM Certifications at the Ganaraska Forest Centre

Information Guide 10585 Cold Springs Camp Road

Campbellcroft, ON L0A 3V8 905-885-8173

education@grca.on.ca www.ganaraskaforestcentre.ca

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Specialist High Skills Major Certifications

The Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority (GRCA) is pleased to offer a series of certifications for students completing a Specialist High Skills Major program. Hosted at the innovative Ganaraska Forest Centre, our certifications provide hands-on experiential learning that is authentic to each economic sector. Although we intend to maximize opportunities to learn in our outdoor classrooms, our program is also flexible in nature, and we can move indoors in the event of inclement weather or learner preferences. SHSM Program Leads can choose from a series of Certification Programs in the following economic sectors:

Agriculture

Arts and Culture

Aviation and Aerospace

Business

Construction

Energy

Environment

Food Processing

Forestry

Health and Wellness

Horticulture and Landscaping

Hospitality and Tourism

Information and Communications Technology (ICT)

Justice, Community Safety and Emergency Services (JCSES)

Manufacturing

Mining

Non-Profit

Sports

Transportation

Pricing Day Use Cost: $65.00 + HST per student for a full-day certification or two, half-day certifications - minimum of 15 students required. Catered lunch is available for an additional cost. Residential Visit (2 days, 1 night) cost: Students can earn up to four certifications. Recreational programs also available. $150.00 + HST per student includes three meals, overnight accommodation and certifications - minimum of 25 students required. Residential Visit (3 days, 2 nights) cost: Students can earn up to seven certifications. Recreational programs also available. $225.00 + HST per student includes six meals, overnight accommodation and certifications - minimum of 25 students required. Information and Booking: Please contact the Ganaraska Forest Centre Outdoor Education Staff for further information about our current programs and future opportunities: 905.885.8173 or education@grca.on.ca.

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SHSM Certifications by Sector

ICT: Information and Communication Technology JCSES: Justice, Community Safety, and Emergency Services * Please contact for other certifications not listed *

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Advanced Training in Art Therapy (Forest Therapy) X X

Advanced Training in a Technique (Georeferencing) X

Advanced Training in a Technique (Knot Tying) X X

Advanced Training in a Technique (X-Country Skiing) X X X X

Advanced Training in a Technique (Snowshoeing) X X X X

Advanced Training in a Technique (Hiking) X X X X

Advanced Training in a Technology (GPS Art) X

Conflict Resolution X X X X

Customer Service X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Game Design X

GPS (GFC) X X X X X X X X X X

GPS (Green Check) X X X X X X X X X X

Group Dynamics X X X X

I.C.E.: Innovation, Creativity and Entrepreneurship X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Introduction to Stream Assessment Protocol X

Leadership Skills X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X

Map and Compass X X X X X X X X X X

Species Identification (Benthics) X

Species Identification (Trees) X

Stress Management Techniques (Forest Therapy) X

Watershed Management X X

Introduction to Wilderness First Aid (GFC) X X X X X X X

Wilderness Survival Skills X X X X

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Certification Descriptions When choosing certifications, keep in mind how much time is required for each certification (refer to information below) and how much time you will be on site at the Ganaraska Forest Centre. Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss any of the certifications outlined below. If you are looking for a certification that is not listed here, please contact us to inquire about the opportunity to develop the certification prior to your visit. 1/2 Day = up to 3 hours required Full Day = up to 6 hours required 2x Full Day = up to 12 hours required Advanced Training in Art Therapy - Forest Therapy (1/2 Day) Forest therapy is an emerging practice in preventative health care that utilizes intentional experiences in a living forest to generate health benefits. The practice also supports clearer intuition, increased energy, and an increased capacity to communicate with the land and its species. On a short guided hike through the Ganaraska Forest, students will complete a number of place-based reflective exercises that will allow them to connect to the landscape on a deeper level. The students will be challenged to use this understanding to create an artefact that encapsulates their experiences in the forest. Advanced Training in a Technique - Georeferencing (1/2 Day) All the GPS fun without the nitty-gritty work with topographical maps! Students are briefly introduced to coordinate systems before venturing outside with a GPS. After learning how to safely and correctly use their GPS unit, students complete a number of GPS challenges that reinforce the best navigational practices. This program emphasizes the applications of spatial data collected via GPS in the pertinent economic sector. Advanced Training in a Technique - Knot Tying (1/2 Day) This program provides a break from the age-old adage that “if you can’t tie knots, tie lots!” Knot tying is an incredibly useful skill for many outdoor pursuits, but it is easy for novices to become overwhelmed by the sheer number of different knots that can be tied. We have pared down the list of knots to those that are most useful in present-day applications, and after an introduction to basic knot tying terminology, students will learn to tie our knots by way of engaging games. We ensure that students have a solid foundation in the practice so that they may confidently and competently further their own learning upon completion of the program. Advanced Training in a Technique - X-Country Skiing (1/2 or Full) Students learn the fundamental skills required to safely cross-country ski in the backcountry. Once the fundamental movement skills have been acquired on our training course, the students will hone their skills on a short guided tour of the Ganaraska Forest along our extensive trail system. In the full day option of this program, the students will ski a longer trail through the forest that is matched to their abilities and comfort levels.

