November

Program Description & Details

Brief description of program: 

This unique field trip offers students an on-site tour of the first and only facility in North America dedicated to recovery and recycling of ocean plastic with direct traceability to ocean recovery expeditions. It includes hands-on interactive sorting of ocean plastics.

Can’t get to our facility? Be sure to check out our FREE online program, EPIC Academy at: https://www.bcfieldtrips.ca/trip/explore-issues-about-ocean-plastics-and...

We highly recommend Teacher/students register (at no cost) and review Lesson 1 of EPIC Academy content prior to attending this tour, to create increased understanding and awareness of what will be observed and discussed during the tour.  PLEASE SEE "ADDITIONAL NOTES" BELOW for important notes!

Full Trip Details: 

Ocean Legacy Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to ending the ocean plastic pollution crisis, and strengthening the plastic circular economy through our recycling program. Our work is built on a four-pillar program called EPIC, which stands for Education, Policy, Infrastructure, and Cleanup.

Education and Policy are upstream efforts that prevent plastics and other waste from reaching our oceans and waterways. Infrastructure and Cleanup are downstream initiatives that seek to remove plastics from our oceans and shorelines, and process them for reintroduction into the plastic circular economy. 

The field trip will occur primarily outdoors at our Plastic Pollution Emergency Response recycling facility located at Steveston Harbour in Richmond. Ours is the first and only facility that collects marine plastics from a wide variety of sources to recover what was considered waste and turns it back into reusable plastic. Sources include: our own cleanup expeditions on coastal waters and shorelines, the Ocean Legacy network of Ocean Plastic Depots across BC and Atlantic Canada, used marine/fishing gear, ghost gear, materials collected by other non-profit cleanup organizations and marine industrial businesses. 

The tour offers an opportunity to see the process used to convert recovered marine plastic back into high-grade 100% post-consumer processed plastic pellets for use in the manufacturing of durable products as part of the circular economy. Ultimately, the goal of the field trip is to foster understanding of the plastic pollution crisis and circular economy principles: what is considered waste, how much of what consumers use daily is actually recyclable/recoverable, and to provide students with hands-on interaction with marine debris. Students develop awareness of their own plastic consumption habits, and ways they can take direct action to become part of the solution. Students will see the transformation of ocean plastic waste into new resources that have economic value.

Knowledge gained in this field trip can be enhanced when paired with EPIC Academy, Ocean Legacy's 10 lessons of no-cost/fully-funded online ocean plastics education. This LMS platform offers access to both individual online learners and also has downloadable materials for classroom educators. Includes classroom PowerPoint presentations, fully developed lesson plans, reflective activities and quizzes/answers sheets.

Fieldtrip structure:

  • Walk the facility perimeter to see the equipment and portions of the recovery process
  • Watch ocean plastics recycling in action
  • Identify resin codes
  • Sort items you see and use at home: a large bag of ocean-recovered plastic materials will be emptied to engage all students in an interactive sorting activity that demonstrates what types of commonly used plastics end up in the ocean. This prompts students to consider their consumption habits and connects cause and effect of reduced consumption and proper disposal
  • See benches and lumber made from ocean-recovered plastic

What to bring:

  • Work gloves for sorting
  • Closed-toe shoes are required for safety
  • Snacks 
  • Water bottle (can be refilled with filtered water on-site if needed)

One single stall/private washroom is available on site.

FREE PARKING - is available on Chatham street; pay parking is also available in the lot directly in front of our facility.

PLEASE SEE "ADDITIONAL NOTES" BELOW for important notes!

City: 
Duration: 
60
For Grades: 
9, 10, 11, 12
Days Offered: 
Times Offered: 
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
No
Program Description & Details

Explore the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site through the lens of innovation, and how things have changed throughout the history of fishing and boatbuilding in Steveston. Students will engage in four different interactive stations with themes ranging from innovation in recycling, resources, and communications. These concepts will then be discussed and applied to a boatbuilding activity, with each student making their own wooden boat model to bring home.

