Pre-Visit Information Package

Chinese New Year is an exciting time! Students will explore its stories and traditions and finish the program by doing a fun scavenger hunt around the Garden OR a take-home craft.

This program only takes place during the 4 weeks around the Chinese New Year festival in late January or early Feburary. Visit our website to find the exact dates and don't delay - spots get booked up quickly!

A popular add-on option is to book a Chinatown Walking Tour along Pender street. Students will see how the shops and businesses are decorated for New Year and learn a little about the history and culture of this fascinating neighbouhood. Contact us or visit our website for more information.

*UPDATE FOR 2021 - YEAR OF THE OX. We'd love your input! Are you interested in our Chinese New Year programs and resources? Help us plan for the upcoming season by filling in this form:

https://forms.gle/t2TKTvep3yuspq6Q9

Thank you!

THEATRE ARTS FOR GRADES 1–7

Since 1988, the Stage Coach program has provided free theatre arts workshops to Metro Vancouver elementary schools.

Arts Umbrella teaching artists bring creativity-inspiring activities into local elementary schools over the course of three days (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) and deliver two workshops per day to participating classes. Workshops run for a maximum of 75 minutes and are offered at 9:00am and 10:45am each day. Each elementary class explores a curriculum-relevant topic through Theatre Arts – experiencing the arts through theatre games, performing, and more. School children have the chance to embrace diversity, explore artistic expression, and nurture community spirit – all while having fun!

A generation of children have experienced these incredible workshops – directly benefiting from free, high-quality arts programming in their schools.

To apply for the BMO Stage Coach program, please email Kelsey Lee, Coordinator, Vancouver Community Programs at klee@artsumbrella.com, and include "BMO Stage Coach" in the subject line. Schools in areas demonstrating high economic, social, and cultural vulnerability will be prioritized. Successful applicants will be notified in 2-5 business days.

For more information about Arts Umbrella and what we do, please visit our website: https://www.artsumbrella.com/ 

By putting our two most popular programs online in a live, interactive session, Bears of North America and Owls of Grouse Mountain, we’ve made it easy for you to enjoy the field trips you’ve come to know, and the wildlife ambassador owls that your students love, all from the comfort of your school.  And best of all, as the teacher, you get to take a moment and let us drive - our engaging Educators offer fun, interactive learning, brought right to your students.  No bussing to coordinate, no permission forms to collect, no chaperones to organize.  We’ll have live chat to answer questions in real time, worksheets, videos, and webcams.  While we can’t bring you to the mountain, we want to bring the mountain to you!  The first 50 teachers to book an online program will receive a $150 credit towards their next onsite field trip.

New for 2020-2021 we are offering programs for homeschool classes and small bubbles who would like to enhance their school curriculum. Through exploring the exhibits, activities and site features, you can discover our relationship with Earth Materials. This can help teach the following Big Idea in the Grade 5 Curriculum in BC. 

Earth materials change as they move through the rock cycle and can be used as natural resources. 

Your visit to the museum will help answer questions such as;

• What are Earth Materials
• How do we interact with Earth Materials
• How can we change our relationship with Earth Materials to be better stewards of the environment

Included in your admission to the museum are the following

• Guided tour of the underground
• BOOM!
• Self-exploration of the site and exhibits
• A support package
• Gold Panning
• Choice of one 30 minute session from the following;

Earthly Explorers

Have you ever seen a dinosaur footprint fossil? How do such fossils form and what can they tell us? Join us for Earthly Explorers as we uncover teh story of our dinosaur footprint and how the stories of rocks reveal the geological timeline of our planet. This session also includes free time to uncover the secrets of a variety of rocks and minerals selected to help understand earth materials and the rock cycle. 

Chemical Solutions in the Real World

The Britannia Mine Museum had a serious environmental problem called Acid Rock Drainage that chemically speaking, was a solution of sulphur and several metals. Get an introduction to what is a chemical solution through a look at Britannia's former problem and how it was resolved. This session will include hands-on testing of water samples. 

Regular admission rates apply but don't forget you get a wonderful support package and a 30 minute additional session with one of our educators for the price!

Admission rates can be found here https://www.britanniaminemuseum.ca/pages/rates

Gain a new perspective as you see the war through the eyes of Canadians who lived through internment, occupation and battle. Learn about the changing nature of warfare and the development of new technologies as you discover Canada’s naval contributions to World War II and the importance of the St. Roch to Canadian sovereignty and the war effort.

*Available starting January 2021

Big Ideas

Social Studies

• 10 - Global and regional conflicts have been a powerful force in shaping our contemporary world and identities.
• 11 - The rapid development and proliferation of communication and transportation technologies in the 20th century led to profound changes in personal and national identities.
• 12 - The rapid development and proliferation of technology in the 20th century led to profound social, economic, and political changes.

Do you have what it takes to become a successful Arctic explorer? Hear fascinating stories of  seafarers who succeeded (and those who failed). Learn how the traditional knowledge and lifestyle of the Inuit could improve your chance of survival in the unique and challenging Arctic environment. Then virtually climb aboard the famous RCMP vessel St. Roch to discuss the experiences of Captain Henry Larsen and his crew.

*Available starting January 2021

Discover what it takes to be an extreme explorer in one of the last unexplored frontiers on earth! Learn about the history of deep ocean exploration and how technology can be used to overcome challenging conditions, drawing on the experiences of the PX-15 Ben Franklin.