Pre-Visit Information Package

Did you know, the very first Dragon Boat race to take place outside Asia happened in Vancouver? The roots of Dragon Boating go back thousands of years. Why not join in the fun!

Dragon Boat paddling is a fun activity that encourages teamwork and is appropriate for all skill levels.

For all Dragon Boat-only bookings, please contact Dragon Boat BC: info@dragonboatbc.ca

Land and Sea Combo: Combine this program with our Dragon Tales program to learn about the stories and traditions behind the 2000 year old Dragaon Boat festival. 

From the invention of crop rotation to the industrial revolution to the creation of Genetically Modified Organisms, agricultural technology is always changing. See what technologies, modern and ancient, we use on our farms to grow delicious food, and even give some of them a try!

“You can eat that???” Yes, you can! Explore often overlooked foods on our farms and in our indigenous plant garden as you learn about ethical foraging and some of the traditional food and medicine uses of common plants.

In this 90-minute program, students encounter examples of historical and contemporary Northwest Coast First Nations paintings and are introduced to the innovative Image Recovery Project. Using infrared technology and raking light, historical painted images are recovered from bentwood boxes, house fronts and other cedar sculptures and belongings to reveal images hidden under dirt or ash. The recovery of these images allows First Nations artists and researchers to see the uniqueness and beauty of historical Northwest Coast paintings. A visual presentation paired with a walking tour through MOA’s galleries highlights both new and old works with extraordinarily painted designs. Contemporary bentwood boxes recreated from the infrared photographs of historical boxes are used in a tracing and sketching activity to encourage students to look closely and appreciate the artists’ design skills

To book this program, please submit a booking request.

https://moa.ubc.ca/school-programs/types/transforming-image/

In this one-hour program, students are introduced to contemporary and historical Indigenous uses of selected plants on MOA’s grounds. In small groups, students find, identify and answer questions about plant species and share their findings with the class. Students explore methods for using plants for food, medicine, dyes and belongings based on Indigenous knowledge. Hands-on engagement with belongings from the teaching collection helps students understand how they are created and used. The goal of the program is to encourage discussions about sustainability, stewardship and our shared responsibilities by learning about the cultural significance of plants and incorporating Indigenous perspectives.

To book this program, please submit a booking request.

https://moa.ubc.ca/school-programs/types/indigenous-plants-and-connections/

In this 90-minute program, students learn about the cedar tree and the variety of cultural belongings created from its trunk, bark and roots. A presentation of images and maps introduces the historical and ongoing importance of cedar trees to the First Nations of the Northwest Coast.

A tour through the galleries illustrates the depth of knowledge required to create cedar belongings such as bentwood boxes, baskets and canoes. The tour is followed by a hands-on classroom activity with students interacting with a range of belongings and tools, learning directly from handling, looking and listening.

To book this program, please submit a booking request.

https://moa.ubc.ca/school-programs/types/cedar-tree-of-life/

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.