Discover Stanley Park’s wild side as your students roll up their sleeves and connect with nature in hands-on and interactive programs exploring forest, beach and wetland ecology. We offer a diversity of curriculum-based school field trips for kindergarten to grade 7 students.

Important changes for the 2020-2021 school year:

• We are offering three in-person field trips for grades K-3:  Nature Detectives, Beautiful Bats, and Beach Explorers.
• We are offering four in-person field trips for grades 4-7:  Forest Fundamentals, Wetland Wildlife, Introduced Invaders, and Beach Explorers.
• We are exploring the possibility of offering online programs (please see the descriptions for potential programs offered in our Online Programs page). Online programs will take place on Zoom, and include live program delivery with an educator, interactive quizzes, and question and answer time. Curriculum connections for these programs are forthcoming.
• Cancellation policy: If the BC government introduces COVID-19 restrictions that impact our ability to deliver these programs, full refunds will be given.
• Groups sizes for programs have been changed to a maximum of 30 students.
• COVID-19 safety agreements will be required and are forthcoming.
• We will require increased supervision/group management from teachers and guardian volunteers, as will be outlined in our COVID-19 safety agreements.

Please subscribe to SPES’s teacher newsletter to stay up to date with our latest programs.

Looking for a high school program? Email us an inquiry.

You can reserve your program online, or by calling 604 257-6908 ext. 103.

Program Fees

For the 2020-2021 school year, the fees are as follows:

• 1.5 hour program: $189 for up to 25 students
• 2 hour program: $249 for up to 25 students

Discounts available for class sizes of 15 or less. Extra fees required for class sizes greater than 25.

To see a full list of programs offered in normal years, please click here.

Learn more about our online programs here!

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In-Person Primary School Field Trips (1.5 hours)

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Nature Detectives (Grades K-3)

Discover the hidden secrets and stories of the forest in this sensory journey through nature.

Awaken your senses as you explore the temperate rainforest. Find tiny life forms with magnifiers, meet bugs, feed trees, and transform into a bat while learning how all of these forest elements are connected.

One-and-a-half-hour program for students in grade K-3. Can be adapted for pre-K.

Read the Nature Detectives Teacher Information Package for information on curriculum connections, meeting location and preparing for the program.

 

 

Beautiful Bats (Grades K-3)

Discover the many wonders of the only mammal that can fly. Find out how bats live, hunt, echolocate and adapt to their habitat using their unique bodies. Because bats are nocturnal, we will not see any live bats during the program. Instead, we will explore their habitat with unique props and activities. Bats really are beautiful; learn why in this interactive forest adventure.

One-and-a-half-hour program for grade K-3.

Read the Beautiful Bats Teacher Information Package for information on curriculum connections, meeting location, preparing for the program and more. Pre-trip and post-trip lesson plans in development.

 

 

 

Beach Explorers (Grades K-7) *Spring only

Visit the Lumberman’s Arch beach at low tide and explore the incredibly diverse and abundant life in the intertidal zone.

Low tide offers us a glimpse at fascinating animals and plants that have adapted to life in and out of the sea.  Hunt for crabs, sort seaweeds, and find out what else lives or eats on the seashore, while students discover important human connections to the oceans.

Beach Explorers is a tide-dependent program and is available in spring between April and June.  Please contact us for available dates.

For grades K-3, Beach Explorers is a one-and-a-half-hour program.

For grades 4-7, Beach Explorers is a two-hour program.

Read the Beach Explorers Teacher Information Package for information on curriculum connections, meeting location, preparing for the program and more.

Winter Birding (Grades K-7)

Read the Winter Birding Teacher Information Package for information on curriculum connections, meeting location, preparing for the program and more.

 

 

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In-Person Intermediate School Programs (2 hours)

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Forest Fundamentals (Grades 4-7)

The lush temperate rainforest is diverse, abundant and full of interconnected species.

Engage all of your senses to piece together the story of forest dwelling plants and animals and their important roles in the web of life.

Two-hour program for students in grade 4-7.

Read the Forest Fundamentals Teacher Information Package for information on curriculum connections, meeting location, preparing for the program and more.

Wetland Wildlife (Grades 3-7)

Beaver Lake is one of Vancouver’s last natural wetlands, and it is home to incredible plants and animals.

What makes the wetland ecosystem a good place to live? How do diverse communities of animals eat their way along the food chain? Roll up your sleeves and explore Beaver Lake wildlife up close with dip nets, magnifiers and games.

Two-hour program for students in grade 3-7. Best suited for grade 3.

Read the Wetland Wildlife Teacher Information Package for information on curriculum connections, meeting location, preparing for the program and more.

 

 

 

Introduced Invaders (Grades 4-7)

How do invasive species affect the balance of Stanley Park’s delicate ecosystems?

Join us on a fun, fact-filled quest to find out what impact invasive plants have on biodiversity, and consider the role humans play in protecting our ecosystems. Put on some gloves and take direct action to remove invasive English ivy from Stanley Park.

Two-hour program for students in grade 4-7.

Read the Introduced Invaders Teacher Information Package for information on curriculum connections, meeting location, preparing for the program and more.

Beach Explorers (Grades K-7) *Spring only

Visit the Lumberman’s Arch beach at low tide and explore the incredibly diverse and abundant life in the intertidal zone.

Low tide offers us a glimpse at fascinating animals and plants that have adapted to life in and out of the sea.  Hunt for crabs, sort seaweeds, and find out what else lives or eats on the seashore, while students discover important human connections to the oceans.

Beach Explorers is a tide-dependent program and is available in spring between April and June.  Please contact us for available dates.

For grades K-3, Beach Explorers is a one-and-a-half-hour program.

For grades 4-7, Beach Explorers is a two-hour program.

Read the Beach Explorers Teacher Information Package for information on curriculum connections, meeting location, preparing for the program and more.

Winter Birding (Grades K-7)

Read the Winter Birding Teacher Information Package for information on curriculum connections, meeting location, preparing for the program and more.

 

 

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Self Guided Tour: Discovery Kit (Grades 3-7) – $38 / day

Are you as big as an eagle? What lives at Lost Lagoon? Do herons have an easy life? Do salmon visit Stanley Park? Discover the answers to these questions and more while leading your own adventure with our easy to use Discovery Kit.

Bring your class for a self-guided half-day Park program or extend your field trip for the day. This is a great option for two classes from one school who want to share a bus.

The Discovery Kit is a backpack containing:

• A class set of binoculars
• A detailed map
• An easy to follow teaching script
• Fun props, engaging activities and visuals

Read the Discovery Kit Teacher Information Package for more information on where to pick up the kit and preparing for the program.

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Learn more about our online programs here!