Strong spirit of community at Norval open house

At UCC’s second campus that’s home to many of its environmental education programs, attendees participated in various activities that allowed them to connect, explore and engage in some friendly competition. 

“Norval is so green right now that it’s a joy to spend time there,” says Amanda Vieira-Hasz, UCC’s community relations coordinator, who supported the event. “You notice it immediately as you enter, because the trees form an arch overhead that makes you feel as if you’re in a tunnel.”

Mike Bradford from Norval’s staff led a woodland trail hike that took participants past points that gave a sense of the varied programming students enjoy throughout the school year, such as the sugar shack, home to Maple Madness; the area where Year 4s and 5s set up their tents during their bike tour; and the hills where cross-country runners test their mettle. There was also a view of the Credit River, which feeds into Lake Ontario and later carried away some of the wooden canoes colourfully decorated by the visitors.

“You could hear the birds singing and the rain through the trees,” says Vieira-Hasz. “We overturned some rocks to see what lived underneath and came across a salamander, worms and slugs, and we also saw a frog.”

Meanwhile, those who preferred to remain indoors listened to an environmental talk by three Year 5 students, Everett Kennedy, Sean Rogers and Elliott Viner, about buckthorn, an invasive species that is spreading in Ontario, including on the Norval site. The trio later helped clear some buckthorn from the property. 

During an Amazing Race-style game of challenges, players could visit 10 different stations, each requiring them to complete a physical activity, and record it with a photo on their phones as proof. Two families managed to finish the entire route.

There was also a space for crafting, and exhibits of classroom projects for everyone to enjoy.

"Norval is fun,” says Zain Salahuddin, a Year 5 student. “I like playing with friends and discovering wildlife here."

For Jonathan Fok ’05, who brought his family, the open house was his first visit to Norval since graduating from UCC. He was happy to discover that some things, such as the bunks, don’t change.

“Everyone really enjoyed themselves,” says Vieira-Hasz. “No one was in a hurry to leave.”