Rossland

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?

This discovery kit is perfect for those teachers and students that are interested in learning more about the Kootenay-Boundary’s plant and animal life. The kit includes five activities based around identifying local plants and animals, invasive species, and indigenous use. You even figure out how to measure a tree with a straw! This kit is suitable for kindergarten to grade 7, with curriculum links to Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics.

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/

The Owls for Tots program is targeted to the 3-5 year age group. It is a very basic program that does not go into a lot of detail but rather is kept simple and direct. During the program the students will learn what makes a bird a bird, how owls are different from other birds, what species of owls are found in Southern BC, some of the dangers they face, and what the students can do to help.

There will be a short question and answer period at the end of the program.

The students will have the opportunity to meet a live owl during their classroom program. As we are working with animals, we cannot guarantee which bird will be available on the day of the program, so we unfortunately don’t take special requests.

You can visit our Offsite Education Birds page to find out more about the raptors who may visit your classroom (scroll down to the “Offsite Education Raptor Ambassadors” section).

For more information or to book, please visit: https://www.owlrehab.org/education/owls-for-tots/

This tour includes:

• A guided historical tour in the ski wing where students learn about the contributions early miners made to the sport of skiing;

• Watch the film "Mining to Moguls" and play a trivia game;

• Visit the Sinixt Display to learn about the local Indigenous connection to Red Mountain prior to the arrival of European settlers.

This tour includes:

• Watching a short film on the history of Rossland and a scavenger hunt in the museum;

• Instruction in goldpanning on site (year round);

• Rock identification activity where students will learn the different classifications or rocks and their properties.