Richmond

Program Description & Details

SCIENCE IN THE SUBALPINE

Our Junior Rangers program takes students on a thrilling ride up to our unique subalpine environment, 885 meters above sea level! We help teachers meet curriculum requirements with a dynamic and hands-on approach to learning. These courses are designed to engage students and connect them with nature and wildlife in an interactive way that encourages an inquiry-based method of learning.

GRADE K - 1: SEASONAL CHANGES AND THE NEEDS OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS

In this course, students learn about the unique ecosystem of the subalpine environment, how that environment changes throughout the year, and how our native plants and animals adjust to the seasons. We explore this vibrant mountain-top setting through hiking and group activities.

GRADE 2-3: THE FOOD WEB OF A SUBALPINE ECOSYSTEM

There is so much biodiversity and interconnected life in the subalpine! Grade 2 and 3 students will investigate the lifecycles, food webs and food chains found in this unique habitat. They will explore the Summit and take part in a team activity which demonstrates the sensitive relationships within a food web at this altitude.

GRADE 4: THE SUBALPINE BIOME AND ANIMALS WITH SUPER SENSES

In this course, we look into local wildlife biodiversity and discuss the topic of biomes. Together we learn about the delicate balance in the subalpine environment and what sustains a healthy ecosystem. We examine how animals, birds and reptiles use their senses to respond to other creatures and their environment. Students will discover just how vital these super senses are to some of our most familiar mountain residents.

GRADE 5-6: THE ROCK CYCLE

It is easy to see how amazing the local landscape is! From our Summit, each direction you look there is a rock feature of some kind. How did they get there and how did they form? Hiking our trails, students will discover how rocks transform from one type to another, and what forces build up the landscape and wear it down.

GRADE 7-8: ADAPTABILITY OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS IN THE SUBALPINE

The subalpine is home to some of British Columbia’s most fascinating wildlife and interesting plants. With specific reference to natural selection and the characteristics of life, students will discover the ways in which these plants and animals adapt to meet the challenges of finding food, avoiding predators, and surviving the changes of the seasons.

Duration: 
Half Day
For Grades: 
K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
Contact Us
Program Description & Details

Winter sports are an important part of physical literacy, and our new Summit Snowshoe course is a fun introduction to this fast-growing sport. Students learn snowshoeing basics for health and fitness, including how to prepare for a snowshoe hike, snowshoeing safety and techniques, and then test their skills with games and a hike on our snowshoe trails. This activity can be combined with tubing.

Duration: 
Half Day
For Grades: 
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Months Available: 
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
Contact Us
Program Description & Details

In the Sea to Sky corridor, we are fortunate to be surrounded by mountains and a vast amount of backcountry to explore. Take advantage of the wilderness we're lucky enough to call our backyard and hike off-trail to experience our backcountry under the expertise of our education guides.

Students will cover a selection of the topics below. The Sea to Sky Gondola Education Guide leading your group will decide which of the topics will be taught depending on the weather, size and age of the group.

Hiking 101

Imagine you are heading out for a hike in the backcountry. How to prepare? Learn about planning and packing for a safe day hike in the backcountry.

Avalanche Awareness

Another essential part of planning a safe day out includes route planning and weather. We examine types of snow, types of hazards, and risk assessments in planning outdoor adventures.

Wilderness First Aid

Your day in the backcountry has been going great until one member of the group falls and is now injured! Learn to treat a medical emergency in the outdoors. Build and use an improvised stretcher to carry your friend to safety.

Shelter Building

Even with the best intentions things in the backcountry don’t always go to plan! Explore the skills and techniques needed to build a good shelter. Will your shelter keep you warm and dry, or will you be wet and cold as the rain comes in?

Duration: 
Half Day
For Grades: 
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
Contact Us
Program Description & Details

A collaboration between Sea to Sky Gondola, Mountain Research Initiative, Geo Mountains, the University of Calgary, and the Arctic Institute, our Mountain Sustainability Program is designed for learners of all ages. Students take a global view of mountains around the world and initiatives in mountain resilience, examining how mountains are created, what changes them, and the shared responsibilities of mountain stewardship. We make the most of our unique subalpine environment with hands-on activities on weather, glaciers, and biodiversity. In support of the United Nations declaration that 2022 is the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development, the program is built around the question "What do mountains mean to you?" #mountainsmatter 

Students who have already done our course, can try our new mountain sustainability case studies on wildlife counts and nature-based solutions like ecological restoration.

Duration: 
Half Day
For Grades: 
K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
Contact Us
Program Description & Details

Brief description of program: 

This unique field trip offers students an on-site tour of the first and only facility in North America dedicated to recovery and recycling of ocean plastic with direct traceability to ocean recovery expeditions. It includes hands-on interactive sorting of ocean plastics.

