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.
Microbeads – Not a Very Tiny Piece of Jewellery
Microbeads are small synthetic polymer particles that are used in a variety of personal care products, cleaning products, printer toners, and more. Concerns have been raised about the environmental consequences of these microscopic plastic particles, including the physical, chemical, and pollutant effects of them on wildlife. Learn more about microbeads and what you can do to reduce their impact in this blog post!
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.
Municipal election time – a river day runs through it
This blog post was written by executive director Robert Pye. It centers on how World Rivers Day fell in time with the 2022 election season, and highlights how important this particular election was for freshwater protection and stewardship.
My Favourite Fish Lesson Plan
This handout accompanies the My Favourite Fish lesson plan.
My Freshwater Diary Lesson Plan
The document discusses the importance of water in the human body and the challenges of finding clean freshwater. It highlights the need for children to drink 6-8 cups of water a day. The handout encourages you to track their water usage and find ways to use less freshwater!
My Journey to the South: The Fall Migration of a Prothonotary Warbler
The prothonotary warbler has a migratory journey as incredible as it's striking yellow colour. Follow along on its journey in this blog post, told in the form of a story by one of our past interns. The blog post even includes hand-painted works of art by the author herself, and a wide selection of resources to help you learn more about birds and bird migration.
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 Care Guide by Watersheds Canada
This guide provides information on how to maintain and care for your new shoreline plants. It discusses the importance of shoreline vegetation, the benefits of natural shorelines, and how to water, mulch, and prune your plants. The guide also includes a table of plant species and their specific pruning requirements.
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.