January

Little Victoria lived in Vancouver a long time ago. Hear the story of her lost doll through five generations of her family. Play with toys from each generation and see the evolution of toys overtime. Students are invited to consider technologies, culture, and environmental impact. Role-play archaeologists and discover toys like Victoria’s.

Subtopic: Dig into the Past!  (45-60 minutes, $145)

Uncover the science of archaeology by investigating artefacts from the ancient cultures of Mesopotamia, Egypt, Indus Valley, China, Greece, and Rome. Work in teams to research and analyze artefacts from the Museum's Teaching Collection, then formulate and test your hypothesis.

*An Education Kit is available for this subtopic  ($55/week)

Subtopic: Reframing Archaeology: Sites of the Northwest Coast  (45-60 minutes, $145)

Learn about several prominent Northwest Coast archaeological sites. Using traditional First Nations belongings, examine the role and limitations of archeology when studying the cultures and traditions of the Pacific Northwest Coast First Nations.

Subtopic: Mummification in Ancient Egypt  (45-60 minutes, $145)

Learn more about the process and the significance of mummification in Ancient Egypt. Use your critical thinking skills to gain a deeper understanding of contemporary issues surrounding ethics, collecting, and repatriation in museums. 

Learn about Ancient Egypt by role-playing archaeologists. Excavate and examine Egyptian artifacts and build a pyramid!

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.

Keywords: nature, park, parks, outdoor, outdoors, ecology, forest, hands-on, interactive, explore, conservation, animals, plants

Book here!

Free tours of our exhibitions are available for Grades 8 - 12. Learn about the artists, their works, and how we curate the exhibitions. Teachers' Guides are available on our website for each exhibition. Please book ahead of time to ensure availibility. Gallery-based activities can be arranged to integrate with your subject area.

Go on a quest for nature knowledge! The Eco Quest takes your students through the Ecology Centre’s displays. Get interactive with our displays as you find the answers to the scavenger hunt questions and decode the secret message. Receive a small prize when you complete the Eco Quest booklet and then enjoy a nature video in our theatre. 

This program introduces students to Indigenous Peoples of the West Coast and the importance of salmon in their lives. The program utilizes Indigenous-created resources from a variety of nations to inform a series of activities. Activities include: an activity about animals that introduces Indigenous worldviews; a discussion of salmon as a Cultural Keystone Species, serving important cultural and spiritual as well as subsistence purposes; a viewing of the film Salmon People, about the importance of salmon to the Cowichan; an examination of Indigenous fishing tools; and a conclusion covering contemporary Indigenous relationships to fish and fishing.