Group Tour - Frequently Asked Questions
How do I schedule my group visit?
How much notice do you need to schedule a tour?
When can I schedule a tour?
How many people can you accommodate for tours?
Are lunch facilities available?
What restaurants are in the area?
What are the responsibilities of the teachers and chaperones?
How do we prepare for our visit?
Where can our bus drop off/pick up our group?
Can students tour Mastodon Ridge without a guide?
How nutritional are your lunches and snacks?
What specific curriculum does Mastodon Ridge follow in its learning activities?
How do I schedule my group visit?
First pick a few different dates that your group is available to travel. Then fill out the reservation form. Choose your program, fill it out and sign at the bottom. A short time after you return it to us, we will contact you to confirm your booking. An official confirmation letter will be mailed a few weeks before your visit.
How much notice do you need to schedule a tour?
Individuals and families don’t need to reserve space, but larger groups do. We’d like two weeks notice to make sure you get the dates you want. Please contact us to book.
When can I schedule a tour?
Group visits can begin as early as 9:00am Monday through Friday during May and June. During July and August, we are pleased to extend summer hours by appointment. The last tour of the day departs at 6:00pm every day. Hands-on workshops are scheduled by appointment.
How many people can you accommodate for tours?
Group size is judged by number of classes in the case of school tours. We think of one class as 25 students or less. We run several tours per day, and if necessary, will reorder activities to ensure all children receive adequate time and attention.
Are lunch facilities available?
Of course! Onsite food service is available from Tim Horton’s and KFC restaurants. Light snacks and ice cream may be obtained from our Pavilion Building.
Our outdoor gardens are open to the public and offer free picnic and lunch areas. Sorry, there are no refrigerated facilities available for lunch bag storage.
For organized tours, we will also arrange for brown-bag lunches (advance booking only).
What restaurants are in the area?
There are two onsite restaurants, Tim Horton’s and KFC.
What are the responsibilities of the teachers and chaperones?
Teachers and chaperones are responsible for your group’s behavior throughout the entire visit. Students must be supervised by a teacher / chaperone at all times. Please provide at least one chaperone / teacher for every 10 students.
Teachers are also asked to divide your students into equal sized groups - individual teams identified by colour - as specified in your confirmation letter. We may also forward name tags in the appropriate colours, and ask you to distribute to the students in your class.
How do we prepare for our visit?
The educator’s package you will receive contains materials, background information, discussion questions and other classroom activities to introduce you and your students to some of the concepts you will see at Mastodon Ridge. We strongly recommend that you present this material to your students; such a orientation will greatly enrich your students’ experience, and will familiarize them with regional sights, points of interest and historical timeframe. Please feel free to adapt this material to the needs of your students.
A tour guide (called an animator) will be assigned to your group when you arrive. Please discuss any concerns on check-in with your tour guide before he or she begins.
Your confirmation letter will specify how you should divide your class into equal groups and how to assign teams. Please be sure to divide your class before you arrive at Mastodon Ridge.
Where can our bus drop off/pick up our group?
Your driver may quickly drop off and pick up your group directly in fron of the main Mastodon Ridge building, however your driver will be asked to park at the top of the hill (where bus parking is indicated).
Can students tour Mastodon Ridge without a guide?
Although our gardens are open to the public, we require consistent supervision for children under 14. Teachers and chaperones are asked to stay with their group.
How nutritional are your lunches and snacks?
At Mastodon Ridge, we try to balance healthy eating habits with what children are most likely to eat. Unless specifically requested, lunches are provided by our onsite KFC and include small soft drink, two pieces of chicken, potato and salads.
Nutritional breaks consist of one choice of milk, juice or peanut-free breakfast bars (i.e. Nutrigrain).
What specific curriculum does Mastodon Ridge follow in its learning activities?
The Nova Scotia Board of Education Primary School Curriculum is our resource to identify the specific learning outcomes targeted by each grade level. We employ a multidisciplinary format, in which children are encouraged to manipulate and explore concepts that support science, language arts, Nova Scotia history, even physical education objectives. This well-balanced program is made up of games, hands-on, listening, watching, mixed media, even songs.
For details on our half-day program curriculum, please contact Julia Hay, General Manager, at jhay@mastodonridge.com or tel: (902) 639-2345 and specify the grade or age of most interest.