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Advanced Training in a Technique - Snowshoeing (1/2 Day or Full) Students learn the fundamental skills required to safely snowshoe in the backcountry. Once the fundamental movement skills have been acquired in our training grounds, the students will complete a guided tour of the Ganaraska Forest along our extensive trail system. Stops along the trail provide the opportunity for increasing one’s awareness of their surroundings, and for completing mini-games that bring the essential learning to life! This program can be combined with another certification to create a full-day certification program at a destination deeper in the forest. Advanced Training in a Technique – Safe Hiking (1/2 or Full) Safe Hiking is an integral course for anyone wanting to spend time hiking in the outdoors as well as working in the guiding industry. The overall goals of the program are to provide the novice hiker with the knowledge necessary to keep themselves safe while hiking and to provide hikers with the knowledge to make this a sustainable activity (environmentally and socially). Students will complete an indoor component on equipment, mapping skills and safe hiking procedures then spend time out in the forest learning the art of safe hiking and putting into practice their indoor lessons. An advanced course is also offered as a full day program. Advanced Training in a Technology - GPS Art (1/2 Day) Spatial awareness and line drawing are taken to a new level by way of GPS technology. After a brief introduction to the functioning of the GPS unit, students will complete a series of activities that will deepen their awareness of the space available to them on the landscape and the opportunities afforded by changes in the landscape. Students will then plan and complete the drawing of a line figure using the digital recording of their travels that appears on the GPS screen. These digital records (tracks) will be uploaded to a satellite image in order to produce a novel artefact. Conflict Resolution (1/2 Day) We can only resolve conflict by creating conflict! In this program, we explore the nature of conflict by completing a series of challenging games and discussion strategies. Students learn to identify different sources of conflict and to respond with effective resolution strategies. The students will demonstrate their learning by completing a goal-directed but resource-limited cooperative challenge. Upon completion of this program, students will be equipped with a resolution strategy toolkit so that they are active partners in the thoughtful resolution of conflicts. Customer Service (1/2 Day) Students learn the fundamental components in delivering effective customer service from the initial greeting to the concluding of interactions. The customer service principles will be enlivened through the completion of an interactive speed dating exercise. Students will then demonstrate their learning by assuming the role of a front line staff member at the Ganaraska Forest Centre, whereupon they will be confronted by actors bringing to life customer services scenarios that are authentic to their SHSM sector. Game Design (1/2 Day) The overall objective of the Game Design program is to teach students how to engage a specific audience based on their socio-economic attributes and interests through group games. Students will first be lead thru a brainstorming session on accurately determining what your client’s interests and attributes are. Then we explore the formal game design template to determine what factors we must look at to help determine what location,

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timeframe, materials, etc. they have at their disposal to create this game. Then we play a large interactive group game. Following the game, we debrief how to assess the successfulness of the program and go through client evaluation design to gather formal assessment information. GPS - GFC (1/2 Day) This action-packed program ensures that students can confidently pull coordinates from a topographic map in order to find locations in the real world with their GPS unit. After mastering the UTM coordinate system indoors, students will head outside to explore the GPS unit and complete a number of geocache challenge courses. This program emphasizes the value of utilizing multiple navigational tools (map, compass, GPS, natural signs, etc) and the need to consider each tool’s limitations by actively engaging the most important tool: their minds! GPS - Green Check Certification (2x Full) A more advanced and comprehensive 2-day program that provides students with industry-recognized certification with the Green Check National GPS Certification Program. The Green Check Certification clarifies the connections between the map, compass, and GPS unit, and ensures that the students can utilize their GPS unit with a standard 1:50,000 topographic map. Ask about our Geographic Information Systems (GIS) capabilities. Additional fee of $25/student for registration with the third-party provider and a take-home field guide to be provided for all students. Group Dynamics (1/2 or Full) Students develop their character and leadership through introduction to the GFC’s four concepts of teamwork: communication, support, inclusion and planning. These teamwork concepts are tested in a series of fun team challenges and group problem-solving tasks. Engaging debrief sessions allow each student to make connections within their own life and to gain a critical appreciation for the power of collaboration. This program can be extended into an advanced full-day certification in which students are more rigorously tested on our certified Low Ropes course. I.C.E. Innovation, Creativity, and Entrepreneurship (Full Day) Need a sector partner for your innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship training? Put your students to work for us! Let the ICE-trained and Ontario-certified teachers of the GFC host this exciting training for your students. We can co-develop an authentic challenge statement for your sector. Then leave the rest to us! Through a series of engaging activities, we will facilitate the movement of students through the three gears of ICE: empathy and need finding, ideation and prototyping, and strategy and testing. We look forward to a fresh perspective on the challenges facing the GRCA! Introduction to Stream Assessment Protocol (Full Day) In this engaging program, the complexity of the Ontario Stream Assessment Protocol is summarized to highlight those measurements that are most integral to the efficient management of a watershed by conservation authorities. Students spend the morning at our ponds in order to collect benthic macroinvertebrates and appreciate what their relative populations can reveal about the health of their aquatic habitat. In the afternoon, students travel to our headwater stream for an introduction to abiotic stream measurements and the use of rating curves for flood forecasting. Students demonstrate their learning by completing a gallery walk of stations along the stream in the Ganaraska Forest.

