In our first Friends of the Pinhey Sand Dunes newsletter, you can:
- register for an online presentation about bumblebee habitat at the dunes, and
- learn about our school tours program
Bumblebee Habitat at the Pinhey Sand Dunes
Biodiversity Conservancy International and Friends of the Pinhey Sand Dunes is excited to host a Carleton University student Zoom presentation on Bumblebee Habitat at the Pinhey Sand Dunes.
Join us on January 6, 2025 at 8pm to learn about this assessment of the Pinhey Sand Dunes. Find out about bumblebees and their habitat requirements, the student survey of bumblebee habitat at the Dunes, and how to improve bumblebee habitat. Email info@biodiversityconservancy.org to register.
Come One, Come All: Field Trips to the Pinhey Sand Dunes
Over the years, hundreds of students have visited the dunes on school or guides/scouts field trips. In this newsletter, science educator Marina Djokic – one of our volunteer tour leaders – describes this program.
By Marina Djokic
From spring to fall, you may stumble upon groups of students touring the dunes, discovering plants and insects new to them, and even sifting sand to be part of the restoration effort here.
For the last few years, we’ve been welcoming class field trips to Pinhey Sand Dunes. From elementary school kids to post-secondary students, they have all visited and taken part in the educational program offered here.
This educational program is completely free to educators – a huge bonus. Bussing costs may be covered by grants received by Biodiversity Conservancy International, the organization responsible for the restoration and upkeep of Pinhey Sand Dunes.
Note: School bus costs can be covered while funding lasts, and is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The funding is also conditional on the school group spending a minimum of 3 hours at the dunes.
Tour format
When classes arrive, they’re greeted by a science educator, a scientist, and a naturalist. And we are so excited to see them and share our knowledge, love, and appreciation of the dunes!
The educational program is tailored to the age group that attends, but generally consists of a presentation on the geology and biodiversity of the dunes, a walking tour, and some hands-on experience sifting sand. We also have a microscope for students to analyze the sand and some insect specimens that have been preserved.
Kids of all ages enjoy the action of sand sifting, and they immediately see the difference they are making when ridding the sand of debris. The impact made by each group is really impressive and reminds me how much we can get done when we work together.
Elementary school tours
Elementary school students really enjoy exploring the dunes and looking for bugs and mushrooms. A couple of students ran up to me recently excited to show me the puffball mushroom they discovered. Their excitement was contagious, and those are the moments I personally love best.
Creative teachers also supplement their students’ experiences here by bringing scavenger hunt sheets and art challenges. Another elementary school student wowed me with her sketch of a Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) caterpillar on a Hop tree (Ptelea trifoliata). These Hop trees, among other native plants, have recently been added to the dunes creating the Sanctuary for Butterflies and Pollinators – a highlight of our tours.
High school and post-secondary tours
Older students are often brought by geography or biology teachers. With our geography classes we focus on how these dunes were formed during the last glacial period. With biology classes, we focus on the importance of pollinators and the need for clean sand for burrowing insects, like tiger beetles, whose habitat was being destroyed before this restoration project began.
Post-secondary students have also been here because it is a fascinating place to do hands-on research. A few years ago, a group delved into researching the sand wasps present here.
More information
Being at the dunes for a field trip allows students and educators the chance to learn about a unique ecosystem in our nation’s capital, spend the day in a beautiful natural setting, and make a difference in restoring this environment.
If you are an educator, or know of one that would be interested in booking a field trip, contact Marina Djokic at djokicm@biodiversityconservancy.org. We will get back to you with all the details and dates available. We are eager to welcome classes, as well as community groups and organizations, to Pinhey Sand Dunes.