Ecosystem Expedition

A Unique overnight adventure for all students!

After the Aquarium has closed its’ doors for the evening, bring your sleeping bag for a special night of discovery and learning. Our Sleepover – Overnight Adventure guides will lead your class on an exciting 12 hour voyage to 3 corners of the world focusing on various ways animals, plants and humans interact within each ecosystem.

Choose 3 of the 4 options:

Northwest Pacific: Dive into the temperate coastal waters of the Pacific Northwest, as you discover the diverse but threatened marine life in British Columbia’s Georgia Straight.

Arctic: Travel to Lancaster Sound, Canada’s cold & icy Arctic, learn how these inhabitants adapt and survive in this harsh and frigate environment.

Amazon: Climb the canopy layers of the Brazilian Rainforests, to uncover the obscure relationship between rainforest animals and their lush jungle home.

Tropical: Snorkel the warm clear waters of the Indo-Pacific, exploring the abundant life in a coral reef community and how every niche on reefs provides food, shelter and survival for the teeming multitudes of colourful marine life.

Return briefly for a light late night snack before continuing on the second half of your adventure.

Invertebrate Lab: Study seashore ecology and British Columbia’s four major marine invertebrate phyla more deeply in this live, hands-on intertidal marine biology lab. Get up close and personal with local sea stars, crabs and anemones.

At 12:30 am, lull to sleep in front of Pacific Canada’s story-high underwater realm, or dream with majestic whales or dolphins. After a light morning breakfast, tour the Marine Mammal Deck and Amazon Free Flight Gallery as the Aquarium awakens for a new day. Your journey concludes at 9:00 am as you gather your gear and head for home.

To get started on your journey, please call the Sleepover – Overnight Adventure Dept. 604.659.3504 or email us @ sleepovers@vanaqua.org.

If you would like information for families, small groups, and individuals, please see our Family Themed Sleepovers.