Wednesday

It is 1918, four years after the devastating rockslide at Hell’s Gate that blocked millions of Fraser River salmon from reaching their spawning grounds. Salmon stocks have plummeted, and the low stocks are threatening the future of the fishing industry. A commission of stakeholders has been called to determine how to help the species recover from this disaster.

Students will role play and work together to solve the problem. The 1914 Hell’s Gate rockslide and its consequences provide a historic example of the complexities of natural resource management that is still relevant today.

This program makes connections between all six Historical Thinking Principles; historical causes of today’s environmental concerns; and the shared history of BC, including topics of social justice, science, and Indigenous issues. The program takes a historical event and dramatizes it for relevant contemporary conversations that can be held in the classroom.

Bring your class to The Reach for an interactive field trip that connects art, history, and culture to the curriculum in fun and meaningful ways. Students explore exhibitions through guided tours, hands-on activities, and creative projects that encourage critical thinking and personal connections.

Tour Options:

• Tour & Try – Exhibition tour + art activity (70–90 min) – $10/person

• Tour Only – Exhibition tour (30–45 min) – $7/person

• The Reach + Clearbrook Library – Tour & Try + Storytime and new Library Cards (2 hrs) – $10/person at The Reach, free at the Library

Exhibitions & Activities:

• Parallax(e): Perspectives on the Canada–U.S. Border – Explore how borders shape communities, cultures, and ecosystems. Includes a scavenger hunt for added fun!

• Collective Making – Get hands-on by painting your own “Personal Geography,” exploring Stó:lō waterways on an interactive map, and learning about the border through creative activities.

• Voices of the Valley – Discover Abbotsford’s past through artifacts, photos, and documents. Interactive touchscreens let students dig into primary sources while exploring stories of how our community has grown and changed.

Details:

• Open to groups of all ages and abilities

• Available Tuesday–Friday

• Maximum group size: 90 at The Reach / 120 with Library partnership

• One adult chaperone per 10 students - teachers & chaperones free entry

Make history and art come alive for your students—book your group tour today!

Researchers gather samples to investigate the health issues facing salmon populations. In this outreach program, students will explore indigenous sampling methods alongside western techniques for analyzing fish scales and otoliths. By utilizing these approaches, they will also examine the most pressing threats to salmon and their habitats, while analyzing current methodologies. 

Grades: 8-12                          Length: 1 hour                Maximum group size: 30 students

Program Components:

• Analyze samples to investigate growth and migration patterns of salmon populations.
• Explore Indigenous sampling methods and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of different methods.
• Learn about western techniques for analyzing fish scales and otoliths to determine age. 
• Examine the most pressing threats to salmon and their habitats and how to make informed conservation decisions.

For more information, visit our website or email us. 

Online booking form here. 

In this engaging outreach program designed for students in grades K-3, children will explore the fascinating world of ecosystems and discover what contributes to their health or decline, while focusing on salmon habitats. They will gain an understanding of the essential needs of both plants and animals, as well as the adaptations these species have developed to thrive in their environments.

This program requires a large space, in a gymnasium or some other large open space.

Grades: K-3                          Length: 1 hour                Maximum group size: 30 students

Program Components:

• Introduction to healthy salmon habitats and salmon life cycle.
• Understand the need of plants and animals to help salmon thrive in their environments.
• Discover adaptations salmon species have developed within different environments.

For more information, visit our website or email us. 

Online booking form here. 

A class tour, led by a Metro Vancouver wastewater operations team member, to discover the complex story of wastewater collection and treatment in our region.

Lulu Island Wastewater Treatment Plant treats 26 billion litres of wastewater annually. The plant provides secondary treatment to wastewater from about 172,000 residents in the western part of Richmond.

Lions Gate Wastewater Treatment Plant treats 32 billion liters ​​of wastewater annually. The plant provides primary treatment to wastewater from about 180,000 residents in the District of West Vancouver, the City of North Vancouver, and the District of North Vancouver.​

Wastewater Treatment Plant Facility Tour for Schools | Metro Vancouver

TAILOR YOUR VISIT
Create unique learning opportunities for your students in multiple disciplines by exploring sport, history, and Olympic and Paralympic values. Whether you are teaching social studies, STEM, physical education, or the arts, the Richmond Olympic Experience delivers customizable field trips to enhance educator's curriculum delivery through the lens of sport. Book now to reserve your spot!

See our current offerings/prices by following the links below:

Program Pricing: http://olympicexperience.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2025_Education-Pr...

Program Offerings: http://olympicexperience.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/2025_Education-Pr...

Contact for more information:

• schools@richmondoval.ca 
• plaing@richmondoval.ca
• 604-240-2366

On this engaging tour, students discover how technology and a skilled team combine to operate the Vancouver Landfill – where 70% of Metro Vancouver’s waste is received annually. Students will get to know the Zero Waste Centre, the Composting Facility, the ‘active face’ of the landfill, and how landfill gas is captured and upgraded to renewable natural gas quality​.

Vancouver Landfill Facility Tour for Schools | Metro Vancouver