FortWhyte Alive helps bring environmental science to life by allowing students to learn directly from scientists and experts through interactive, hands-on experiences.
Agri-Ecosystems Day this spring welcomed over 50 students and their educators from 6 different rural and urban schools. Agri-Ecosystems Day is themed around sustainable agriculture – with sessions about soil, water on the land, weather and climate, grazing animals, and more.
During the day students had a chance to test soil chemistry and detect pH, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium levels, using samples from different locations.
Students got the chance to learn about the important role macronutrients play in helping plants grow strong and healthy. Through hands-on soil testing activities, they explored what plants need to thrive while having plenty of fun along the way.
Student Quote: “I learned about macronutrients, testing the soil was fun and my favourite part!”
The learning didn’t stop there. Students rolled up their sleeves and got their hands dirty as they explored different soil types, comparing textures and colours to better understand what makes each soil unique.
Student Quote: “I liked playing with the soil and learning what type of texture it was. It was fun to get my hands dirty in the mud!”
At the “Amazing Rain and Snow Show” station, students discovered what happens when rain and melting snow move across the land. Through interactive activities, they learned how soil can be carried from fields into nearby waterways and explored some of the ways farmers help reduce erosion and protect water quality.
Student Quote: “It was cool to learn about how water and different soil types react/work with each-other!”
A visit to FortWhyte’s bison herd gave students a chance to learn from a livestock expert about how cattle are raised in Manitoba and why grasslands are such important ecosystems. Seeing the bison up close helped bring the lesson to life and sparked students’ curiosity about grazing animals and their role in the environment
Student Quote “The station about grazing animals made me curious to learn more about bison, and their life cycles and systems they are a part of.”
The day also provided students with an opportunity to explore a weather monitoring station and learn how weather impacts agriculture. By testing equipment used to measure wind speed and rainfall, they discovered how weather data helps producers make important decisions throughout the growing season.
Student Quote: “I thought the weather equipment was cool, learning about all the stations across Manitoba. The Surveying station was also fun, playing a small game to simulate how people managed their land over time.”
For educators, the day highlighted the value of experiential learning and the impact it can have on student engagement and understanding.
Teacher Quote: “Hands-on activities made the learning fun for my students. They were able to connect what they learned in science class to agriculture.”
Thank you to the facilitators from Manitoba Agriculture, Redboine Watershed District and Nutrients for Life for sharing their passion and expertise with students, inspiring the next generation of agriculture experts.
Specialty Science Days are student events where scientists and experts in environmental science share their knowledge with students.
Each Speciality Science Day has a different focus, so students have the opportunity to learn about different careers and environmental issues.
Thanks to our generous sponsors Cargill, as well as NSERC-Promoscience and Honda Canada Foundation, for supporting this year’s Agri-Ecosystems Day.