Connect with Alberta's wild side through Bow Habitat Station's school programs! These curriculum-based school programs aim to inspire curiosity and encourage students to think, plan and act with the environment in mind.
What you can expect
- Experienced environmental educators leading all school programs
- Hands-on, interactive activities to support lifelong learning
- Pre-visit information package to ensure the best experience for you and your students
2022-23 School Year Bookings
Bookings for September through December open Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at 9:00 AM. To book, please call 403-297-6551 between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM or email bow.habitat@gov.ab.ca after 9:00 AM on June 15.
Bookings for January through June 2023 will open in September 2022.
Looking to customize an adventure? Check out the Group Programs available.
Bookings are subject to availability and booked on a first-call, first-served basis. Call early to avoid disappointment.
Programs booked over 30 business days in advance are emailed an invoice along with payment instructions. Payment is required a minimum of 30 calendar days in advance of your program date.
Programs booked within 30 business days of their scheduled booking date must make their payment in full within the next 48 hours to secure the booking.
Prices are for classes of 30 students (maximum). Program cost includes admission to the Discovery Centre and Aquariums.
Adult supervisors required - mandatory ratio of 1:6 for Preschool, Kindergarten, and Grades 1-3. Ratio of 1:8 required for Grades 4-6.
Persons with severe fish allergies are not recommended inside the Fish Hatchery.
Preschool
Discover Fish | Indoors
Duration: 45 min.
Cost: $150
Journey through the life cycle of Alberta's rainbow trout from egg to adult! Discover the unique patterns and needs of fish as they grow.
Animal Tracks | Indoors
Duration: 45 min.
Cost: $150
Step into the footprints of Alberta's wildlife. Students are led on a scavenger hunt through the Discovery Centre to explore the movements of Alberta's animals and identify the tracks they leave behind.
Early Childhood Education:
- Play, Participation, and Possibilities
Program Add-ons
Fish Feeding | Indoors
Duration: 15 min.
Cost: $50
Take a behind-the scenes look at what it takes to raise over a million trout in the Fish Hatchery – including a hands-on experience feeding thousands of trout all at once! Note: Activity is part of the Discover Fish program.
Create A Craft | Indoors
Duration: 20 min.
Cost: $65
Meet Alberta's rainbow trout as you learn about their characteristics and anatomy. Afterwards create your own fish hat craft to take home.
Kindergarten
Fish Fins, Scales & Tales
Duration: 1.5 hr.
Cost: $200
Dive into life underwater and investigate Alberta's fish! Students explore the physical characteristics, habitat and life cycle of a trout through hands-on activities in the Discovery Centre.
Students will also take a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to raise over a million trout in the Fish Hatchery – including a hands-on experience feeding thousands of trout all at once!
Curriculum ties:
- Environment and Community Awareness
- Citizenship and Identity
Program Add-ons
Build A Habitat | Indoors
Duration: 45 min.
Cost: $65
Discover what a fish needs in a healthy aquatic ecosystem as you create a fish habitat together as a group.
Nature Sense | Outdoors
Duration: 45 min.
Cost: $75
Connect with nature using your sense on a guided walk through Pearce Estate Park.
Create A Craft | Indoors
Duration: 45 min.
Cost: $65
Meet Alberta's rainbow trout as you learn about their characteristics and anatomy. Afterwards create your own fish hat craft to take home.
Grade 1
Sense-ational | Indoors
Duration: 2.5 hr.
Cost: $250
What does a trout spy with its little eye? Students learn about the SENSEational trout by investigating how our senses compare to those of a fish.
Curriculum ties:
- Grade 1 Science – Topic D Senses
Grade 2
Insect Detectives | Indoors
Seasonal | May, June & September
Duration: 2.5 hr.
Cost: $250
Learn about Alberta's smallest critters! What's the difference between an insect and a spider? Uncover the different life cycles of some of Alberta's smallest critters and the characteristics that separate them through indoor activities using microscopes and an outdoor nature walk.
Curriculum ties:
- Grade 2 Science – Topic E Small Crawling and Flying Animals
Program Add-ons
Fish Feeding | Indoors
Duration: 15 min.
Cost: $50
Take a behind-the scenes look at what it takes to raise over a million trout in the Fish Hatchery – including a hands-on experience feeding thousands of trout all at once! Note: Activity is part of the Discover Fish program.
Build A Habitat | Indoors
Duration: 45 min.
Cost: $65
Discover what a fish needs in a healthy aquatic ecosystem as you create a fish habitat together as a group.
Nature Sense | Outdoors
Duration: 45 min.
Cost: $75
Connect with nature using your sense on a guided walk through Pearce Estate Park.
Wetland Wonders | Outdoors
Duration: 45 min.
Cost: $75
Have buckets of fun as you marsh dip in search of the invertebrates that live in the Ducks Unlimited Canada Marsh. Rubber boots recommended.
Grade 2
Water For Life | Indoors
Duration: 2.5 hr.
Cost: $250
How old is our water? Where does it come from? Find out as students investigate the importance of water, water's three states and techniques for cleaning water.
Curriculum ties:
- Grade 2 Science – Topic A Exploring Liquids
Program Add-ons
Fish Feeding | Indoors
Duration: 15 min.
Cost: $50
Take a behind – the scenes look at what it takes to raise over a million trout in the Fish Hatchery – including a hands-on experience feeding thousands of trout all at once! Note: Activity is part of the Discover Fish program.
Build A Habitat | Indoors
Duration: 45 min.
Cost: $65
Discover what a fish needs in a healthy aquatic ecosystem as you create a fish habitat together as a group.
Nature Sense | Outdoors
Duration: 45 min.
Cost: $75
Connect with nature using your sense on a guided walk through Pearce Estate Park.
Wetland Wonders | Outdoors
Duration: 45 min.
Cost: $75
Have buckets of fun as you marsh dip in search of the invertebrates that live in the Ducks Unlimited Canada Marsh. Rubber boots recommended.
Grade 3
Trout Tales | Indoors and/or Outdoors
Duration: 4.5 hr.
Cost: $350
Adventure is calling! Take a trip through the life cycle of a trout - from egg and alevin to fry and adult. Students investigate fish development, habitat and adaptations.
Curriculum ties:
- Grade 3 Science – Topic E Animal Life Cycles
Customize Your Adventure – Select Two Activities
Fish Feeding | Indoors
Take a behind – the scenes look at what it takes to raise over a million trout in the Fish Hatchery – including a hands-on experience feeding thousands of trout all at once! Note: Activity is part of the Discover Fish program.
Deck Out A Trout | Indoors
Dive into Alberta's water and swim alongside fish as they navigate the murky waters of environmental change. Be ready to get a bit creative as we enter into a fin-tasy land and brainstorm imaginative ways to help fish adapt and overcome environmental changes.
Marsh Mysteries | Indoors
Get to know some of Alberta 's underwater critters as you investigate them under a microscope, and sketch the different life cycle stages.
Trail Trekking | Outdoors
Discover what it's like to be a naturalist as you trek through the Interpretive Wetlands, and learn about creatures who make their home in this urban ecosystem.
Wetland Wonders | Outdoors
Seasonal | May, June & September
Have buckets of fun as you marsh dip in search of the invertebrates that live in the Ducks Unlimited Canada Marsh.
Grade 5
March Through The Marsh | Outdoors
Duration: 4.5 hr.
Cost: $350
Seasonal | May, June & September
Take a march though the Interpretive Wetlands and discover the creatures that make their home here.
Students connect with the little things in life as they marsh dip and explore the local biodiversity.
Updated: Aug 2, 2022