City: 
Duration: 
90
For Grades: 
4, 5, 6
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
Contact Us
Program Description & Details

Explore the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site to learn about history of boatbuilding and its importance in Steveston. Students will explore the different steps to build a boat by participating in a tool scavenger hunt, a caulking demonstration, and more maritime-themed activities. These steps will then be applied to a boatbuilding activity, with each student making their own small wooden boat to bring home.

City: 
Duration: 
90
For Grades: 
K, 1, 2, 3
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
Contact Us
Program Description & Details

About This Online Resource:  EPIC Academy Ocean Plastics Curriculum

A fully funded, fully developed curriculum targeted at secondary students ages 14+ (with materials accessible for lower grades as well) that is a comprehensive and thorough examination of ocean plastic pollution, microplastics and ways to help mitigate these serious issues. Content is available either as an online offering that students can navigate on their own, or can be accessed through downloadable offerings and presented offline in class. We highly recommend use of downloadable supports for classroom use.

10 lessons (15 hours of study in total) available in English, French and Spanish, aligned with BC Curriculum. Content can be paused at any point and returned to at the instructor's convenience (auto-saves).

Educator Materials include: detailed lesson plans and classroom presentations, reflective and group activities, quizzes and answer sheets.

Digital badges are available for every lesson and printable certificates are provided on completion.

Lessons 1 to 5 are foundational knowledge specifically directed toward classroom educators. Lessons 6 to 10 are advanced, directed toward creating meaningful change by advocacy, enacting policy, building a recycling system or upgrading infrastructure and managing media.  

Access requires the creation of a login that allows teachers (or individual users) to track progress through the lessons. This links to completed content for printable certificates.

There are 5 questions asked during the registration process: Are you a teacher or a student? What is your school/location if applicable? What country are you learning from? What language are you learning in? How did you hear about this resource?

STAY TUNED for upcoming listings of in-person tours at our Ocean Plastics Recycling Facility located in Steveston Harbour, Richmond.

City: 
Duration: 
Outreach Kit/Online Resource
For Grades: 
9, 10, 11, 12
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
Yes
Program Description & Details

As a distinctive neighbourhood filled with cultural monuments and historic sites, Chinatown’s public places are a precious and integral part of the city. Yet the neighbourhood is evolving quickly and many heritage sites are starting to disappear. How might we imagine a future Chinatown that honours and protects its heritage while welcoming new ideas and communities? We’ll survey Chinatown’s past and present sites of cultural significance and invite students to imagine the neighbourhood’s next phase of growth and revitalization with a creative “vision board” activity.

Total length: 1 - 2 hours
Grade levels: 9 - 12
Cost per student: $8 (1 adult chaperone per 10 students may visit for free)

Connections to the BC Social Studies Big Ideas

Grade 9

  • Collective identity is constructed and can change over time.
  • Emerging ideas and ideologies profoundly influence societies and events.
  • The physical environment influences the nature of political, social, and economic change.

Grade 10 

  • Historical and contemporary injustices challenge the narrative and identity of Canada as an inclusive, multicultural society. 

Grade 11

  • Decision making in urban and regional planning requires balancing political, economic, social, and environmental factors.

Grade 12

  • Social justice initiatives can transform individuals and systems.
City: 
Duration: 
90
For Grades: 
9, 10, 11, 12
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
No
Program Description & Details

How did Chinese immigrant communities maintain a sense of identity and overcome the challenges of discrimination to settle in Vancouver’s Chinatown? How did they strive to create a sense of home and belonging? 

Students will explore these questions by engaging with our interactive exhibits and touchable teaching collection. By investigating historic photos, head tax certificates, cultural artefacts, and personal belongings, students will be introduced to discriminatory policies that define the Chinese Canadian experience as well as the community’s diligent efforts to overcome them.

