P.O.W.E.R. provides an opportunity for local students and the community to participate in the restoration of nature and in the process to learn about their local environment through the Engaging Youth in the Environment for Sustainability (EYES) project. The six components of the EYES program are: 1.) Future Forests reforestation through schools and Community Days 2.) Youth Link Conference 3.) Half-day projects for youth and community 4.) Environmental sustainability and outdoor education training for Grade 10 high school students in Halton Hills 5.) Networking to help connect resources, participants and projects 6.) Working as a catalyst to help initiate additional projects in Halton Hills P.O.W.E.R. wants to engage all those with an interest and passion to make our community more environmentally sustainable. P.O.W.E.R.'s aims are threefold: 1.) To do high-quality restoration work in our area 2.) To educate the students and members of the community by planting native stock 3.) To raise community awareness of the environment

Each spring and fall, a large group of P.O.W.E.R.'s volunteers work with the students of local  schools. The goal of the program is to bring to life the science principles and concepts students study in the classroom and lab. This is done through a field day in either fall or spring.

Each day consists of different modules depending on the school needs.  Modules include, BioDiversity Study, Woodlot Study, Pond and Stream Study, Soil Study, and Future Forests plantings.

The Woodlot, Pond, Stream and Soil studies, depending on the grade, are comprised of numerous experiments that students undertake within Nature's laboratory. Below is a brief description of several elements of the program that reflects high school curriculum, as well as the experiment and reporting sheets used.

Woodlot Study
- Tree Height
- Tree Volume
- Population Density Study
- Rotting Log
- Age of Tree
- Forest Habitat
- Forest Succession

Click here for the Forest Study Experiment Sheets.
Click here for the Forest Study Reporting Sheets.

Soil Study
- Introduction to Soils
- Organic Matter
- Particle Composition
- Soil Percolation
- Relative Humidity
- Soil profile
- Soil pH
- Soil Temperature

Click here for the the Soil Study Experiment Sheets .
Click here for the Soil Study Reporting Sheets.

Pond and Stream Study
- Introduction to Pond and Stream Study
- Biological Monitoring
- Flow Rate
- Constructing a Kick Seine
- Stream microinvertebrates

Click here for the the Stream Experiment Sheets.
Click here for the Stream Study Reporting Sheets.

Please note: Since one of P.O.W.E.R.'s three goals is, "to promote environmental awareness through education and networking with other like-minded organizations," these experimental sheets may be used (without written permission) by any non-profit with a mandated environmental focus.

Since the year 2000, Protect Our Water and Environmental Resources (P.O.W.E.R.) has organized a program of ecological restoration and environmental education in the Town of Halton Hills called Future Forests. As of 2009, Future Forests has involved more than 14,000 local elementary and secondary students, as well as community members, in the reforestation of our area.

Future Forests has engaged a large number of groups and agencies including: the Town of Halton Hills , Credit Valley Conservation Authority, Halton Conservation, school boards, many school councils, environment clubs, and local youth groups. Over fourteen thousand volunteer days of learning and restoration work has taken place locally through our efforts. In addition P.O.W.E.R. has provided a number of groups with support that in turn resulted in additional community service/environmental learning activities.

Future Forest Program Information

For more information about Future Forests curriculum connections, booking the classes and the day of the field trip, click here.

For information about the correlation of Future Forest Days (planting and nature hike) to the Ontario curriculum, click here.

For Future Forests information for parents, click here.

For Future Forests field trip confirmation and pre-trip preparation, click here.

For an Ontario threatend species list, click here.

For a list of species within the Future Forests trip sites in Halton Hills, click here.

Some of Our Planting Sites

- Fairly Lake Acton , behind the Legion
- Georgetown South Community Park, ongoing work along
16 mile creek both sides
- Niagara Escarpment, Silvercreek CA, 8th line on the east side just before you down into the valley.
- Silvercreek, 27th side road, just before the bridge over the creek on the south side
- Silvercreek, 27th side road, on the other side of the road
- Silvercreek, 27th side road, the east field
- 7. East wall site, accessed from Claybank road which runs along the south of Silverceek CA .
- Terra Cotta CA - former group campground
- Terra Cotta CA - trails restoration next to the former group campground.
- Acton Arena
-Hungry Hollow Ravine

P.O.W.E.R offers half-day programs on a variety of topics. We work with elementary and secondary school students, scouts, guides, and local groups of individuals who have an interest in the following or help tailor what you would like.

Butterflies
Birds
Trees
Water
Soil
Community-based Monitoring
Frog and Turtle Workshops
Bird house building
Native gardening
School yard greening
Backyard BioDiversity

For more information, contact P.O.W.E.R. at biodiversity@powerhalton.ca or (905) 873-1820