Find EducationalResources Now

Full Description

NatureKids BC is a nature discovery and environmental action organization that helps children form meaningful and enduring connections with nature alongside their families. Organized by our local nature club leaders, Explorer Days are packed with fun and learning for the whole family! We offer over 200 Explorer Days annually to our members through our province-wide network of nature clubs. At these events, your family will explore nearby nature, learn about BC ecosystems, and meet other families enthusiastic about the natural world. You might go pond dipping for aquatic insects, learn about plants in the forest, or explore local tide pools. The expertise and guidance of our Nature Mentors means that the range of activities is endless! Parental involvement is required on Explorer Days.

Full Description

The Alberta Tomorrow Foundation has a mission to deliver a platform that empowers youth to design and sustain a future for our shared ecosystem, with a vision of an informed society actively fostering sustainable futures. Use the simulation tool to:

Time travel into the PAST and FUTURE to see the impact of our actions on the ENVIRONMENT and ECONOMY,

Study Alberta's WATERSHEDS, including a virtual video tour of the Bow River,

Show possible ECOREGION SHIFTS as a result of CLIMATE CHANGE,

See the impact of Beneficial MANAGEMENT Practices,

Explore Alberta's Natural Regions with our 360 VIRTUAL TOURS,

Use the CITIZEN SCIENCE TOOL to store and share water quality data,

Explore MAP OVERLAYS of Treaty Areas and Traditional Territories, Traditional Languages, Metis Regions and Residential School locations,

Land Use Plan using INDIGENOUS INDICATORS vs Western Science Indicators

Full Description

Through our inclusive experiences, Albertans of all ages and abilities can explore regional ecological issues, develop an ethic of environmentalism, and gain the hands-on tools to protect our province's wild spaces and species.

Our experiences grow skills in Problem Solving, Cultural and Global Citizenship, Critical Thinking, Personal Growth and Well-being, Collaboration, Creativity, and Innovation.

Available topics include Wild Wellness (3-12), Animal Detectives (Gr. 3), Community Science (Gr. 3-9), Water Rangers (Gr. 4-5), Why Grasslands? (Gr. 4-9), Climate Game Changers (Gr. 4-12), Fabulous Forests (Gr. 6), Grizzly Bears Forever (Gr. 7-12), and Aquatic Field Studies (Gr. 8-12).

Full Description

Ocean Design Lab is an innovative program that will inspire curiosity and passion for future ocean heroes. This program will educate students about the environmental damage caused by overfishing.

This two-hour workshop begins with an informative lesson highlighting the environmental consequences of bottom trawling. Students will then collaborate in teams to redesign fishing nets to minimize environmental impact. The teams will build and test their prototypes in a friendly competition.

Students will use provided materials and a pretend budget to build their nets while learning important skills like problem-solving and teamwork. Ocean Design Lab helps students understand how different fields work together to address environmental challenges for a sustainable future. 

Available for Grades 3-12, this program connects with Core and Curricular Competencies. Ocean Design Lab can be taught in schools across Metro Vancouver and the Lower Mainland and can be delivered in schools, community/ youth groups, and other educational settings.

Full Description

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.

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!

Full Description

Join us for an interactive experience that will motivate students to take impactful steps towards reducing waste. The tours include a classroom workshop and a guided bus tour through the landfill.

Grades: 4 - 7
Program length: 3 hours total (90-minute landfill bus tour/ 90-minute classroom).
Class size: Up to 2 classes (30 students per class) per day.

Cost: No cost for tours, but schools must provide and arrange bus transportation.
Location: The Composting Facility at the Shepard Waste Management Facility (11920 68 St SE).

Full Description

Dr. Megan Zeni offers online workshops, in person teacher professional development, keynote addresses, research collaboration, and specialized consultation services. Schools, school districts, non-profit organizations, university faculty, teacher education programs, funding agencies, and education specific think tanks interested in building capacity for effective and sustainable environmental learning in rural or urban elementary school gardens and outdoor classrooms are invited to submit a request for services. Specific areas of expertise include: Curriculum & pedagogy l Outdoor play and learning across the curriculum l Risky play in schools l School garden planning, start up, and long-term maintenance.

Full Description

Evans Lake has been operating as a camp and outdoor education facility since 1960. The Centre is located 15 kilometres North of Squamish, BC on a picturesque mountain lake. Surrounded by forest, the Centre offers a feeling of wilderness seclusion while featuring all your basic amenities, accommodations and full catering.

