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Full Description

THE RIVERWATCH MISSION: The RiverWatch Institute of Alberta delivers science education and environmental awareness experiences along Alberta’s rivers and watershed systems. Through our professional river guides, school science float trips, stewardship activities, and water monitoring equipment, participants learn about the science and health of our waterways. By becoming watershed knowledgeable, Albertans of all walks of life will better understand, enjoy and care for our environment.

YOUR RIVERWATCH SCHOOL SCIENCE FLOAT EXPERIENCE

We believe the best way to study a river is by taking your science classes on a float trip aboard our professionally guided large rafts, fully equipped as floating laboratories! Our science education programs align DIRECTLY with the Alberta provincial curriculum and have been a go-to resource for Alberta secondary science classes since 1995. Our hands-on and experiential science float programming is offered in the fall from early September to the end of October and again in the spring (late April to mid-June) once the ice is off the river.

With a laser focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), students explore their local river ecosystem aboard rafts equipped as mobile water quality laboratories. A day of guided rafting takes the student classroom into the real natural world to experience an interesting mix of ecology, wildlife, history, geology, engineering, technology, industry, water quality monitoring and data collection. Our programs showcase science in ways students have never seen before, creating an experience they’ll never forget, INCLUDING A TOUR OF LOCAL WASTE WATER TREATMENT PLANTS! Over the years, close to 200,000 students have adventured out with us to become young scientists for the day.

YOUR RIVERWATCH GUIDES

All RiverWatch guides are highly trained and possess a minimum Class 1 PROAOA certification to meet Transport Canada Commercial Rafting Standards. All our river guides complete an intense week of training involving rafting, emergency response, health and safety, bus driving, equipment maintenance, water quality monitoring, and local/natural history interpretation. To work for RiverWatch Guides must possess Standard First Aid certification and/or may also have Wilderness First Aid, National Lifeguard Society, Swift Water Rescue or Emergency Medical Responder training. The result is an experienced group of certified and professional river guides ready to provide a safe, engaging and fully immersive rafting experience. Your RiverWatch raft guide will help students gain new insights and appreciation for our rivers’ history, culture, bio-diversity and stewardship. Everyone will finish the day more connected to nature and the river!

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Waste in Our World offers children the chance to work cooperatively build a model landfill and use it to look at ways to divert waste and make our landfills safer for the environment. This is an inquiry-based opportunity that fully engages participants in hands-on learning and incorporates several cross-curricular competencies.

Available for schools in Calgary. Subsidies available so cost is not a barrier to participation.

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The Bodo Archaeological Site & Centre offers experiential educational programs for students of all ages, both at our centre and site, and in the classroom. We have had thousands of students visit Bodo to take part in our interactive, hands-on activities and learning experience. Students learn about archaeology and the history of the Bodo Archaeological Sites and the Great Plains in a meaningful and memorable way. We offer in-person visits (1/2 day and overnight field trips) and in-classroom visits.

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In this program, students learn about pollution by examining different types of pollutants and where they come from. They will then evaluate how individual actions contribute to the health of the river. A slide presentation introduces students to the Fraser River, then the class breaks into smaller groups to explore pollution sources and the way pollution moves through our ecosystems and communities. Student’s also discuss the difference one individual’s actions can make.

Grades: 2-5                          Length: 1.5 hours               Maximum group size: 30 students

Program Components:

Learn about the sources and causes of pollution in the lower mainland.

Play a fun board game where students can watch how one person can make a difference against the pollution problem.

See how plastic pollution effects birds who live in the Fraser River Basin.

Full Description

Get to Galiano Island easily with BC Ferries! We're a short 1-1.5 hour trip from the Tsawwassen ferry terminal in Vancouver or the Swartz Bay ferry terminal in Victoria. Our hands-on, nature-based programs have proudly been developed over 20+ years. Programs serve to introduce youth to nature in a fun, safe and meaningful way. Our activities are designed to reflect the BC K-12 curriculum, resonate local Indigenous voices and foster youth environmental leadership.

