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Program Description & Details

The Vancouver Writers Fest is one of the largest, and most prestigious literary festivals in North America. The 2020 Festival takes place ONLINE from October 19-25, 2020. In addition to the programming we offer adults, we also hold events specifically for K-12 students.

Through our youth educational outreach programs, we offer students the opportunity to interact with celebrated writers from across the globe in designed specifically for young people, teachers, schools and student groups. Each year, we reach more than 7,000 students across British Columbia—in the classroom or at the Festival.

This year our youth education outreach programming will include:

10+ weekday Festival virtual events featuring presentations and discussions with engaging authors from Canada and around the world, programmed with BC curriculum goals in mind. Some of the authors particpating in the Festival this year are Kenneth Oppel, Oliver Jeffers, Steven Heighton, Jess Keating, Christy Jordan-Fenton, David A. Robertson, and many more!

All our events are pay what you can this year.

Writers in the Classroom: 10+ events where writers meet students for reading, writing and/or drawing workshops on Microsoft Teams or Zoom. 

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

Learn to ski or snowboard at Grouse Mountain! Students will develop skills and good sportsmanship in a fun and playful winter environment.

One and four day sessions available.

Please visit our PureClean initiatives for the health and safety of our guests.

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

The Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife offers programs that make learning about nature fun and fascinating! Our programs align with the BC Curriculum for science, social studies, and physical education, and our experienced educators teach outside in the natural beautiful setting of Grouse Mountain.

Wildlife Education: Pick from a range of interactive curriculum-focused activities and build an unforgettable field trip for your students. Duration: Full or Half Day

Hiwus Feasthouse Cultural Program: Step into an authentic Pacific Northwest Longhouse and let Kwel-a-a-nexw, our Squamish First nations elder, take you back in time to discover the traditional way of life of our First Nations people. Duration: Full Day.

Peak of Christmas: (December) Engage your students in the magic of the holidays: visit live reindeer, discover snow-fleas, take a scavenger hunt, play in the snow and more. Duration: Full or Half Day

 

Visit our PureClean initiatives.

Duration: 
See notes.
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

Fun for all ages! Join our experienced guides for outdoor adventure program sessions.

Snowshoe Tours: Wander through the snowy trails exploring the sub-alpine forest of the Coastal Mountain Range. Students will learn outdoor safety and survival skills and avalanche awareness. Duration: 1.5 hours

Alpine Wilderness Survival: A blend of hands-on survival skills and outdoor adventure experiences, neatly bound by friendly group competition. Duration: ull Day

Scavenger Hunts: The Mountain Scavenger Hunt takes school groups on an adventure to stunning locations and hidden hideouts of Grouse Mountain. Duration: 3 hours

Mountain Ropes Adventure: A series of four aerial ropes courses with varying degrees of difficulty. Balance, jump, climb, swing and zip your way to the finish! School group pricing available. Duration: variable

Ziplining: Our dual-line, five-line circuit gives you an adrenaline-pumping tour across the peaks and canyons of Grouse and Dam Mountains. School group pricing available. Tour Duration: 2 hrs

The health and safety of our guests and team members is our highest priority. We want you to enjoy everything Grouse Mountain has to offer with absolute confidence so we developed Grouse Mountain Resort PureClean to elevate our existing high standards of hygiene and cleanliness procedures.

Duration: 
See notes.
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

Vancouver’s Davie Street is home to one of North America’s most vibrant gay villages. The city’s annual PRIDE parade draws crowds in the tens of thousands. Our city has openly gay politicians and monuments to gay activists. But it wasn’t always this way…

Before decriminalization queer people lived in fear of being “outed” and risked losing their jobs, families, and even freedom. Canada routinely imprisoned people for homosexuality. Many of the leaders in the struggle for queer liberation in Canada were from here in Vancouver. People like ted northe, who had the bravery to campaign for queer rights back in the 1950s.