Total length: 1 - 2 hours 

Grade levels: 4-6

Cost per student: $8 (1 adult chaperone per 5 students may visit for free)

City: 
Duration: 
90
For Grades: 
4, 5, 6
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
No
Program Description & Details

In this guided school program, students will learn about the history and cultural life of Vancouver’s Chinatown through our interactive exhibits and touchable teaching collection. Delving into the lived experiences and mementos of Chinatown’s diverse residents, students will gain an appreciation for the community’s resilient spirit and rich cultural heritage.

Total length: 1 hour

Grade levels: adaptable to all grade levels

Cost per student: $8 (1 adult chaperone per 5 students may visit for free)

City: 
Duration: 
60
For Grades: 
K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
No
Program Description & Details

Bring your class for a free guided tour of the B.C. Parliament Buildings. Guided tours provide an overview of the history of the Parliament Buildings and the role of the Legislative Assembly. 

City: 
Duration: 
60
For Grades: 
K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
Yes
Program Description & Details

Drawn to History is where art and history meet. With historical photos and artifacts as inspiration, the activities in this kit take students through perspective drawing, contour shading, drawing faces, and contemporary issues with indigenous rock art. This kit is suitable for grades 5 to 12 (may be altered for lower grades), with strong curriculum connections in art and social studies.

City: 
Duration: 
Outreach Kit/Online Resource
For Grades: 
5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
No
Program Description & Details

This discovery kit is perfect for those teachers and students that are interested in learning more about the Kootenay-Boundary’s plant and animal life. The kit includes five activities based around identifying local plants and animals, invasive species, and indigenous use. You even figure out how to measure a tree with a straw! This kit is suitable for kindergarten to grade 7, with curriculum links to Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics.

City: 
Duration: 
Outreach Kit/Online Resource
For Grades: 
K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
No
Program Description & Details

Our Regional Indigenous Basketry explores the different weaving and dyeing techniques used by this region’s Indigenous Peoples. With a focus on the Sinixt Peoples, students will explore weaving, dying, food collection, and Indigenous language through a series of activities. From designing a basket to making a traditional Sinixt recipe, this kit provides a glimpse into the traditions of this area’s first peoples. This kit is suitable for grades kindergarten to grade 7, with curriculum links to Social Studies, Arts, Science, and Language Arts.

City: 
Duration: 
Outreach Kit/Online Resource
For Grades: 
K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
No
Program Description & Details

Discover the stories of a diverse fishing, canning, and boat building community at the scenic Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site on the shores of the Fraser River. This one-hour guided tour is led by a Heritage Interpreter, and includes introductions to the heritage buildings which illustrated the living and working conditions of the communities that made Steveston the special place it is today.

City: 
Duration: 
60
For Grades: 
8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
Contact Us
Program Description & Details

Explore the historic houses and engage in story time and eye-spy activities to learn about Steveston's unique cultural community. Students will participate in a shopping relay game while representing a family that may have lived in this community. Experience what life may have been like for the workers, families and children from diverse cultures who lived and worked here together. 

City: 
Duration: 
90
For Grades: 
1, 2, 3
Months Available: 
Days Offered: 
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
Contact Us
Program Description & Details

Investigate Steveston's history of immigrant workers from 1890 to 1940 through role-play. Students 'research" people's lives as newspaper reporters, by unpacking artefacts, creating a timeline and exploring the heritage buildings at Britannia Shipyards National Heritage Site. *Please note: This program will be offered until the end of March 2024. A new version with same themes will be offered starting April 1, 2024. More information to come.

City: 
Duration: 
90
For Grades: 
4, 5, 6
Months Available: 
Days Offered: 
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
Contact Us
Program Description & Details

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! 

 

City: 
Duration: 
70
For Grades: 
8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Days Offered: 
Maximum Students: 
Offered In French: 
No

Pages

View Institution Members

Search for Field Trips

Contact List Form

BC Field Trips on Facebook! BC Field Trips on Twitter!