School Programs (available October-June)
The Centre offers a range of environmental and science education programs. From October through June experience programs incorporating hands-on and inquiry-based learning focused on the Salish Sea ecosystem.
Sign up for our EDUCATOR NEWSLETTER!
Teachers and Educators — a new e-newsletter just for you! Be among the first to learn about events, contests and opportunities, including new programs and free programs. Our Educators will curate content that is current and relevant to education in the Salish Sea. Sign up here!
Preschool - K Programs (Max capacity 20 students) *Minimum age is 3 yrs old
ADVENTURES OF A CRAB
Meet a hermit crab in search of a new home. Along the way students will learn about food, protection and shelter through storytelling, games and hands-on, hands-wet learning. Please note this program is delivered entirely in the Ocean’s Heartbeat classroom. Includes live animal ambassadors.
Program Length: 45 min
Grades K – 2 (Max capacity 22 students)
Pod Squad
What is a marine mammal? Join us on a journey to explore the most iconic marine mammal in the Salish Sea – the killer whale. Students will investigate communication, echolocation, and photo-identification, along with what makes our resident killer whales endangered and how we can protect them. Please note: this program takes place entirely in the Ocean’s Heartbeat (Classroom).
Program Length: 1 hour
Don’t see the right fit for your class?
Self-guided visits are available. Scroll down for details.
Or contact our Director of Learning at oceaneer1@salishseacentre.org to discuss visit options.
Feeding Frenzy
It’s lunch time and there is a mystery to solve! What do seastars eat? How does a jelly catch its food? Students explore the weird and wonderful feeding behaviours of animals that make their home in the Salish Sea. Through hands-on learning and interactive activities, students will solve the mystery of the animal mouths.
Program Length: 1 hour
Grades 3 – 5 (Max capacity 28 students)
SAlish Sea Safari
On expedition in the Salish Sea ecosystem, students will observe and have hands-on experiences with an amazing diversity of marine life. Students will go on an exploration through three ocean habitats — eelgrass meadows, rocky shores and pelagic — and learn about the animals that call them home. Focus is on connections between animals, animals and their habitats, and habitat to habitat. Conservation concerns affecting Salish Sea habitats will be discussed.
Program Length: 1 hour 15 min
Killer whale tales
Take an in-depth look at the inter-connectivity between endangered Southern resident killer whales, humans, and the environment. Students will explore killer whale biology, behaviour, and conservation through hands-on activities involving echolocation, photo-identification, and communication.
Program Length: 1 hour 15 min
Salmon in the city *not available
Salmon rely on, and interact with, many different parts of a watershed and so do we. In this hands-on program, students will work in teams to engineer a watershed, discuss human impacts on salmon, and explore behavioral changes to protect the Salish Sea in order for salmon to thrive.
Program Length: 1 hour 15 min
Don’t see the right fit for your class?
Self-guided visits are available. Scroll down for details.
Contact our Director of Learning at oceaneer1@salishseacentre.org to discuss visit options.
Grades 6 – 8 (Max capacity 28 students)
MARINE MAMMAL STEWARDS
Investigate how endangered Southern resident killer whales interact with their environment and what they need to survive and thrive. Students will explore killer whale biology, behaviour, and conservation through hands-on activities involving echolocation, photo-identification, and communication.
Program Length: 1 hour 15 min
Invertebrates Have Talent *Coming Soon
Life is rough in the Salish Sea and evolution by natural selection helps explain the amazing diversity of local marine invertebrates. Interact with a variety of Salish Sea invertebrates while learning how each of them have adapted to withstand pounding surf, shifting tides, weather, predators and more.
Program Length: 1 hour 15 min
Touch Pool is Open!
Grades 9 – 12 (Max capacity 28 students)
Marine Invertebrate Zoology
Students take an in-depth look at four phyla using examples from the rich biodiversity of the Salish Sea. Living and preserved specimens will showcase the characteristics and adaptations of the Phylums Cnidaria, Mollusca, Arthropoda and Echinodermata. This program includes hands-wet time at the touchpool.
Program Length: 1 hour 30 min
ART IN THE AQUARIUM
Create art among our habitats. Students will take inspiration from the colours and shapes of Salish Sea biodiversity to create drawings, sketches or paintings. Supplies and instruction not included. For more information email our Director of Learning, oceaneer1@salishseacentre.org.
Program Length: 1 hour 30 min (Flexible)
Self-guided Visits
Classes are always welcome to come on their own for a self-guided visit. To avoid over-crowding, please book your visit time as you would a regular program. Cost and chaperone rates of self-guided visits differs from school programs noted above. Visit our Group Bookings page for more details.
A variety of scavenger hunts are available. Please request at time of booking (or click here to print your own!). Alternately, teachers may design their own scavenger hunts to meet the needs of the class.
Booking Information
PROGRAM COST
$6 (+ tax) per student, minimum $90 (+tax) fee.
One teacher is admitted free with every class. Please note on your booking form if any of your students require an additional Educational Assistant.
School program chaperone ratio is as follows. One chaperone is admitted for free for every 5 students (Grades Preschool—8). One chaperone is admitted for free for every 10 students (Grades 9-12).
Full payment is expected upon arrival. Payment can be made by cash, debit or credit card. We are unable to provide an invoice in advance of your visit.
Contact
Email: groups@salishseacentre.org to make your group booking.
the following information is required
TWO choices for dates and times
Program choice, grade level and number of students and adults
Teacher and school information—address, phone and email