North Vancouver

SCIENCE IN THE SUBALPINE

Our Junior Rangers program takes students on a thrilling ride up to our unique subalpine environment, 885 meters above sea level! We help teachers meet curriculum requirements with a dynamic and hands-on approach to learning. These courses are designed to engage students and connect them with nature and wildlife in an interactive way that encourages an inquiry-based method of learning.

GRADE K - 1: SEASONAL CHANGES AND THE NEEDS OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS

In this course, students learn about the unique ecosystem of the subalpine environment, how that environment changes throughout the year, and how our native plants and animals adjust to the seasons. We explore this vibrant mountain-top setting through hiking and group activities.

GRADE 2-3: THE FOOD WEB OF A SUBALPINE ECOSYSTEM

There is so much biodiversity and interconnected life in the subalpine! Grade 2 and 3 students will investigate the lifecycles, food webs and food chains found in this unique habitat. They will explore the Summit and take part in a team activity which demonstrates the sensitive relationships within a food web at this altitude.

GRADE 4: THE SUBALPINE BIOME AND ANIMALS WITH SUPER SENSES

In this course, we look into local wildlife biodiversity and discuss the topic of biomes. Together we learn about the delicate balance in the subalpine environment and what sustains a healthy ecosystem. We examine how animals, birds and reptiles use their senses to respond to other creatures and their environment. Students will discover just how vital these super senses are to some of our most familiar mountain residents.

GRADE 5-6: THE ROCK CYCLE

It is easy to see how amazing the local landscape is! From our Summit, each direction you look there is a rock feature of some kind. How did they get there and how did they form? Hiking our trails, students will discover how rocks transform from one type to another, and what forces build up the landscape and wear it down.

GRADE 7-8: ADAPTABILITY OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS IN THE SUBALPINE

The subalpine is home to some of British Columbia’s most fascinating wildlife and interesting plants. With specific reference to natural selection and the characteristics of life, students will discover the ways in which these plants and animals adapt to meet the challenges of finding food, avoiding predators, and surviving the changes of the seasons.

In the Sea to Sky corridor, we are fortunate to be surrounded by mountains and a vast amount of backcountry to explore. Take advantage of the wilderness we're lucky enough to call our backyard and hike off-trail to experience our backcountry under the expertise of our education guides.

Students will cover a selection of the topics below. The Sea to Sky Gondola Education Guide leading your group will decide which of the topics will be taught depending on the weather, size and age of the group.

Hiking 101

Imagine you are heading out for a hike in the backcountry. How to prepare? Learn about planning and packing for a safe day hike in the backcountry.

Avalanche Awareness

Another essential part of planning a safe day out includes route planning and weather. We examine types of snow, types of hazards, and risk assessments in planning outdoor adventures.

Wilderness First Aid

Your day in the backcountry has been going great until one member of the group falls and is now injured! Learn to treat a medical emergency in the outdoors. Build and use an improvised stretcher to carry your friend to safety.

Shelter Building

Even with the best intentions things in the backcountry don’t always go to plan! Explore the skills and techniques needed to build a good shelter. Will your shelter keep you warm and dry, or will you be wet and cold as the rain comes in?

Take your students on an educational adventure that combines a treasure hunt and ecology knowledge! Led by clues and a forest map, your students will decode the mysteries of temperate rainforest plants and animals, searching for the secret of life in the rainforest. You’ll also have a chance to view forest life up close with our amazing projector!

Availability: Native-Newcomer Relations PDF

The Native Voice was the first newspaper to focus on Indigenous issues in Canada. Through four case studies, students critically analyse articles from The Native Voice and other newspapers to look at the topics of Indigenous rights and land title in British Columbia. This program has been organized with the Squamish Nation Education Department and made possible in part through a grant from the Museums Assistance Program, Department of Canadian Heritage.

Your students will:

• Analyze archival and contemporary newspaper articles relating to Indigenous rights and land title.
• Answer and discuss critical thinking questions to develop a deeper understanding of the topic.

Students explore and analyse archival photographs featuring Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) people and places chosen from an exhibit presented at the North Vancouver Museum & Archives (NVMA) in 2010. This was a shared project of the NVMA and the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation). The Squamish Elders and Language Authority chose these photos that represent local landscapes, the community and individuals, and contributed to exhibit research.

Your students will:

• Recognize that the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) is an active community today on the North Shore.
• Discover aspects of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) history and culture through photos.
• View primary source evidence and develop photo analysis skills.

Listen to the voices of BC mountaineers, analyze photographs of their expeditions and tools of the trade, and discover their role in wilderness conservation. This education kit investigates the relationship that the Indigenous people have had with local mountains, the scientific and technical advances made by mountaineers, the impact of Mountaineers on wilderness conservation, and how mountain experiences have influenced our cultural heritage. It is based upon the virtual exhibit of the same name (available in French and English).

Your students will:

• Learn how people have interacted with the North Shore mountains over time.
• Explore primary source evidence of mountaineering history in BC.
• View primary source evidence and develop photo analysis skills.