Both Pre-Visit and Post-Visit Packages

New Westminster is home to a rich diversity of cultures languages and traditions - but was it always this way? In this program, students will engage in guided exploration of New Westminster Museum to lean about the histories and experiences of various newcomer communities, including early immigrants from China, Japan, and South Asia. Through inquiry- based activities, students will examine the challenges these communities faced, their contributions to the city, and the evolving meaning of belonging in New Westminster. The program encourages reflection on immigration, identity, and how diverse histories shape the community today. 

It is 1918, four years after the devastating rockslide at Hell’s Gate that blocked millions of Fraser River salmon from reaching their spawning grounds. Salmon stocks have plummeted, and the low stocks are threatening the future of the fishing industry. A commission of stakeholders has been called to determine how to help the species recover from this disaster.

Students will role play and work together to solve the problem. The 1914 Hell’s Gate rockslide and its consequences provide a historic example of the complexities of natural resource management that is still relevant today.

This program makes connections between all six Historical Thinking Principles; historical causes of today’s environmental concerns; and the shared history of BC, including topics of social justice, science, and Indigenous issues. The program takes a historical event and dramatizes it for relevant contemporary conversations that can be held in the classroom.

Salmon undergo a laborious journey to return home to their natal stream. In this outreach program, students will become familiar with salmon migration in the Lower Mainland. They will be introduced to the challenges of salmon during their journey home and how their physical structures are adapted to overcome such obstacles. One of the main challenges addressed is the blockages of the river, which prevent salmon from completing their migration. As such, tools known as fish passes are created to support salmon survival and are monitored through PIT tagging procedures.

Grades: 4-7                          Length: 1 hour                Maximum group size: 30 students

Program Components:

• Learn how salmon migrate up the river and the obstacles they face along the way.
• Discover new technologies and how the design of fishways must be adapted to fish behaviour. 
• Learn about existing fish passages infrastructure and use this to design their own models. 
• Perform biological tests on a model salmon, such as taking measurements and determining characteristics.

For more information, visit our website or email us. 

Online booking form here. 

Objects help us to tell the stories of people, places, and moments in time that make up how we understand our communities. 

On this engaging tour, students discover how technology and a skilled team combine to operate the Vancouver Landfill – where 70% of Metro Vancouver’s waste is received annually. Students will get to know the Zero Waste Centre, the Composting Facility, the ‘active face’ of the landfill, and how landfill gas is captured and upgraded to renewable natural gas quality​.

Vancouver Landfill Facility Tour for Schools | Metro Vancouver

Can’t get here in person? No problem! We bring the museum to you with our Digital Fieldtrips. These live, interactive programs are led by our staff and designed to be inquiry-based, ensuring a dynamic and engaging experience. With two-way interaction, we can see and hear you, and you can see and hear us, making classroom participation both fun and educational.

To participate, you'll need a computer with a camera, a wired high-speed internet connection, and a large screen with sound. Visit the link for details: 

https://www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/learn/online-learning-programs/digital-field-trips