The Centre is also open year-round and available for school field trips, family events, weddings, corporate retreats and private bookings. Rentals over 41 people offer exclusive use of the facility including full catering, use of all activity equipment and accommodations for 120.

We believe Outdoor Education is an experience every child should have. By taking the classroom to the great outdoors kids have an opportunity to get their hands dirty, learn in an interactive and fun environment, and develop personally.

Full Description

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.

Full Description

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

Students use an open inquiry model to investigate processes taking place in aquatic, forest or winter ecosystems. They will be given an opportunity to explore a novel environment and develop and test a scientific question. They will explore local and current research and utilize scientific equipment to conduct an investigation from start to finish. Students will construct a question, conduct background research, revise their question, collect data, synthesize data and ultimately finish with a poster and/or paper outlining their research and conclusions. Our programs take place at the Barrier Lake Field Station, in Kananaskis Country, 80km west of Calgary, AB.

Full Description

Journey 2050 encourages students to explore environmental, social and economic sustainability while managing virtual farms in 3 different countries. Students spend the day learning about different topics in sustainability through a virtual farming simulation game, scavenger hunts, discussions on careers in agriculture, and more!

This one-day program takes place in the Nutrien Western Event Centre on Stampede Park in Calgary, Alberta. In-school guest speaker sessions are offered for Calgary and surrounding area.

Full Description

Our outdoor programs take place at the Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre, at Shannon Terrace, 15931 Woodpath Rd SW, Calgary AB.

K-6 programs are teacher-led. Alberta Parks staff will provide the group with an in-depth orientation, and support the group throughout the day. Teachers are required to attend a 1.5 hour on-site orientation before the date of their program. Available for 2 classes per day, based on availability.

Grade 7-12 programs are led by an Alberta Parks staff member, who will be with your group for the entire day. Available for one class per day (max 35 students).

Full Description

With 55-acres of beautiful green space in the middle of Vancouver, VanDusen Botanical Garden represents a safe and interactive learning experience for school and community groups looking for local field trip opportunities!

Guided programs are available to students in grades K through 12. 45 minute programs are bookable year round and 90 minute programs are bookable October, November, April, May, and June. Take a look at the selections listed below to find the perfect option for your class! 

90-Minute Programs (available October, November, April, May, and June)

A Sense of Nature (K-Gr.2)        

Ecosystem Explorers (3-Gr.6)

Fantastic Flowers (Gr.1-Gr.4)

Pond Peering (Gr.1-Gr.4) May and June only

Seed Secrets (K-Gr.4) October and November only

45-Minute Programs (available year round)

Glimpse of the Garden (K-Gr.7)

Natural Heritage Walk (Gr.8-Gr.10)

Strategizing Sustainability (Gr.8-Gr.12)

Self-Directed Program 

Self-Directed programs are available year round. 

Pollinator Days (late May annually)

Please choose from 1 of 3 available dates. Pollinator Days runs from 10am-2pm. Classes from preschool to grade 6 are encouraged to attend one of the three event days.

Full Description

With 100% of proceeds going back into outdoor learning non-profit initiatives, The Outdoor Learning School & Store is a charitable social enterprise grown in the homelands of the Secwépemc and Ktunaxa, and flourishing across Turtle Island (North America).

Our awesome team works hard to provide a refined list of excellent resources, equipment, tools & training. We offer this in partnership with over 70 non-profit organizations from across North America.

Outdoor learning is being increasingly adopted to enhance student learning, and to support the physical, emotional and mental health of teachers and students. We’re pleased to help support this, along with other key social and environmental issues such as the climate crisis, the rapid loss of biodiversity, nature-deficit disorder, and the obesity epidemic.

Read about our Ethical Policies and Practices.

Full Description

We currently run Club programs in Metro Vancouver and Kelowna - reach out if you're looking for a program near you.

This is an 8-week/workshop after school program. Youth can do the program once. Participants take part in fun interactive activities each week and develop cooking skills by making a plant-based dinner at each workshop.

Full Description

Worms Love Leftovers gives children a peek into the amazing world of worms and how they help recycle organic waste, turning it into healthy living soil. 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 are available so cost is not a barrier to participation.

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

Did you know that many amphibians call Langley home? Students learn all about their lifecycles, adaptations, habitats, and which species are at risk. Discover frog friendly behaviour through interactive discussions and fun games.

Cost:

Grades K-3 $95

Grade 4 $105

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