Fraser River Discovery Centre

Our Trips

On your last walk through nature, what did you notice? What did you wonder? In this program students will explore the connections between living things within their local environment (Kingdom Plantae). They will learn the connection between science and our communities and how they can begin to identify plants in their everyday lives. Students will learn some of the key identifiers of each sub-category in the Kingdom Plantae and use these skills on a nature walk. This information can then be used in the classroom to further investigate plants and find connections between plants, and between people and nature.

Grades: 2-7              Length: 1.5 – 2 hours                Maximum group size: 30 students

Program Components:

  • Introduction to Kingdom Plantae
  • Explore and observe nature by going on a nature walk
  • Practice observation skills through different activities
  • Make connections between science and our communities
  • This program starts with a 20-minute presentation inside, then takes place mostly outside.

Click here to see how this program supports BC’s curriculum for Grades 2-7.

Click here for the pre-visit activity for River Champions Grades 2-7.

Many of the big decisions we face as individuals, communities, or nations don’t have a correct answer. Making these decisions can be extremely challenging, as we grapple with information and misinformation, our own conscience, and strong opposing opinions. In the face of climate change, many of these decisions become even more challenging. In this program, students are tasked with deciding whether or not to approve a project that would have impacts on global scale. We go step by step through the process, conducting research, mapping out consequences, and ultimately: deciding.

Curricular Connections: 

During this program, students will learn about the perspectives of local Indigenous peoples in the context of this project proposal. This program also has strong ties to social studies, as students learn about the connections between the physical environment and political change. Students will explore evidence-based decision making through science, the impact of technologies, how humans impact climate change, and how climate change impacts the environment. Most importantly, students will be better prepared to be civically engaged in our increasingly complex world.

Online Booking Form Here! 

 

The River Champions outreach program is available for students in grades 3-12, located in schools within the Fraser River Basin boundary. 

Grades 3-5  

Students explore the basics of climate science and river processes. Using a stream table model, students model different climate change scenarios and design infrastructure that could mitigate the damage caused by climate change. 

Grades 6-12  

Students discuss connections between climate change and land management practices, both traditional Indigenous and current industrial. Using a stream table model, students model different climate change scenarios and design infrastructure that could mitigate the damage caused by climate change. For the optional action project, students research how their communities may be susceptible to extreme weather events and climate change, and present their findings using ArcGIS Story Maps. A follow-up online workshop connects students to knowledge holders.

We’re a proud partner of GenAction; a national initiative designed to inspire youth to become innovative leaders in climate action now, and into the future. Visit GenAction for details.

Click here to book!

Learn how to set up a simple and fun biological survey of your local area. Great for homelearners and people of all ages!

You may know your human neighbours, but do you know which birds live in your local area? Which bugs? Do you know the names of the plants growing on the sidewalk? Do you want to? If you do, then this is the program for you!

First, you’ll join an FRDC educator on Zoom for 1 hour to learn how to set up and conduct a biological survey of your neighbourhood. A survey creates a list of all the species that live in an area. Second, you’ll go out on your own to conduct the survey. Third, you’ll share your findings with the other workshop participants through a invite-only video message board.

A survey can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be, so all ages and levels of experience are welcome. You don’t need any prior knowledge; this workshop will give you all the tools you need to conduct a successful survey!

To participate in this program, you will need:

  • A stable internet connection.
  • Mobile devices or tablets, to run the Seek app. A data connection for the device is recommended, but not required. Participants can work independently or in groups.
  • The ability to see and hear a video conference with the FRDC educator, on a device separate from the one running Seek.

Curricular connections:

This program fully supports curricular competencies in the science curriculum as students go through the entire scientific process: questioning and predicting, planning and conducting,  processing and analyzing data and information, all the way to communicating. A super scaleable activity, it also has applications at every grade level.

For more information, visit our website or email us. 

Online booking form here.

Hosted through video conference software, an FRDC educator will lead your students through a fully interactive program, engaging them with the material by utilizing the latest tools in online and remote education. 

Learn about all sturgeon from both an Indigenous and Western Science Perspective.

Did you know there’s a 6-meter-long, 100-year-old fish living in the Fraser River? Learn all about the endangered white sturgeon through interactive activities, with both Indigenous and Western science perspectives. Students will listen to a First Nation’s story about sturgeon, construct theories from available research, and communicate their learning through art.

To participate in this program, you will need:

  • A stable internet connection.
  • The ability to join the video conference with the FRDC educator.

Curricular connections:

This program incorporates the First Peoples Principles of Learning, specifically that learning is relational; recognizes the role of indigenous knowledge; is embedded in story; and requires recognizing the consequences of one’s actions. This program supports science competencies through analyzing data and constructing theories, and applying First people’s perspectives. This program supports the ELA Big Idea that stories help us make connections with others and the world. And this program supports the Arts Education competency of expressing feelings, ideas, stories, observations, and experiences through the arts.

For more information, visit our website or email us. 

Online booking form here.

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