Parks Canada
parkscanada.gc.ca
Common menu bar links
News Releases and Backgrounders
Backgrounder
Canada’s Coolest School Trip contest and the My Parks Pass program
My Parks Pass provides real and/or virtual opportunities for ongoing youth engagement, learning and connection with Canada’s natural and cultural heritage. Parks Canada is proud to collaborate with dedicated partners in this initiative; together, we work to ensure that all Canadian students have an opportunity to learn about the stories and places represented by national parks, national marine conservation areas and national historic sites.
A few words from our national partners:
“The students who won Canada’s Coolest School Trip this year clearly demonstrated a fine appreciation of Canadian geography. As a result they have earned an incomparable opportunity to explore a special place in our vast and diverse land. This partnership with Parks Canada has enabled the Royal Canadian Geographical Society to fulfill its mission to truly make Canada better known to young Canadians. We look forward to extending this opportunity to many other students in years to come. ”
John Geiger, president of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society
“Nature Canada is pleased to be a member of the My Parks Pass program. This program has effectively engaged over 10,000 8th graders annually online and on site in Parks Canada’s places. Many lucky winning families and classes have experienced spectacular Canadian landscapes and learned about the rich natural heritage that surrounds us. Nature Canada is committed to pushing the boundaries beyond the typical offerings of a youth-based awareness and education program, creating meaningful connections between Canadian youth and families and the nature and biodiversity around us.”
Ian Davidson, Executive Director of Nature Canada
“The My Parks Pass program provides students with an incredible opportunity to connect with the physical places where key moments of our country’s history took place. We’re delighted to congratulate the grade 8 students from Caronport Elementary School as the winners of this year’s Canada’s Coolest School Trip contest.”
Anthony Wilson-Smith, president of The Historica-Dominion Institute
“All of us at Air Canada, and especially our team at Regina Airport, look forward to welcoming the students from Caronport Elementary School onboard our flights to Toronto and onwards to Sydney, NS, in June. As the country’s largest airline serving the most communities Canada-wide, Air Canada is delighted to support young Canadians in their exploration of our great country through our partnership in Canada’s Coolest School Trip contest. Fostering relationships between the next generation and Canada's treasured and natural heritage is also consistent with Air Canada's social responsibilities of supporting communities and helping to promote environmental stewardship.”
Craig Landry, Vice President, Marketing, at Air Canada
The national partners of the My Parks Pass program also acknowledge the involvement, support and enthusiasm of many Nova Scotia partners who together, look forward to welcoming the winning class of the 2012-2013 edition of Canada’s Coolest School Trip contest. This year local partners are: Ambassatours Gray Line, Cape Breton University, Cape Breton Partnership, Destination Cape Breton Association, Nova Scotia Tourism Agency, and Cape Breton Resorts.
Parks Canada: Places and Spaces for Everyone Giant Floor Map
The objective of the Parks Canada: Places and Spaces for Everyone map program is to provide opportunities for youth to learn about the important stories and places that are represented by Canada’s national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas.
The map is 11 x 9 metres (35 x 26 feet) and includes 10 activities covering Parks Canada themes and stories – students can follow the migration route of species at risk, go on a road trip to Parks Canada places, guess the route of the lost ships of the Franklin expedition, and more. The main audience is Kindergarten to grade 8 students. The map is available to all schools in Canada to borrow for free, for a two-week period. Five of these maps, along with the activity suitcases, are available.
The Royal Canadian Geographic Society has collaborated with Parks Canada to develop and deliver this program. Parks Canada: Places and Spaces for Everyone map program is separate from, but in support of, the My Parks Pass initiative.
“This new giant floor map of Canada’s national parks represents a breakthrough in geographic education in Canada, said John Geiger, president of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. A joint initiative of Parks Canada and the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, this innovative educational resource brings our natural and cultural heritage within walking distance of Canadian students. It is a tremendous incentive for Canadian youth to explore and discover our great country. ”
For more information and to order the map for your school, visit:
www.canadiangeographic.ca/educational_products/parks_canada_floor_map.asp.
-30-
A few words from our national partners:
“The students who won Canada’s Coolest School Trip this year clearly demonstrated a fine appreciation of Canadian geography. As a result they have earned an incomparable opportunity to explore a special place in our vast and diverse land. This partnership with Parks Canada has enabled the Royal Canadian Geographical Society to fulfill its mission to truly make Canada better known to young Canadians. We look forward to extending this opportunity to many other students in years to come. ”
John Geiger, president of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society
“Nature Canada is pleased to be a member of the My Parks Pass program. This program has effectively engaged over 10,000 8th graders annually online and on site in Parks Canada’s places. Many lucky winning families and classes have experienced spectacular Canadian landscapes and learned about the rich natural heritage that surrounds us. Nature Canada is committed to pushing the boundaries beyond the typical offerings of a youth-based awareness and education program, creating meaningful connections between Canadian youth and families and the nature and biodiversity around us.”
Ian Davidson, Executive Director of Nature Canada
“The My Parks Pass program provides students with an incredible opportunity to connect with the physical places where key moments of our country’s history took place. We’re delighted to congratulate the grade 8 students from Caronport Elementary School as the winners of this year’s Canada’s Coolest School Trip contest.”
Anthony Wilson-Smith, president of The Historica-Dominion Institute
“All of us at Air Canada, and especially our team at Regina Airport, look forward to welcoming the students from Caronport Elementary School onboard our flights to Toronto and onwards to Sydney, NS, in June. As the country’s largest airline serving the most communities Canada-wide, Air Canada is delighted to support young Canadians in their exploration of our great country through our partnership in Canada’s Coolest School Trip contest. Fostering relationships between the next generation and Canada's treasured and natural heritage is also consistent with Air Canada's social responsibilities of supporting communities and helping to promote environmental stewardship.”
Craig Landry, Vice President, Marketing, at Air Canada
The national partners of the My Parks Pass program also acknowledge the involvement, support and enthusiasm of many Nova Scotia partners who together, look forward to welcoming the winning class of the 2012-2013 edition of Canada’s Coolest School Trip contest. This year local partners are: Ambassatours Gray Line, Cape Breton University, Cape Breton Partnership, Destination Cape Breton Association, Nova Scotia Tourism Agency, and Cape Breton Resorts.
The objective of the Parks Canada: Places and Spaces for Everyone map program is to provide opportunities for youth to learn about the important stories and places that are represented by Canada’s national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas.
The map is 11 x 9 metres (35 x 26 feet) and includes 10 activities covering Parks Canada themes and stories – students can follow the migration route of species at risk, go on a road trip to Parks Canada places, guess the route of the lost ships of the Franklin expedition, and more. The main audience is Kindergarten to grade 8 students. The map is available to all schools in Canada to borrow for free, for a two-week period. Five of these maps, along with the activity suitcases, are available.
The Royal Canadian Geographic Society has collaborated with Parks Canada to develop and deliver this program. Parks Canada: Places and Spaces for Everyone map program is separate from, but in support of, the My Parks Pass initiative.
“This new giant floor map of Canada’s national parks represents a breakthrough in geographic education in Canada, said John Geiger, president of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. A joint initiative of Parks Canada and the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, this innovative educational resource brings our natural and cultural heritage within walking distance of Canadian students. It is a tremendous incentive for Canadian youth to explore and discover our great country. ”
For more information and to order the map for your school, visit:
www.canadiangeographic.ca/educational_products/parks_canada_floor_map.asp.
News Release associated with this Backgrounder.