Can’t get to our facility? Be sure to check out our FREE online program, EPIC Academy at: https://www.bcfieldtrips.ca/trip/explore-issues-about-ocean-plastics-and...

Full Trip Details: 

Ocean Legacy Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to ending the ocean plastic pollution crisis, and strengthening the plastic circular economy through our recycling program. Our work is built on a four-pillar program called EPIC, which stands for Education, Policy, Infrastructure, and Cleanup.

Education and Policy are upstream efforts that prevent plastics and other waste from reaching our oceans and waterways. Infrastructure and Cleanup are downstream initiatives that seek to remove plastics from our oceans and shorelines, and process them for reintroduction into the plastic circular economy. 

The field trip will occur primarily outdoors at our Plastic Pollution Emergency Response recycling facility located at Steveston Harbour in Richmond. Ours is the first and only facility that collects marine plastics from a wide variety of sources to recover what was considered waste and turns it back into reusable plastic. Sources include: our own cleanup expeditions on coastal waters and shorelines, the Ocean Legacy network of Ocean Plastic Depots across BC and Atlantic Canada, used marine/fishing gear, ghost gear, materials collected by other non-profit cleanup organizations and marine industrial businesses. 

The tour offers an opportunity to see the process used to convert recovered marine plastic back into high-grade 100% post-consumer processed plastic pellets for use in the manufacturing of durable products as part of the circular economy. Ultimately, the goal of the field trip is to foster understanding of the plastic pollution crisis and circular economy principles: what is considered waste, how much of what consumers use daily is actually recyclable/recoverable, and to provide students with hands-on interaction with marine debris. Students develop awareness of their own plastic consumption habits, and ways they can take direct action to become part of the solution. Students will see the transformation of ocean plastic waste into new resources that have economic value.

Knowledge gained in this field trip can be enhanced when paired with EPIC Academy, Ocean Legacy's 10 lessons of no-cost/fully-funded online ocean plastics education. This LMS platform offers access to both individual online learners and also has downloadable materials for classroom educators. Includes classroom PowerPoint presentations, fully developed lesson plans, reflective activities and quizzes/answers sheets.

Fieldtrip structure:

  • Walk the facility perimeter to see the equipment and portions of the recovery process
  • Watch ocean plastics recycling in action
  • Identify resin codes
  • Sort items you see and use at home: a large bag of ocean-recovered plastic materials will be emptied to engage all students in an interactive sorting activity that demonstrates what types of commonly used plastics end up in the ocean. This prompts students consider their consumption habits and connects cause and effect of reduced consumption and proper disposal
  • See benches and lumber made from ocean-recovered plastic

What to bring:

  • Work gloves for sorting
  • Closed-toe shoes are required for safety
  • Snacks 
  • Water bottle (can be refilled with filtered water on-site if needed)

One single stall/private washroom is available on site.

FREE PARKING - is available on Chatham street; pay parking is also available in the lot directly in front of our facility.

 

City: 
Duration: 
60
For Grades: 
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Days Offered: 
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
No
Program Description & Details

Explore the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site through the lens of innovation, and how things have changed throughout the history of fishing and boatbuilding in Steveston. Students will engage in four different interactive stations with themes ranging from innovation in recycling, resources, and communications. These concepts will then be discussed and applied to a boatbuilding activity, with each student making their own wooden boat model to bring home.

City: 
Duration: 
90
For Grades: 
4, 5, 6
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
Contact Us
Program Description & Details

Explore the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site to learn about history of boatbuilding and its importance in Steveston. Students will explore the different steps to build a boat by participating in a tool scavenger hunt, a caulking demonstration, and more maritime-themed activities. These steps will then be applied to a boatbuilding activity, with each student making their own small wooden boat to bring home.

City: 
Duration: 
90
For Grades: 
K, 1, 2, 3
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
Contact Us
Program Description & Details

Discover the stories of a diverse fishing, canning, and boat building community at the scenic Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site on the shores of the Fraser River. This one-hour guided tour is led by a Heritage Interpreter, and includes introductions to the heritage buildings which illustrated the living and working conditions of the communities that made Steveston the special place it is today.

City: 
Duration: 
60
For Grades: 
8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
Contact Us
Program Description & Details

Explore the historic houses and engage in story time and eye-spy activities to learn about Steveston's unique cultural community. Students will participate in a shopping relay game while representing a family that may have lived in this community. Experience what life may have been like for the workers, families and children from diverse cultures who lived and worked here together. 

