Foley Mountain Conservation Area is located high atop a granite ridge overlooking the Upper Rideau Lake and picturesque village of Westport, 30 km south of Perth. It is owned and operated by the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority. The Conservation Area consists of 800 acres of mixed forests, ponds, and fields. The Silversides Outdoor Learning Centre, off-grid solar washroom building, hiking trails, group camping area, scenic Spy Rock lookout, and picnic areas set the stage for a high-quality outdoor education experience. The outdoor environmental education program at Foley Mountain provides students with interactive, experiential, curriculum-based experiences that will help them understand and connect with the natural world. Come to Foley Mountain for an outdoor adventure – explore a beaver pond, learn how to build shelters and cook over a fire, discover how animals survive in their natural habitat, play with GPS units, or create a piece of nature art. You can learn more about our programs or book a program by contacting Leah at leah.roberts@rvca.ca or 613-273-3255. You can also view our online booking calendar and start our online booking process by going to the following page: https://sites.google.com/site/foleymountain/
WE ARE NOW BOOKING FOR FALL 2019 and WINTER and SPRING 2020!
Below is a list of some of our most popular education programs. Please see our website for a full list of our offerings.
Snowshoeing (Grades 3–12): Come and experience one of the oldest forms of transportation in Canada! Students will learn how to safely travel with snowshoes and, once comfortable, follow the snowshoe trail through the forest and maybe even try snowshoe games.
Winter Wonderland (Grades 1–6): Bundle up and prepare for a wild winter adventure! Explore the winter forest at Foley and learn about how plants and animals have adapted to survive these cold Canadian months.
GPS & Geocaching (Grades 1 to 12): Weave together technology, the outdoors, and physical activity! Get an introduction to GPS technology and how it can be used along with map and compass in navigation. Students will complete a mini geocaching treasure hunt.
Beaver Pond Bonanza (Grade K to 4): Beavers aren’t the only critters in our pond! Using nets, basins, and fact sheets, students will get up close and personal with the animals that call the pond home. Hear stories of how these curious critters have adapted to life underwater and how they fit into the food chain.
Instincts for Survival (Grades 4–12): How do animals survive in their habitats? What are the skills of a predator? What is the human impact on animal life? Do you have the instincts for survival? This active wide game will help students understand some of the realities of the animal world and have a bunch of fun at the same time!
Outdoor Survival Skills (Grades 4–12): What would you do if you were lost in the woods!? What items would you need to survive? Working in groups, students will have the chance to explore the concepts of shelter building, fire building, and outdoor cooking.