Vancouver has played a larger-than-life role internationally in the struggle for equality. We had the world’s first openly gay church minister, St Paul’s hospital opened one of the first dedicated care units during the AIDS crisis, and we had Canada’s first chapter of the Imperial Court System. We also had bookstore bombings, some of the country’s first PRIDE marches, and a transgender campaigner who blew the whistle on the biggest crime in the city’s history.

The experience was researched, designed, and is guided by Forbidden Vancouver storyteller Glenn Tkach. It’s perfect for any secondary or post-secondary social justice, gender studies and civics courses, student groups, GSA groups and more.

  • Duration – 2 hours
  • Start Point – Trees Organic Coffee at 930 Burrard Street
  • End Point – Davie & Bute streets at Jim Deva Plaza, by the rainbow crosswalk 
City: 
Duration: 
See notes.
For Grades: 
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
No
Program Description & Details

Pretty much everyone in Metro Vancouver knows about Stanley Park. It’s world famous for its dense forest, spectacular views, seawall, beaches, and fabulous trails. The park even won the title of “World’s Greatest Park” in a TripAdvisor contest. But while the park hosts millions of people every year, very few come away from their visit with any knowledge of the park’s remarkable social history.

Stanley Park is not an untouched rainforest. It was home to local Coast Salish people for thousands of years before it became a park, and even for decades afterwards. Numerous villages dotted the shoreline, including Whoi Whoi, which hosted large potlaches and from where a delegation sailed to meet Captain George Vancouver as he explored the area in 1792.

The story of the forced eviction of indigenous people from the land that would become Stanley Park is a shocking background to the park’s creation. Some mixed race indigenous and European families were able to fight back against the City’s onslaught of lawsuits, and keep their homes in the park near Brockton Point until the 1950s. Today their memory and resilience is honoured by the statue Shore to Shore, by Salish artist Luke Marston, which we visit on the tour.

The creation of the park was also about more than creating a space for Vancouverites to enjoy afternoon strolls and picnics. The land was originally intended as a military reserve, established to protect the city should the Americans decide to invade. After it became clear that wouldn’t happen, real estate developers, the Canadian Pacific Railway, the City of Vancouver, and the Federal Government all battled for control of the land. The fact it became a park illustrates the colossal power the CPR once had in Vancouver. 

Throw into the mix the tale of Deadman’s Island, stories of true crime, smallpox pest houses, buried treasure, public art, crow shoots and poetry and you’ll find that despite its beauty, there’s a lot more to Stanley Park than meets the eye!

A unique field trip for students from Grade 5 – University:

  • Duration – 2 hours
  • Start and end point – Outside the Vancouver Aquarium entrance by the whale fountain at 845 Avison Way
City: 
Duration: 
See notes.
For Grades: 
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, Teachers Only
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
No
Program Description & Details

The City Analyst has gone missing! It’s up to your team of detectives to solve the case. Looking at all the collected material, including crime scene, impressions and DNA evidence, piece together the connections between the suspects and the sequence of events leading up to our Analyst’s kidnapping. Can you save our City Analyst and uncover the suspect’s motive?

This program is ideal for classes studying the Canadian justice system, policing, and forensic methods. 

Duration: 1 hour Capacity: 20 Cost: $8.00/student

Combine a Kidnapping program with a Museum Discovery Tour – only $12.00/student!

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

On this guided tour students uncover the history of social development, crime and law enforcement in Vancouver and how it impacts modern living. Students are guided through a 45-minute tour followed by 15 minutes of self-guided exploration. Tour content and complexity can be tailored to group needs and interests.

Our museum tours delve into the origins of Vancouver's own Coroners Court, Autopsy Suite and Morgue. Our new exhibit, "Becoming Vance" explores fascinating elements of forensic science and Canada's very own Sherlock Holmes, John Vance. 

