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
- Programs are based on class sizes of 30 students (maximum) - combining classes is not permitted
- Pricing includes admission to the Discovery Centre and Aquariums
- Hands-on, interactive activities tied to Alberta science programs of study related to ecosystems and biodiversity
- Pre-visit information package to ensure the best learning experience for teachers and students
2022-23 School Year Bookings
Bookings are available for November, December, January and February.
Programs for September, October, March, April, May and June are sold out. Contact us to join our waitlist.
Step 1: Pick Your Program
Preschool
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.
Program add-ons
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.
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
Head inside the Fish Hatchery - where over a million trout are raised each year - and experience what it's like to feed thousands of trout all at once!
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
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.
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.
Nature Sense | Outdoors
Duration: 45 min.
Cost: $75
Connect with nature using your senses on a guided walk through Pearce Estate Park.
Grade 1
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
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 senses on a guided walk through Pearce Estate Park.
Grade 2
Duration: 2.5 hr.
Cost: $250
Grab a bug net and bring your observation skills! As an Insect Detective, you will get up close with some of the tiniest critters that make their home in Alberta's wetlands. Investigate their characteristics under the microscope and uncover how they survive under water.
Curriculum ties:
- Grade 2 Science – Topic E Small Crawling and Flying Animals
Program add-ons
Fish Feeding | Indoors
Duration: 15 min.
Cost: $50
Head inside the Fish Hatchery - where over a million trout are raised each year - and experience what it's like to feed thousands of trout all at once!
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 senses on a guided walk through Pearce Estate Park.
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
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 senses on a guided walk through Pearce Estate Park.
Wetland Wonders | Outdoors
Duration: 45 min.
Cost: $75
Seasonal | May, June & September
Connect with nature using your senses on a guided walk through Pearce Estate Park.
Grade 3
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 Trout Tale - Select one activity
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
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.
Curriculum ties:
- Grade 5 Science – Topic E Wetland Ecosystems
Grade 6
Duration: 4.5 hr.
Cost: $350
Seasonal | November to March
Transform into sleuthing gumshoes as students uncover the clues of animal evidence and investigate the trees and shrubs of the Interpretive Wetlands. When snow levels allow, this outdoor portion will include the option to strap on snowshoes. Indoors, students will learn about the animals that rely on Alberta's forests, with a focus on the special adaptations that enable birds to fly. Each student will create their very own animal track to take home!
Curriculum ties to Grade 6 Science –
- Topic B: Flight
- Topic D: Evidence and Investigation
- Topic E: Trees and Forests
For More Information
If you need help finding a program that is right for you or wish to have a program tailored towards your educational needs, contact us at:
Step 2: Book Your Program
Send us an email with the following information:
- Your email
- School name
- Grade of students
- Number of students
- Name of the program you wish to book
- Three potential programming dates (in order of preference)
Program Availability and Supervision
Bookings are subject to availability and booked on a first-call, first-served basis.
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
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.
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. Where possible, alternate activities may be substituted and/or activities rescheduled to a later date. 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 2, 2022