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BC AdventureSmart delivers free outdoor-safety education across British Columbia—urban, rural, coastal, and mountain communities, year-round. Open to all ages (youth groups require a supervising adult). Format: 45–60-minute sessions or ~60-minute webinars with Q&A. Hosts: provide indoor space with screen/AV; we also deliver onsite or online. Programs include Hug-a-Tree & Survive, Survive Outside, Snow Safety, PaddleSmart, and Snowmobile Safety. Custom collaborations with SAR, schools, parks, and tourism partners available.

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Whether participants are passionate about climate change, conservation, eco-justice, or advocacy, YCC provides the knowledge, skills, and connections they need to turn that passion into action. Students work alongside a community of eco-action youth and mentors to launch projects that matter, build leadership and teamwork skills, and gain hands-on experience tackling real-world environmental challenges.

YCC is more than just a program, it’s a community of young changemakers ready to take action for a sustainable future in their schools, workplaces, and beyond. Are you ready to join the movement?

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Company of Adventurers provides instruction in many outdoor wilderness activities with a strong focus on environmental education and stewardship. A low guide to participant ratio promotes safety and enhances the quality of the experience. Program length varies from day- to multi-day adventures.

See website for different program offerings and to register

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Zero Waste Place is an interactive program that includes 4 in-person or virtual workshops, teacher resources, and student-led projects to drive sustainable behaviour change in the classroom. Available across grades K-12, in French or English, this program engages students in Core and Curricular Competencies.

Supported and delivered within the City of Vancouver, this program is delivered in schools, community groups and other education settings.

This program is designed to inspire and prepare students to take action in their school, neighbourhoods and broader communities.

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Our program serves students in grades 4-12 across British Columbia through interactive workshops and a four-week climate challenge. Elementary students (grades 4-7) participate in an engaging 60-minute workshop and complete 25 take-home actions with their families. High school students (grades 8-12) attend two advanced workshops over 4-6 weeks, exploring climate justice, systems analysis, and actionable solutions. Both programs empower students to reduce emissions and foster community impact. Workshops are delivered virtually or in person, with prizes and comprehensive resources provided.

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Sea Smart's shoreline clean-up will inspire students to learn about plastic pollution, marine animals, and ocean stewardship. These sessions are facilitated by Sea Smart’s highly experienced team of marine biologists and environmental educators, to deliver informative, hands-on learning. Sea Smart will provide sustainable equipment and protocols needed to ensure a safe cleanup.

We measure metrics such as the area of habitat cleaned, the weight of garbage removed, and the number of cigarette butts removed. These data allow you to share your student's efforts in a measurable and meaningful way. Participants will also join hands-on, educational activities to learn about plastic pollution, marine animals, and how we can help our ocean.

Available for Pre-K - Grade 12 Students, our Shoreline Cleanup Workshops connect with Core and Curricular Competencies. Shoreline Cleanups can be delivered throughout Metro Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, with schools, community/ youth groups, and other educational settings.

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LunchLAB is an innovative school meal program that serves students accessible, nourishing, culturally relevant lunches prepared by students with the mentorship of a team of chefs-in-residence. LunchLAB empowers youth to cook food for themselves and their peers providing opportunities for kids to find delight, dignity, and belonging in their interactions with food. 

Lunches change each day and menus are inspired by the communities we serve. Each meal includes a fresh salad bar and a hot item, whether that’s tacos, chickpea curry, palak paneer, ramen soup, or lasagna, it’s sure to be packed with delicious flavours and fresh veggies.

We offer a sliding scale pay-what-you-can model to balance affordability for families and the long-term sustainability of LunchLAB. As part of the registration process, families decide what they can afford with opportunities to receive a subsidy or subsidize families in their community.

Watch our CBC mini doc to get a flavour of LunchLAB and find out more on our website!

