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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.

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Discover the many wonders of the only mammal that can fly. Find out how bats live, hunt, echolocate, and adapt to their habitat using their unique bodies. Because bats are nocturnal, we will not see any live bats during the program. Instead, we will explore their habitat with unique props and activities. Bats really are beautiful; learn why in this interactive forest adventure. One-and-a-half-hour program for Pre-K – Grade 3.

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Please allow a minimum of 2 weeks notice if you are seeking a new lesson not listed in our lesson plans.

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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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Current lesson plans include Earth systems, Living systems, Time and place, Wetland ecosystems, Air and aerodynamics, Interactions in ecosystems, Fresh and saltwater ecosystems, Biological diversity, and Environmental stewardship.

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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

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At Seedlings Forest School, we strive to foster a sense of community and belonging among children, where they can develop positive relationships with each other and the natural world. Our experienced educators lead activities and encourage children to take risks, problem-solve, and make their own choices.

We believe that by providing children with regular access to nature, they will develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of the natural world and learn to live in harmony with it. Supporting inquiry-based learning empowers children to ask questions, explore their surroundings, and construct their knowledge through hands-on experiences Our goal is to help children become responsible and respectful citizens of the earth.

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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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The Wormshop uses the indoor, appropriate vermiculture system as a vehicle to teach kids about composting and waste reduction. The students can also take what they learn in the Wormshop and apply it at home, creating their own wormbin composting system, regardless of whether they live in a house or an apartment.

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This field trip is offered in spring (April, May, June) and fall (September and October) at our schoolyard farms in Vancouver.

Situated at Vancouver Technical and David Thompson secondary schools, our schoolyard farms are a short walk from many secondary schools and community centers. All field trips include farm work experience and a chance to harvest and taste vegetables, when seasonally available. Email us about different field trip time and duration opinions. We require 1 teacher/chaperone for every 8 grade K-3 students and for every 10 grade 4-12 students.

Max number of students: 30

Learn more and book your trip at https://freshroots.ca/learn-on-the-farm/.

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The Wilder Institute Calgary Zoo's programs serve students in-person from Calgary and surrounding areas. Our programs are curriculum connected based on the current Learn Alberta Program of Studies for Kindergarten - Grade 12. We also offer custom programming by request. Virtual programs are available seasonally, December - February, and are great for students from anywhere across the country.

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This field trip is offered in spring (April, May, June) and fall (September and October) at our schoolyard farms in Vancouver.

Situated at Vancouver Technical and David Thompson secondary schools, our schoolyard farms are a short walk from many secondary schools and community centers. All field trips include farm work experience and a chance to harvest and taste vegetables, when seasonally available. Email us about different field trip time and duration opinions. We require 1 teacher/chaperone for every 10 grade 4-12 students.

Max number of students: 30

Learn more and book your trip at https://freshroots.ca/learn-on-the-farm/.

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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.

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Discover the art of transforming garden herbs into nourishing skin remedies! Learn how to turn wild and common plants into luxurious infused oils and soothing salves, perfect for nurturing your skin and supporting wellness naturally.

We’ll explore how to identify and sustainably harvest a selection of medicinal herbs, discuss their unique benefits, and walk you through harvesting and drying techniques for optimal potency.

Then, get hands-on as you craft your own custom herbal oils and blend them into healing salves to take home, while gaining practical medicine-making skills you can use again and again. Whether you’re new to herbal remedies or eager to expand your skills, you’ll leave with confidence and the know-how to bring herbal healing into your daily routine.

In this workshop you will learn:

- The distinctions and benefits of infused oils vs salves vs creams

- How to make your own infused oil and salve (and make one to take home with you)

- How to identify, harvest, dry, and utilize several medicinal herbs

This workshop is third in a three-part series! Sign up for all three Garden Remedies classes using the Package Deal ticket link for a $20 discount.

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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.

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Join us as we journey down the river of stories from the headwaters to the mouth of the Fraser. Travelling along an interactive map, students will learn all about the Fraser River Basin through stories from the near and distant past. The program ends with a reflection on our place in this landscape, as students add their own story to the map.

Grades:  K-2             Length: 70 mins           Maximum group size: 30 students

To participate in this program, you will need:

A classroom with a projector we can connect our laptop or USB to

Curricular connections:

This program supports curricular competencies in English Language Arts as students engage actively as listeners, viewers and readers; create stories to deepen their awareness of self; and use oral storytelling processes. This program also supports competencies in Social Studies as students learn about cultural characteristics and ways of life of local First Peoples, and understand the significance of the Fraser River Basin to individuals and groups. This program incorporates the First Peoples Principles of Learning, specifically that learning is relational; recognizes the role of indigenous knowledge; is embedded in story; and requires exploration of one’s own identity. Further, this program supports students in the process of developing a positive personal and cultural identity.

Full Description

This field trip is offered in spring (April, May, June) and fall (September and October) at our schoolyard farms in Vancouver.

Situated at Vancouver Technical and David Thompson secondary schools, our schoolyard farms are a short walk from many secondary schools and community centers. All field trips include farm work experience and a chance to harvest and taste vegetables, when seasonally available. Email us about different field trip time and duration opinions. We require 1 teacher/chaperone for every 8 grade K-3 students and for every 10 grade 4-12 students.

Max number of students: 30

Learn more and book your trip at https://freshroots.ca/learn-on-the-farm/.

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We also offer the opportunity to book a lesson with our educator to accompany the EduKit. Please note the teacher or a representative for your educational institution is responsible for picking up and dropping off the EduKit from our office.

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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

Full Description

This field trip is offered in spring (April, May, June) and fall (September and October) at our schoolyard farms in Vancouver.

Situated at Vancouver Technical and David Thompson Secondary schools, our schoolyard farms are a short walk from many secondary schools and community centers. All field trips include farm work experience and a chance to harvest and taste vegetables, when seasonally available. Email us about different field trip time and duration opinions. We require 1 teacher/chaperone for every 10 grade 4-12 students.

Max number of students: 30

Learn more and book your trip at https://freshroots.ca/learn-on-the-farm/.