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Join one of our guides as they take you on a tour of the PME's gallery, and share some of their favorite stories/ facts about specimens in the collection. You'll even get a rare glimpse of specimens not normally shown to the public! 

Topics discussed include:

Fossils

Minerals

Natural Disasters

The Virtual Aquaclass is an opportunity for students to connect live with a Vancouver Aquarium educator without having to leave the classroom.

Primary, Intermediate, Secondary

Students will be introduced to the phyla Cephalopoda and the key characteristics that make this group of squids, octopuses, and cuttlefish so spectacular by joining our expert educator for a live squid dissection. Through an examination of the squid’s anatomy students will discuss how an animal’s adaptation helps them to survive in their environment.

*Dissection specimen may differ based on availablility.

Standard programs are $100 per 45-minute sessions and include a Q&A time between students and our expert staff. Choose from our wide variety of programs. This program is customizable upon request* to address specific interest and needs of each group. All programs are available in English or French.

Choose from our wide variety of programs. This program is customizable upon request* to address specific interest and needs of each group. All programs are available in English or French.

*additional costs may be required for customizations.

Explore additional topics on our Virtual Aquaclass webpage.

Can’t come to the Fraser River Discovery Centre? No problem! We can come to you! Two FRDC staff will bring all the materials necessary to run some of our most popular River School Programs right in your own classroom!

All materials will be fully sanitized between use, and the staff will wear masks. If there are additional safety protocols we need to follow, please contact us. Please note, small group work is part of each program, with frequent sanitation of touched objects.

Cost: $9 per student, plus $0.90 per kilometer between FRDC and your school.

Programs:

• Nature Walk (Grades 2-7)
  • 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.
• Our Bones are Made of Salmon (Grades 4-7)
  • Indigenous people have relied on salmon since the fish became abundant in the Fraser River about 5000-6000 years ago. This program explores the connection between Indigenous people and salmon on the Fraser River. Students get hands-on experience with fishing technology, learn about wind-drying salmon, and discover that salmon is in the hearts of Indigenous people living along the Fraser River today.
• Living Dinosaurs (Grades K-7)
  • Sturgeon are amazing fish that have been around since the time of the dinosaurs. Human influences over the past 150 years have threatened their existence. In this program, students will learn about the sturgeon lifecycle, survival needs, and what we can do to protect this remarkable species.
• Trading Trail (Grades 2-5)
  • The Fraser River is one of the world’s great rivers not only in its contribution to the environmental, cultural, and historical wealth of British Columbia, but because of its current pivotal role in the economy of BC. We are going to explore how people have used and shared the resources of the Fraser River, focusing on the tumultuous time when First Nations and Fur traders shared the river.
• Welcomed by the Water (K-3)
  • Prior to European colonization, Indigenous peoples got what they needed from the land and water around them. Indigenous peoples have relied on salmon since the fish became abundant in the Fraser River about 5000-6000 years ago. They used native plants for food, medicine, building materials and more. This program explores the connection between Indigenous peoples, salmon, and the broader Fraser River Basin. Students experience the movement of salmon, storytelling and oral histories, and the many uses of native plants through an Indigenous perspective.
  • PLEASE NOTE: This program requires a large open space, like a covered play area or gymnasium.
• River of Stories (Grades K-2)
  • Join us as we journey down the river of stories from the headwaters to the mouth of the Fraser. Travelling along an interactive map, students will learn all about the Fraser River Basin through stories from the near and distant past. The program ends with a reflection on our place in this landscape, as students add their own story to the map. 
• Complexities and Compromises (Grades 8-12)
  • 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 sasked with deciding whether or not to approve a project that would have impacts on a global scale. We go step by step through the process, conducting research, mapping out consequences, and ultimately: deciding. 

For more information, visit our website or email us. 

Online booking form here. 

Learn about the objects, stories and lives of Chinese immigrants and those they interacted with in early Vancouver.

This program is a perfect resource for classroom studies on Chinese immigration to Canada. Students will discuss the issues surrounding early Chinese immigration, watch a short video, look through our immigration suitcases and use critical thinking skills to draw conclusions and create a short presentation. 

This program pairs very well with our Chinatown Walking Tour, exploring the architecture and stories from the early days of Chinatown as well as the vibrant community it is today.

Please note this program takes place inside the Ming Dymasty Scholar's Garden but does not include a Garden Tour. Garden Tours can be booked as a separate add-on. 

Contact us or visit our website for more information. 

The School Art Program has moved online! We have produced art making videos and at-home lessons using easy to find materials and exploring art concepts and techniques.  Whether for classroom use, homeschool students, or family fun, these videos engage with contemporary art in a fun and accessible way. Join us today!

For all of the latest content and updates, check out our gallery videos page.

Take the classroom outside and participate in nature learning activities with Wild & Immersive’s youth programs. We offer affordable and customizable outdoor education programs for schools and youth groups in British Columbia, delivering an immersive, hands-on approach to environmental based learning.

Our field trips are tailored for all age groups from preschool to grade 12. Group leaders can customize their field trip by choosing from our 15 modules (1-3 modules per field trip depending on length of day). Please contact us for our information package and module descriptions.

Our field trips run out of the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest in Maple Ridge, or we can come to your location and do an in-class program.

Starting on September 8, 2020, we will be launching an online layer of programming to complement Beaty Box rentals.

We will offer two bookable online programs to compliment a Beaty Box rental:

Online Beaty Box Sketching (Kindergarten and up)

Online Beaty Box Adaptation Exploration (Grades 3 – 7)

Program Length

Online programs are 60 minutes long. The online program includes up to 15 minutes for a tech-test with the organizer, students, and facilitator before the program begins, plus 45 minute program time, which includes time for student questions and discussion.

When you click the zoom link, you will be taken to a waiting room. The organizer will be let in first, so we can quickly touch base about the program. Then, students will be allowed into the zoom room where we can check that things are set up and working smoothly before we begin. The main organizer can sign on a few minutes before the scheduled start time (up to 5) if preferred.

Booking Times

Online sessions are offered at 10:15 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.
Online programs are booked using our online booking form and follow our regular booking policy and procedures

Class Size & Management

A maximum of 30 participants per booking makes for an optimal experience. We will expect the adults responsible for the group to provide group management and facilitate Q&A. The amount of time for individual students to ask questions and interact will depend on the number of students in the call.

For more information, please visit: https://beatymuseum.ubc.ca/online-beaty-box-programs/