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Every class in your school receives an age-appropriate lesson about your local watershed, the wildlife within it, and how to protect it from storm drain pollution. Children then paint their Dreamfish, which becomes part of a permanent fence mural installed by professional designers. The fish represent each student's dream of a healthy future for our freshwater habitats, while the mural reminds everyone that, even though we can't always see our creeks and other waterways, what we do impacts them.

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Goldstream Nature House on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from March 26 – May 16 for three unique, one-hour programs: Junior Explorers, Wildlife Detectives, and Eco-Stewards. Students will learn about the vital ecosystems of Goldstream Park. This spring, the Discover Parks Ambassadors will offer the following programs for school groups: 

JUNIOR EXPLORERS - GRADES: K-3

A sensory exploration of the natural environment in Goldstream. 

WILDLIFE DETECTIVES - GRADES 4-7

Investigating ecosystems and species relationships.

ECO-STEWARDS - GRADES 7-12

Learn vital environmental stewardship skills and become an advocate for nature.

Full Description

Indigenous people have relied on salmon since the fish became abundant in the Fraser River about 5000-6000 years ago. This program explores the connection between Indigenous people and salmon on the Fraser River. Students get hands-on experience with fishing technology, learn about wind-drying salmon, and discover that salmon is in the hearts of Indigenous people living along the Fraser River today.

Grade: 4-7                           Length: 1.5 hours                Maximum group size: 30 students

Program Components:

Watch and discuss a film, featuring two Indigenous Elders telling stories about how Salmon came to the Fraser River, and their connections to the Fraser River.

Explore authentic and replica tools to learn about Indigenous fishing techniques, and create a group presentation.

Learn about wind-drying salmon through the replica drying rack, and practice sharpening a kwetsetel (Indigenous slate knife).

Full Description

This workshop introduces educators to the rich resources provided by PLT Canada, offering a wide range of hands-on, nature-based activities to inspire environmental learning. Participants will discover how to integrate these materials into their classrooms, empowering students to engage with local ecosystems and explore topics like sustainability, conservation, and biodiversity. Through interactive, place-based learning, educators will gain strategies for fostering environmental stewardship, critical thinking, and a deeper connection to the natural world. This workshop aims to provide practical tools for teaching environmental education across various grade levels.

Full Description

The Fraser River is one of the world’s great rivers not only in its contribution to the environmental, cultural, and historical wealth of British Columbia, but because of its current pivotal role in the economy of BC.  We are going to explore how people have used and shared the resources of the Fraser River, focusing on the tumultuous time when Indigenous peoples and fur traders shared the river.

Grades: 4-7                          Length: 1.5 hours               Maximum group size: 30 students

Program Components:

Visual presentation introducing the history of trade on the Fraser River.

Learn proper archaeological protocol, excavate archaeological artifacts, and learn what each represents.

Keep an archaeologist’s journal, drawing diagrams and answering questions about stone and metal tools.

Play a fun and competitive game to understand the value of items traded between First Nations and European traders.

Full Description

Discover what salmon need to survive and what makes healthy salmon habitat. Students also experience the obstacles salmon face during their migration through interactive games.

Available to schools in SD35 and SD36.

Schools outside of Langley will be charged mileage. Teachers outside of these districts may enquire about workshop availability.

Duration 60 minutes

Cost K-3 $95

Grade 4 $105

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Full Description

In this 75-minute session, students learn about bioaccumulation in aquatic ecosystems by analyzing real (sanitized) freshwater litter. Children then go on a walking field trip to see how much garbage they can divert from their local creek.  The school is gifted a class set of garbage pickers, reflective vests, buckets, and weigh scale to continue this activity.

“We received overwhelmingly positive feedback from teachers and students alike. Personally, I’ve never seen my students so enthusiastic about garbage and neighborhood clean-ups—they were so engaged!” - Nataliia Kudryk, Grade 4/5 teacher