Immersive, hands-on learning about fish, aquatic habitats, and the environment
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.
For the best possible learning experience:
- Programs are based on class sizes of:
- Preschool: Up to 30 people including students and adult supervisors
- K-Grade 5: Up to 30 students
- Combining classes is not permitted
- Program itineraries allow time for self-exploration of the Discovery Centre and Aquariums
- Expect hands-on, play-based exploration of topics related to Alberta's ecosystems and biodiversity
Step 1: Pick Your Program
Bow Habitat Station offers half-day or full-day school programs designed to meet the needs of specific grades and topics:
Preschool
Recommended length of visit: 1.5 hr. (half-day):
- Staff-led activities: 45 min.
- Self-guided exploration: 45 min.
Cost: $150 per class (up to three classes per day)
Journey through the life cycle of Alberta's rainbow trout from egg to adult through a play-based activity that will activate your senses in the Discovery Centre.
Then, discover the true meaning of a feeding frenzy as you help feed thousands of eager trout in the Fish Hatchery.
Optional: Extend Your Visit
Create A Craft | 20 min.
Cost: $65 per class ‐
Fish fashion is fabulous, but also all about science. Create some amazing, wearable art inspired by the science of fish adaptations.
Recommended length of visit: 1.5 hr. (half-day):
- Staff-led activities: 45 min.
- Self-guided exploration: 45 min.
Cost: $150 per class (up to three classes per day)
Step into the footprints of Alberta's wildlife.
Follow along on a scavenger hunt to explore the movements of animals and to identify the stories they leave behind.
Optional: Extend Your Visit
Fish Feeding | 20 min. ‐
Discover the true meaning of a feeding frenzy as you feed thousands of eager trout in the Fish Hatchery.
Cost: $50 per class
Kindergarten
Recommended length of visit: 2-2.5 hr. (half-day):
- Staff-led activities: 1.5 hr.
- Self-guided exploration: 0.5-1 hr.
Half-Day Cost: $250 per class (up to three classes per day)
Dive into life underwater and activate your senses to investigate Alberta's fish! Journey through the life cycle,
learn about the habitat, and uncover the physical characteristics of the rainbow trout through play-based activities in the Discovery Centre.
Then, discover the true meaning of a feeding frenzy as you help feed thousands of eager trout in the Fish Hatchery.
Optional: Make Your Visit a Full Day
Full-Day Cost: $350 per class - includes a lunchroom, one 30 minute staff-led activity and additional time for exploration of the
Discovery Centre or the Interpretive Wetlands. Select from one of the following activities:
- Indoor | Build a Habitat ‐ What does a fish need to survive? Find out with a hands-on, play-based learning activity building a healthy home for a fish.
- Outdoor | Nature Sense ‐ Take a nature trek to discover what you can spy, smell or feel in the Interpretive Wetlands.
Kindergarten to Grade 1
Recommended length of visit: 4.5 hr. (full-day):
- Staff-led activities: 3.5 hr.
- Self-guided exploration: 1 hr. (including lunch break)
Cost: $350 per class (up to two classes per day)
What does a trout spy with its little eye? Unlock your sense of smell, sight, hearing,
and touch as we compare how our senses are different from a trout's through play-based activities.
This program includes activating your senses on a trip into the Fish Hatchery to feed thousands of trout a treat.
Select from one of the following afternoon activities:
- Indoor | Build a Habitat ‐ What does a fish need to survive? Find out with a hands-on, play-based learning activity building a healthy home for a fish.
- Outdoor | Nature Sense ‐ Take a nature trek to discover what we can spy, smell or feel in the Interpretive Wetlands.
Grades 2 to 4
Recommended length of visit: 4.5 hr. (full-day):
- Staff-led activities: 3.5 hr.
- Self-guided exploration: 1 hr. (including lunch break)
Cost: $350 per class (up to two classes per day)
What is a watershed and why do we need to filter our water before drinking?
Flow through the water cycle and dive into the world of Alberta's water as we explore the states of water through the lens of humans, fish, and wildlife.
This program includes the following feature activities:
- Indoor | Guided Fish Hatchery Tour ‐ Journey through the Fish Hatchery to uncover the role water has in raising over a million fish each year, and celebrate with a feeding frenzy.
- Outdoor | Walking on Water Nature Trek ‐ Explore the watershed located right outside our door in the Interpretive Wetlands. Discover the plants and animals that live there, and the human connection we have wetlands and rivers.
