Connecting Students With Marine Life

Designed to Inspire

With our trained and friendly educators, BC Hydro AquaVan programs are designed to inspire the stewardship of all aquatic habitats and encourage the discovery of connections between animals, environments and ourselves. All BC Hydro AquaVan programs supplement the B.C. school curriculum, satisfying a wide range of the Learning Outcomes outlined in the Ministry of Education's Integrated Resource Packages. Here are some of the awards we’ve received for our BC Hydro AquaVan educational programs:

• Michael Smith Award for Science Promotion
• Eve Savory Award for Science Communication from the Science Council of BC
• Thomas R. Baines Award for Outstanding Achievement in Educational Programming from the Canadian Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (CAZA)

Preschool Programs

Ages 3+: Aquatic Adventures - Children ‘dive’ into the ocean with Charlie the crab to discover what makes a good home for him and his sea-dwelling friends. This program aims to create an emotional connection between students and ocean animals through familiar themes, to engage children and to inspire their curiosity, to create a sense of wonder and respect for our oceans and all of the animals who live there. Small groups of children will work together to discover how Charlie and his friends find food, shelter and friends. Finally, to help children understand how their actions may affect nature and the planet, the class will build a neighborhood together and discusses how to keep seashores and other habitats safe for the animals and people who live there.

Primary Programs

Engage keen minds from a young age about the wonders that can be found in our oceans and instill an eagerness to learn more.

Grades K - 2: Water Wonders - Join puppets on a trip to a make-believe seashore, and then meet live sea critters to find how they eat, move and protect themselves.
Grades 3 - 4: Staying Alive - Become an aquatic detective and search for clues that reveal how animals survive in marine habitats.

Primary programs are 1 hour long for up to 30 students.

Intermediate Programs

Introduce your students to the bizarre and unique creatures that live in our oceans while encouraging them to consider how their actions impact the health of our fragile marine ecosystems.

Grades 5 - 7: Lives of the Wet and Spineless - Investigate how animals without backbones deal with life on the shores of British Columbia.

Intermediate programs are 1 hour long for up to 30 students.

Secondary Programs

Provide your students with a fully interactive and immersive program that explores the intricate nature of marine biology, as they begin to consider their future careers.

Grades 8 - 12: Intertidal Marine Biology - Examine features of invertebrates that help them thrive in the intertidal zone.

Secondary programs are 1 hour and 15 minutes long for up to 30 students.

Internship

BC Hydro AquaVan Traveling Marine Educator Internship. The BC Hydro AquaVan provides a unique opportunity to effect conservation while on the road!  Through off-site delivery of aquatic education programs, you can apply your education background to further understanding of connections between animals, environments and ourselves in schools and communities across British Columbia and Alberta.  Nine (9) internships are available over the 2011/2012 school years.