City: 
Duration: 
90
For Grades: 
1, 2, 3
Months Available: 
Days Offered: 
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
Contact Us
Program Description & Details

Investigate Steveston's history of immigrant workers from 1890 to 1940 through role-play. Students 'research" people's lives as newspaper reporters, by unpacking artefacts, creating a timeline and exploring the heritage buildings at Britannia Shipyards National Heritage Site. *Please note: This program will be offered until the end of March 2024. A new version with same themes will be offered starting April 1, 2024. More information to come.

City: 
Duration: 
90
For Grades: 
4, 5, 6
Months Available: 
Days Offered: 
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
Contact Us
Program Description & Details

Discover Richmond’s diverse cultures by exploring multicultural winter celebrations, from First Nations to European, Asian and African traditions. Unwrap mystery presents that hold clues about a cultural winter celebration, play a Japanese New Year game and make a Victorian Christmas craft.

City: 
Duration: 
90
For Grades: 
K, 1, 2, 3
Months Available: 
Times Offered: 
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
No
Program Description & Details

The River Champions outreach program is available for students in grades 3-12, located in schools within the Fraser River Basin boundary. 

Grades 3-5  

Students explore the basics of climate science and river processes. Using a stream table model, students model different climate change scenarios and design infrastructure that could mitigate the damage caused by climate change. 

Grades 6-12  

Students discuss connections between climate change and land management practices, both traditional Indigenous and current industrial. Using a stream table model, students model different climate change scenarios and design infrastructure that could mitigate the damage caused by climate change. For the optional action project, students research how their communities may be susceptible to extreme weather events and climate change, and present their findings using ArcGIS Story Maps. A follow-up online workshop connects students to knowledge holders.

We’re a proud partner of GenAction; a national initiative designed to inspire youth to become innovative leaders in climate action now, and into the future. Visit GenAction for details.

Click here to book!

Duration: 
80
For Grades: 
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
No
Program Description & Details

Invite OWL (Orphaned Wildlife) Rehabilitation Society to join you in your classroom to learn about the amazing species of raptors that call BC home, the features and adaptations that make them unique, their life cycles, and about the dangers they face and how you can help. You also get the chance to meet some of OWL’s Raptor Ambassadors up close in person! Each program will be focused to each grade level that is participating.

Have a specific topic in mind? We are more than happy to work with you to make the program you are looking for. Some popular requests include focusing on a specific species, such as owls or just hawks, life cycles, or food chains.

https://www.owlrehab.org/education/in-class/

Duration: 
60
For Grades: 
K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
No
Program Description & Details

Each year, thousands of children are introduced to the wonders of nature through school programs at the Richmond Nature Park. Due to COVID-19, brand new virtual programs have been developed to offer a new, virtual learning experience. 

Wildlife in Your Classroom is designed for students in Kindergarten through Grade 4.  Interactive presentations include activities, demonstrations, taxidermy, multimedia visuals and a Q & A session with the naturalist, if time permits.

"Why Do Animals Live in My Neighbourhood?" 

Learn about the basic needs that all animals have, their adaptations to survive, why they live in our neighbourhoods and how we can co-exist with them. Recommended for Grades 1-4.

Educators have a choice of two different Wildlife in Your Classroom programs.

Register for one or both programs! 

  1. Why Do Animals Live in My Neighbourhood? - Skunks and Coyotes
  2. Why Do Animals Live in My Neighbourhood? - Raccoons and Snow Geese

$85/class (max. 24 students and 2-4 adults)

Technology/Equipment requirements:
Strong internet connection and access to a video/sound system. We recommend connecting your laptop to a smartboard or a projector and ensuring the speakers are enabled to provide an optimal experience.

Platform: Zoom

Visit the Program Registration page, click on the BROWSE AND REGISTER button and choose from Adults: Online - Programs from the Nature and Science category. Register online or call the Registration Call Centre at 604-276-4300, Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm.

City: 
Duration: 
45
For Grades: 
K, 1, 2, 3, 4
Days Offered: 
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
No
Program Description & Details

Join OWL (Orphaned Wildlife) Rehabilitation Society in this unique virtual experience to learn about the amazing species of raptors that call BC home, the features and adaptations that make them unique, how they respond to their environment, and about the dangers they face and how you can help. You also get the chance to meet some of OWL’s Raptor Ambassadors up close on camera! Each program will be focused to each grade level that is participating.

Have a specific topic in mind? We are more than happy to work with you to make the program you are looking for. Some popular requests include focusing on a specific species, such as owls or just hawks, life cycles, or food chains.

For more information or to book, please visit: https://www.owlrehab.org/education/virtual/

Duration: 
See notes.
For Grades: 
K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
No

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