Recommended length of visit: 4.5 hr. (full-day):
- Staff-led activities: 3.5 hr.
- Self-guided exploration: 1 hr. (including lunch break)
Cost: $350 per class (up to two classes per day)
Why do so many wild creatures seem to love marshes? The secret lies in all of the delicious nutritious invertebrates lurking in the murk!
Spend the morning outdoors dipping into a nutrient-rich marsh with buckets and nets, and discover the terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates that are our neighbours.
Step into the "lab" in the afternoon to investigate invertebrates up close using microscopes to help us sketch like a scientist and get to know our backyard bugs.
Recommended length of visit: 4.5 hr. (full-day)
- Staff-led activities: 3.5 hr.
- Self-guided exploration: 1 hr. (including lunch break)
Cost: $350 per class (up to two classes per day)
Adventure is calling! Take a trip through each stage of the life cycle of a trout - from egg and alevin to fry and adult.
At each stage, investigate and uncover the needs and adaptations of the trout through play-based learning.
In the afternoon, embark on a guided tour through the life cycle of a trout in the Fish Hatchery before feeding thousands of fish.
Then, select from guided exploration in the Discovery Centre or outside in the Interpretive Wetlands.
Recommended length of visit: 4.5 hr. (full-day)
- Staff-led activities: 3.5 hr.
- Self-guided exploration: 1 hr. (including lunch break)
Cost: $350 per class (up to two classes per day)
Adventure is calling! Take a trip through each stage of the life cycle of a trout - from egg and alevin to fry and adult.
At each stage, investigate and uncover the needs and adaptations of the trout through play-based learning.
In the afternoon, embark on a guided tour through the life cycle of a trout in the Fish Hatchery before feeding thousands of fish.
Then, select from guided exploration in the Discovery Centre or outside in the Interpretive Wetlands.
Grades 3 to 6
Recommended length of visit: 4.5 hr. (full-day)
- Staff-led activities: 3.5 hr.
- Self-guided exploration: 1 hr. (including lunch break)
Cost: $350 per class (up to two classes per day)
Take a march though the Interpretive Wetlands and discover the plants and creatures that make their home here.
Connect with the little things in life, dipping into a nutrient-rich marsh with buckets and nets to discover local invertebrates.
Step into the "lab" in the afternoon to investigate the invertebrates up close and dive a little deeper in the Discovery Centre galleries.
Step 2: Check Program Availability and Secure Date
When ready to book, contact us with the following information:
- School name
- Grade of students
- Number of classes
- Estimated number of students per class
- Name of the program you wish to book
- Preferred dates
Note on availability:
Programs for April 16 though June 28 are sold out. Please contact us if you wish to be added to the waitlist.
- Able to welcome up to three classes of Preschool or Kindergarten programs per date and morning or afternoon time slot.
- Able to welcome up to two classes of Grade 1-Grade 5 programs per date.
- Bow Habitat Station is closed Mondays.
Step 3: Review Program Policies
Program Supervision Policy
Adult supervisors are required for all school programs. Mandatory adult-to-child ratios are:
- 1:6 for Preschool, Kindergarten and Grades 1-3
- 1:8 for Grades 4-6
Payment Policy
Payment is required a minimum of 30 calendar days in advance of your program date. Programs booked over 30 business days in advance are emailed an invoice along with payment instructions.
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.
Cancellation policy
Bow Habitat Station reserves the right to cancel programs/bookings due to unexpected business interruptions and/or severe weather warnings issued by Environment Canada. This includes:
- Air Quality Health Index levels of 7 or above
- Extreme cold (-25 degrees or lower)
- Extreme heat (35 degrees or greater)
- Heavy rain
- Hail
- Thunderstorm of tornado warnings
- Wind gusts of 50 km/hr or greater
Where possible, alternate activities may be substituted and/or activities rescheduled to a later date.
Note on refunds
Should less than 50% of a program be completed, a refund of 50% of the program fee will be provided.
Should more than 50% of a program be completed, no refunds will be provided.
A full refund will be provided for program cancellations received a minimum of 30 calendar days in advance of their first schedule program date. All other cancellation will be subject to a $50 per class/group/program fee.
More Program Opportunities
Unable to visit us in person? Check out the virtual programs with ties to Science Programs of Study for Kindergarten through Grade 5 classes.
We offer environmental education programs to non-school groups, too! For more details, check out:
Updated: Sep 14, 2023