School Trip to an Urban Conservation Area

This was my son’s school trip to plant aquatic plants at Tommy Thomson Park aka Leslie Street Spit.

This park is a man-made peninsula in east Toronto, where trucks bring bricks and concrete and then Toronto Conservation Authority staff and nature take over. It became a real wildlife sanctuary with many species of plant and animals, including turtles, cormorants, seagulls, skunks, racoons and many others.

Kids were participating in a hike where they were looking for traces of animals, and they found many including animal tracks, poo, nests and even a dead duck! Then they had a chance to plant some aquatic plants at the water-edge. These plants filter the water and make it clean again. And it really needs some cleaning - this is Lake Ontario, not the cleanest lake in the world.

Later children played some fun games teaching them about water cycles and then listened to stories about animals living in the city.

All kids, teachers and moms, like me, had a blast and learned something new. I was very impressed with how the important lessons in environmental protection were taught to kids in such an easy and fun way.

Leslie Spit is open to the public on weekends and weekday evenings. Dogs and cars are not allowed as not to disturb wildlife. It is a wonderful place to hike, cycle and rollerblade for all outdoorsy people living in the city of Toronto.

All parents can take their children there for some valuable environmental education.