May 14th, 2025
Written by students at Grand View PS
Outdoor education plays a critical role in a well-rounded education at the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB). It helps students develop a connection to the environment and understand their responsibilities as future stewards of the planet. These experiences foster curiosity and promote environmental awareness and action.
Earlier this school year, Grand View Public School students ventured outside to connect with nature and learn about local wildlife. After their lesson with Outdoor Education Specialist Peter Raspberry, the students took some time to reflect on what they had learned. We’ve shared some of these reflections below.
Nature Walk
By Abdul
Mr. Rasberry and my class went on a hike. We went on the Linear Trail in Preston along the Grand River. I have lived in Preston for four months and didn’t even know the river was so close.
We got to use binoculars. I saw chickadees, bluejays, ring-billed gulls and merganser ducks. It was pretty good being on a hiking trail and seeing birds with my friends.
Different Birds
By Zara
We went for a nature walk with Mr. Rasberry. Along the Linear Trail, more than 100 different types of birds were seen, including the ring-billed gull, black crow, blue jays, and red-bellied woodpecker. Red-bellied woodpeckers usually visit oak and hickory trees, young hardwoods, and pines to eat sap and insects.
On the Grand River, we saw Canadian geese and merganser ducks. We used the Merlin app to hear a golden kinglet. Going on a hike with Mr. Rasberry and seeing birds was amazing!! I am going to add a bird feeder to my front yard to help feed the birds.
PS: Bring your own binoculars to the Linear Trail!!
The Birds!
By Somner
We went on the Linear Path for bird watching with Mr. Rasberry! The entire school went on a hike to find some birds!
We can help the birds by planting new trees! For example, we can plant more oak and hickory trees for the red-bellied woodpecker. We can also help the birds by putting more birdhouses up in the winter and filling them with bird seeds. Another thing that we can do is keep cats inside so the cats can not attack the birds. The common birds in Cambridge are ring-billed gulls, red-bellied woodpeckers, the house sparrow, blue jay, and merganser ducks. You can walk and spot these amazing birds like the school did with Mr. Rasberry on the Linear Path.
Birds make different sounds. We saw a blue jay.
By Owen
#StudentVoice Series
This article is written by a WRDSB student and is part of the Student Agency and Voice program. Student journalists embody WRDSB’s commitment to creating space for students to tell their stories. They are ambassadors for their peers as they share their personal experiences and stories about their schools and communities in their unique voices.
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