Overview
Natural Treasure (or NT) is an exciting and innovative new initiative from the Robert Bateman Get to Know Program. It has been developed to provide youth with “hands-on” opportunities to learn about biodiversity using a combination of outdoor exploration and online adventure. The project is easily incorporated into existing programs by partner organizations, or can stand on its own as a truly unique environmental education initiative.
The program is based on extensive research and best-practices for connecting youth with nature by incorporating the creative arts, literacy, the natural sciences, physical activity and problem solving to challenge youth of all ages.
How it Works
It's quick and easy! Register with us to receive the quarterly Get to Know newsletter. Keep up to date on Get to Know news and find out about Get To Know events and contests.
Print out the Map/Clue Sheet on the 'Welcome' page for the site that you wish to visit. Head to the site and use the Map to navigate the trail and find Impression Stations hidden along the way. When you find each Impression Station, make a pencil rubbing or sketch out the corresponding species symbol on your Clue Sheet.
- Cleveland National Forest, San Diego, CA
- Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper, AB
- Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton, AB
- John Janzen Nature Centre, Edmonton, AB
- Calgary Zoo, Calgary AB
Once you have found all the symbols and completed your Clue Sheet, you can head online and continue the adventure. Head to the 'Welcome' page and click on the site that you visited to begin. Remember: you will need your completed Clue Sheet to unlock the challenges and stories!
Natural Treasure requires participants to locate Impression Stations hidden along a designated trail in parks, forests, and other greenspaces/nature facilities; participants can use either a Natural Treasure Map or (site permitting) their own GPS devices to find them. Each Impression Station will consist of a plaque engraved with a hieroglyph designed by Robert Bateman. Participants will use a pencil and paper to make an impression of each hieroglyph on their Adventure Sheet, and will subsequently be able to decode these hieroglyphs through a series of challenges presented on the Natural Treasure website. The decoding process will highlight fascinating information about local plants and animals and thus equip participants with knowledge about their wild neighbours. The entire process has been designed to be fun, informative and, above all, promote an active outdoor experience.
When a participant arrives at your Natural Treasure location, staff members of the host site will provide them with the appropriate Map and Adventure Sheet that they will then take with them on the trail.
Once the participants have finished the hike, if staff are available on-site, they will verify the Adventure Sheet for completion. At this point, they will be given a small prize for completing part one. When they get home, their Adventure Sheet will provide them with access to the Natural Treasure website. At the website, they will be given the chance to complete the challenge and win prizes, which will be provided by your organization.
All required information will be accessible through the Natural Treasure website, including program details, Maps, Adventure Sheets, and challenges.
Prizes/Incentives
Rewarding Natural Treasure participants who find all the hieroglyphs and complete the challenges online is an effective way to raise awareness of the initiative and each location. Providing these prizes is the responsibility of each host organization, and should be something that highlights the unique qualities of the site and encourages additional visits in nature.
We recommend that each location provide two incentives:
- A small reward to each participant as they successfully complete the outdoor portion of the Natural Treasure program.
- Larger prizes that participants will have an opportunity to win when they have completed the challenges and discovered the Natural Treasure.
Safety
The Natural Treasure experience has been designed to be a safe and rewarding experience for everyone. Staff on site will be responsible for identifying suitable locations for each impression station in order to limit disturbances to the areas’s wildlife and to help ensure the safety of participants. Personnel from the respective park or trail will also be responsible for monitoring the trail on a regular basis and guaranteeing the safety of Natural Treasure users.
Promoting Natural Treasure
As a site host of Natural Treasure, part of your responsibility will be to aid in the promotion of the program, by marketing it as a way to enhance visitor’s enjoyment of the outdoors. You will be provided with suitable signage and promotional collateral which can be used to promote the program both on site and off site at special events or fundraisers. In addition, each location will be actively promoted on the Natural Treasure and Get to Know websites.
Your organization – and key supporters – will also play a central role in the Natural Treasure media promotion campaign. Get to Know will help you to organize a launch event that will ensure widespread awareness of the initiative. We will work with our relevant media and government partners, draft press releases and media advisories, and work with relevant media contacts.
Promotional Material
As a Natural Treasure partner, you will be provided with the following material:
- The Natural Treasure Map and Adventure Sheet
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The Natural Treasure map has been designed to enrich the learning experience for participants by adding an element of fun, excitement, and adventure into the outdoor experience. Each map will be carefully designed to precisely follow onsite trails, and note important landmarks and points of reference that will be beneficial for participants. The map will also be branded with the site host’s logo; we also encourage you to provide us with any relevant local information regarding wildlife, topography, or other points of interest.
The second page of the Natural Treasure map is the Adventure Sheet. It consists of a series of spaces for participants to make the impressions of the Natural Treasure hieroglyphs.
- Flyers, posters, promo cards
- Detailed instructions for participants and hosts
- Frequent updates on new Natural Treasure online content
- When necessary, replacement Impression Station plaques
Partner Roles & Responsibilities
Below is a rough breakdown of the duties required by the Get to Know Program and your staff to successfully implement Natural Treasure at your facility:
| Project Component | Get to Know | Site Partner |
| Consultation / Program development and Implementation | ||
| Plaque design, artwork, standards | ||
| Plaque installation | ||
| Design and creation of participating information, Adventure Sheets, instructions, maps | ||
| Web site hosting at www.naturaltreasure.ca | ||
| Participation Incentives | ||
| Promotion and Launch | ||
| Operation and Updating | ||
| Site Maintenance |