12:30 pm

Discover what it takes to be an extreme explorer in one of the last unexplored frontiers on earth! Learn about the history of deep ocean exploration and how technology can be used to overcome challenging conditions, drawing on the experiences of the PX-15 Ben Franklin.

Discover how skills and teamwork were essential in the development of Canada’s northern communities. Explore the relationships between the Mounties, the Inuit and the animals of the Arctic. Gain a deeper understanding of the roles and responsibilities that enabled their survival in the harsh northern climate.

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 Arctic is one of the most extreme environments on the planet and home to a diversity of arctic survivalists who are adapted for these intense conditions. Join an Ocean Wise Educator at the Vancouver Aquarium to explore some of these incredible animals and the unique characteristics they have that enable them to survive and possibly thrive in the unique Arctic conditions. As the Arctic conditions change at an increasingly rapid rate, students will explore how these animals may be affected by the changing climate and how human actions have both a positive and negative impact on life all around the planet – even in the seemingly untouchable Arctic. 

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

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 webpage.

The program looks at various waves of immigrants. At difficulties and restrictions immingrants faced.

The Port Moody Station museum was  build in 1908 and operational till 1978. Many people would have arrived in the past via train.

In the previous century the railway played an important role bringing settlers into the country. The dominion needed people to secure its position, bring in workers of all kinds to establish industry and commerce.

The railway brought thousands of settlers to the West. Life for Indigenous peoples was altered forever. More and more of their lands were taken from them.

Students will be introduced to the poliitcs of immigration in the past and its impact on local communities.

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.