Welcome to the Watersheds Canada Resource Library!
Here you will find a comprehensive collection of free educational resources dedicated to helping rural shoreline property owners, families, municipalities, lake groups, and educators protect their lakes and restore natural habitat. Explore guides, best practices, case studies, lesson plans, and tools to become a freshwater protector. All resources are freely shareable so please include them in a newsletter, on social media, or printed for a community booth!
Funding support thanks to Peterborough K.M. Hunter Charitable Foundation, and S.M. Blair Family Foundation.
How Are People Impacting Nature
Shorelines are becoming more developed, changing the way they look and the species that can live there. This has led to various threats to wildlife and water health, including plastic pollution and habitat removal. To help, replanting shorelines with native plants can create a buffer that filters out pollutants and prevents erosion. This can be achieved with the help of organizations like Watersheds Canada.
How Can I Help – Nature Discovery Backpack
Take photos and observations of animals and plants in nature and submit them to online databases. Participate in a shoreline cleanup and report what you found. Volunteer with a local nature group or field naturalist group. Plant native plants or wildflowers to help local wildlife.
How are you helping freshwater this year? An Earth Day celebration event
Learn about exciting new projects being delivered this summer to help community groups, property owners, students, and organizations take action for their lakes, rivers, and shorelines.
Journey of a Seed lesson plan
This lesson plan, adapted from Project WILD, helps students understand how seeds are carried by wildlife and people, and the importance of seed dispersal in native plant growth. Students participate in an activity where they wear a sock and walk through a grassy area to collect items, including seeds, and then tally and draw what they find. The activity aims to illustrate the relationship between plants, people, and wildlife in ensuring healthy ecosystems and future plant growth. The extension activity involves creating a bar or scatterplot graph to compare results.
Monarch butterfly and Milkweed colouring page
This colouring page showcases a Monarch Butterfly and Common Milkweed plant. It is a native wildflower species in Canada. The page is made by artist Debra Lynn Ireland. It is a part of a larger project or program, likely related to environmental conservation.
Native Fish (Needs and Characteristics of Living Things) Activity Book (grade 1)
This activity book is designed for children to learn about different types of fish and their habitats. It includes colouring pages, word searches, and other interactive activities. The book is created by artist Debra Lynn Ireland and is a product of Watersheds Canada. The book aims to educate children about the importance of lakes, rivers, and shorelines and how to protect them. It also highlights the different types of fish and their needs to survive.
Native Plant Poetry Lesson Plan
Native plant species and their importance in the Ottawa area are explored through creative and educational approaches. The intersection of science and art is highlighted through the use of poetic devices and the development of limerick poems about native plants and wildflowers. Students and users are encouraged to engage with nature through writing and illustration, fostering a greater appreciation for the value of native plant species.
Native Plants Activity Booklet (grade 3-4)
This activity book introduces children to native plants in Ottawa, teaching them about the parts of a plant, what plants need to live, and the importance of pollinators. It includes coloring pages, a crossword puzzle, and educational activities to engage young learners. The book is created by artist Debra Lynn Ireland and is a product of Watersheds Canada, a registered Canadian charity. The organization aims to provide programs across the country to enhance and protect the health of lakes, rivers, and shorelines. The book is a fun and interactive way for children to learn about the natural world and the importance of conservation.
Native wildflower identification cards
Draw your favourite native wildflower in this fun handout.