Pre-Visit Information Package

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. Lunch included.

Sustainability in Motion: (May-October) This program examines alternate forms of energy and creates discussion among the students on today’s current issues. Add on an inspiring visit to The Eye of the Wind, BC’s largest energy-producing wind turbine for a once-in-a-lifetime field trip. Duration: Full or Half Day

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

Wild & immersive's Wild Youth program offers affordable and adjustable outdoor programming for school and youth groups. Whether youth participate in our half-day, full-day, or overnight programs, we create scaleable learning environments that strengthen connections and passions for the outdoors.

All programs are UBC staffed and customized within the framework of current curriculum standards. All deliverables are rooted to clear learning outcomes and will complement your indoor teachings.

In real time, teachers and officials can participate as much or as little as they choose, but are required to make decisions from our mix & match programming ahead of time.

Based at our very own Millard Learning Centre, join an award-winning effort to restore an ecosystem to its flourishing potential. Learn the skills required to make a forest healthy again—through hands-on forest mapping, surveying and orienteering. Includes a detailed teaching guide.  

During this 6 day and 5 night field school, students have the opportunity to create their own restoration program for a plantation forest.

“I learned a lot through out trip to Galiano. Now when I walk through a forest I look at it in a different light. I think, how old are these trees? What made the forest the way it it? Is it healthy? I’m now considering going into forest conservation after graduating.”

Curriculum links: Conservation and restoration of ecosystems; sustainability in local ecosystems

https://galianoconservancy.ca/product/advanced-restoration-field-school-...

This is a stunning hike from the Learning Centre along high, dry coastal ridges, through lush green Douglas fir forests, to our amazing Great Beaver Swamp.

The hike begins with an introduction to topographic map reading, allowing students to visualize the hike ahead. Throughout the hike we’ll note how changing moisture and soils – as well as human activity – bring drastic changes in the plant and animal life we see. Stopping at three different locations, students will be given the opportunity to study the plant community and identify specific indicator species.

Lunch will be enjoyed in a beautiful meadow, surrounded by towering maples and western red cedar. An interactive game focusing on the importance of mycorhizzal fungi is next on the agenda, followed by a lesson on natural rope making, utilizing the abundance of the forest. By the end, we’ll have hands-on knowledge of how a variety of processes and landscapes brings a diversity of life – and have an memorable souvenir to boot!

“I enjoyed seeing and learning about something I’ve personally never thought of before, it was very fun and interesting. – Maria J, Grade 9, Claremont School

“The relationship between the people in our class got so much better.” Wendy H, Grade 9, Claremont School

Curriculum link: Land Use and Sustainability (Gr.12)

https://galianoconservancy.ca/product/galiano-eco-safari-grades-8-12/

Through an unforgettable 3-day and 2 night experience, this program equips participants with wilderness skills needed for back country exploration.

Experience a variety of natural environments through challenging hikes, natural history activities, and extensive explorations of forests, fresh water and marine ecosystems.

Our skilled staff will guide you through interactive lessons on orienteering, tarp and food cache production, wilderness safety, rope making and knot tying. Pair this with a lot of fun – games, scavenger hunts, cooking over camp stoves, sleeping in tents and exploring the shore by moonlight – and you have our Back Country Experience program!

Generously supported by MEC, this program includes the use of a variety of camping gear.

“I liked the no civilization environment. I could spend time in nature with almost no distraction. This let me take in the learning well.”

“I learned the importance of maintaining an ecosystem and understanding it.”

“I learned how to set up tarps, tents, stoves, hiking bags, and learned about different species.”

“I will be more conscious of how certain species will help environments; I will treat them with more respect ex. alder trees.”

https://galianoconservancy.ca/product/backcountry-experience/

One of the great things about Galiano Island is that, with a little hiking, you can get right up to the top of the island in a short time. The Garry Oak meadow high atop Mount Galiano is a breathtaking place to see the interconnectness in one of Canada’s most endangered ecosystems—one that First Nations have been managing for thousands of years. Students will actively engage in restoration through the removal of invasive plants, and discover how Garry Oak meadows can help us adapt to a changing climate.

Curriculum Link: Aboriginal concept of interconnectedness of the environment is reflected in responsibility for and caretaking of natural resources. (Gr. 5), 

Quest for the Mountain Top (Gr. 4-7): https://galianoconservancy.ca/product/quest-mountain-top/

Mountain Top Gary Oaks (Gr. 8-12): https://galianoconservancy.ca/product/mtn-top-garry-oaks/