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Leadership Skills (1/2 or Full) Why teach about leadership when you can experience leadership! Students develop their character and leadership by completing a series of fun team challenges and group program-solving tasks. These experiences explore the nature of leadership and create opportunities for the students to seize the moment and test drive their new skills. This program can be extended into an advanced full-day certification in which students are more rigorously tested on our certified Low Ropes course. Map and Compass (1/2 Day) This active program challenges each student’s compass and map-reading skills on two adventure courses. Students hone their orienteering skills on a field course with visible landmarks, and if successful, are then challenged to navigate our extensive forest trail system. Students gain an appreciation for the importance of maps and compasses in the workplace and in their daily lives. Species Identification (1/2 Day) Benthics: Students visit our beaver ponds to collect benthic macroinvertebrates (bottom-dwelling creatures) and utilize key anatomical features to assist in identifying the species of benthic. This program emphasizes the importance of each species to the pond ecosystem. Students will then complete a benthic station gallery walk to demonstrate their species ID skills. Species Identification (1/2 Day) Trees: Students gain an understanding of and appreciation for a wide variety of local tree species, and learn how to use a dichotomous key to assist in identifying coniferous and deciduous tree species. This program emphasizes the myriad of ecosystem services offered by forest biodiversity. Students will then complete a tree identification hike to demonstrate their species ID skills. Stress Management Techniques – Forest Therapy (1/2 Day) Forest therapy is an emerging practice in preventative health care that utilizes intentional experiences in a living forest to generate health benefits. Along with physiological changes in blood pressure, immune functioning and improved sleep, the health benefits of forest therapy include reduced stress levels, improved mood, increased energy, as well as an increased ability to focus. On a short guided hike through the Ganaraska Forest, students will take part in a number of place-based reflective exercises. These first-hand experiences will enable the students to appreciate the benefits of forest therapy practice and provide them with stress reduction techniques that they can utilize in their own lives. Watershed Management (1/2 Day) Students learn about the anatomy of a watershed as well as the fundamental considerations and processes for the management of a watershed. In small groups, each student embodies the role of a particular stakeholder in watershed management, and they are challenged to come to a consensus solution for a watershed management challenge. The students will then design their own watershed model on our manipulative water table and investigate different engineering systems to regulate flooding and maintain water quality.

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Introduction to Wilderness First Aid - GFC (1/2 Day or Full) In this extension of the student’s Standard First Aid certification, students are introduced to the unique considerations of administering First Aid in a wilderness setting. Students are challenged to utilise a number of readily available natural materials to deliver aid in authentic wilderness scenarios. Please note that this program is most engaging if students have the foundational knowledge acquired through prior Standard First Aid certification. Although the fundamental considerations of wilderness first aid will be taught, this awareness course is not a substitute for advanced certification by recognized providers of Wilderness First Aid. Wilderness Survival Skills (1/2 Day) Following a brief introduction to fundamental survival attitudes and skills, students will complete a number of self-guided stations in order to build up their survival skill toolkit. The students are then immersed in a wilderness survival situation from which they must escape . . . Amazing Race style! To survive the scenario, the students must demonstrate their ability to plan and pack for a trip, to safeguard their essential survival needs, to design and construct a wilderness shelter, and to safely ignite a wilderness fire to cook a wilderness delicacy. Across all components, students develop the attitudes and mindset of a survivor! Other Opportunities at the GFC:

Other GFC Programs of interest to SHSMs: Low Ropes and Oak Ridges Moraine

Consider coordinating certifications with another school to ensure you meet minimum numbers

Treetop Trekking has a high ropes climbing course on site. A climb can be scheduled for your visit. An additional student fee will be paid to Treetop Trekking. Contact for rates.

Overnight evening programs at the GFC: Campfire, Night Hike, Survival Game, and Jeopardy

Please inquire about our recreational program guide if you would like to supplement our certifications with classic outdoor education programs.

Information and Booking: Please contact the Ganaraska Forest Centre Outdoor Education Staff for further information about our current programs and future opportunities: 905-885-8173 or education@grca.on.ca.