You’ll also discover our famous True Crimes exhibit, which highlights the city’s most notorious crimes and cold cases with authentic evidence and artifacts on display. And, of course, you’ll see the city’s first morgue and autopsy suite in addition to hundreds of rare artifacts, archives and photos from our own collection.

Our museum is brimming with exciting history, exhibits and artefacts that you can’t find anywhere else in the world. A designated heritage building, it was once the Coroner’s Court, Autopsy Facility and the City Analyst’s Laboratory, making it one of the most authentic museum experiences in the world.

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

Format: PDF online at https://monova.ca/climbing-to-the-clouds-a-peoples-history-of-bc-mountaineering/.

Explore mountaineering and related themes. Students will investigate First Nations acivities in the local mountains, the scientific and technical advances made by mountaineers, as well as their impact on wilderness conservation. This program is based upon the website, viewable in French and English https://monova.ca/climbing-to-the-clouds-a-peoples-history-of-bc-mountaineering/.

Duration: 
See notes.
For Grades: 
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
Contact Us
Program Description & Details

This Winter wrap up warm, grab your camera, and embark on this unique journey to view the spectacular bald eagles that gather in the Brackendale area of Squamish, British Columbia, every year.

As you travel the lower Cheakamus and Squamish Rivers, observe, photograph and learn about the local population of wintering eagles as our expert guides share their knowledge of the bald eagles, aboriginal legends, local area, river features, and flora and fauna with you.

Don’t forget to take in the breathtaking scenery of the Stawamus Chief, Shannon Falls, Mount Garibaldi, and the Coast Mountains of British Columbia. Enjoy your time with your friends, teachers, parents, and nature during this idyllic interpretive wildlife float and learn about the world-renowned Squamish Valley and its thriving eagle population.

Finish your Winter Eagle Float Tour at a cozy restaurant for a warm hearty meal.

Duration: 
Half Day
For Grades: 
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Months Available: 
Times Offered: 
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
No
Program Description & Details

Based on the BC curriculum, Stillwood's Outdoor Eduation Program is designed to take classroom learning outside in a practical and hands-on approach. The program is modular and covers content from K-12, meaning you get to pick and choose what topics you would like for your field trip, no matter what grades you teach.

Our modules include: Water Cycle, Stream Quality & Flow Rate, Bug Catching, Biodiversity Surveying, Wildlife Discovery, Geology & Landforms 

We also facilitate nature hikes and team building sessions! 

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

Clip ‘n Climb is climbing walls meet theme park… an engaging and action packed environment that provides tons of healthy, challenging fun for everyone. We have over 25 unique climbing features all under one roof!

Following a 15 minute safety briefing and harness fitting your students will move into the climbing zone where they will climb for an hour, focussing on their fundamental movement skills and confidence in their own abilities to push the limits of their comfort zone. Clip ‘n Climb floor staff can also set challenges that will help to push student's limits.

City: 
Duration: 
75
For Grades: 
K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
Yes
Program Description & Details

Students roll up their sleeves to assess, interpret and analyze archival documents and hands-on artifacts related to seven people of varied genders, ages, and ethnic backgrounds who lived in Surrey during World War One. The Chinese head tax, Komagata Maru incident and German internment are just a few of the challenging social and political issues during this time period that this teaching kit covers.
Three week loan / $53.00

City: 
Duration: 
See notes.
For Grades: 
9, 10, 11
Times Offered: 
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
No
Program Description & Details

Art is all around us, including on the farm!  Try your hand at making root veggie stamps, painting with leaves, making veggie collages, or other plant-based art projects.  Exact projects will vary depending on plant availability.

City: 
Duration: 
See notes.
For Grades: 
K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Months Available: 
Days Offered: 
Times Offered: 
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
No
Program Description & Details

Get a taste of what Fresh Roots is all about!  Activities will vary depending on age, size of group, and the needs of the farm, but you can expect to learn about how Fresh Roots came to be, learn about food and food systems through play, participate in farm work, and try some farm-grown food!

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

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