BCM&CC delivers new curriculum-based “Climate Change in a Box - Eni-aanjii-zhiwebak - the changing weather” resource to local schools

The Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre, with partners Saugeen Ojibway Nation Coastal Waters Monitoring Program and Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO), presented a new “Climate Change in a Box - Eni-aanji-zhiwebak - the changing weather”, educational toolkit today to schools throughout Bluewater and Catholic District School Boards that supports hands on learning around the current Grade 8 curriculum science unit on water systems.

This initiative follows the late 2023 relaunch of the Museum’s Earth’s Climate in the Balance exhibit, which looks at the history of climate on our planet and inspires action to reduce its present and future impacts.

The new boxes expand the reach of the exhibit by bringing it directly into 60 different schools and classrooms across Bruce County. 

Director, Museum & Cultural Servies, Cathy McGirr, says, “We are pleased to partner with SON EO Coastal Waters Monitoring Program and the NWMO to provide this reusable resource to educators.”  

The boxes, developed in collaboration with Educator, Christine Brown and Saugeen Ojibway Nation Environment Office, Coastal Waters Monitoring Programs, Manager Emily Mansur contains curriculum-based materials that support hands-on learning around historical data collection on water use, how climate change is demonstrated in this data collection, soil systems and water quality, watershed conservation and management, as well as samples of technology used today to conserve and monitor water usage.

The boxes also contain additional resources for teachers such as sample lesson plans, experiments, and materials to expand on Indigenous contributions to water conservation both historically and modern technology uses.

The project was made possible with funding from the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO).

“NWMO is excited to support an initiative that relates so closely to the work we do,” said Michael Pahor, NWMO Director, Site Selection - South Bruce. “We’re proud to partner with organizations like the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre, who are exploring ways to apply Indigenous knowledge and hands on education for local youth.”

This reusable kit is being made available to all Grade 8 Teachers within the Bluewater District School Board and the Bruce Grey Catholic District School Board. Teachers seeking more information about the “Climate Change in a Box - Eni-aanjii-zhiwebak - the changing weather” initiative and the Earth’s Climate in the Balance exhibition are invited to contact Lauren Beer, Education/Outreach Coordinator for full details. The BCM&CC’s Earth’s Climate in the Balance exhibit is now fully available for online viewing at brucemuseum.ca or in person at 33 Victoria St. N., Southampton, Ontario.

About the Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre 
The Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre offers adult and children’s programming, special events, and is home to the Bruce County Archives & Research Room. Our mandate is to preserve and make available the documentary heritage of Bruce County.

About NWMO  
Founded in 2002, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is a not-for-profit organization tasked with the safe, long-term management of Canada’s intermediate and high-level radioactive waste, in a manner that protects people and the environment for generations to come.

The NWMO has been guided for more than 20 years by a dedicated team of world-class scientists, engineers and Indigenous Knowledge Holders that are developing innovative and collaborative solutions for nuclear waste management.

About SON EO Coastal Waters Monitoring Program 
The Coastal Waters Monitoring Program is a nearshore monitoring project through the Saugeen Ojibway Nation Environment Office aiming to build an extensive baseline inventory of the Traditional Territory's habitats and wildlife.