VanDusen Botanical Garden Full Day Excursion
We are pleased to welcome you to a day of nature-based Teacher Professional Development at the VanDusen Botanical Garden! This full day excursion will include 2 workshops:
Native Plant Ecology Walk- Jessica Henry (Adult & Family Programs Manager) and Sangeeta Thomas (Teaching Garden Coordinator) will co-host the morning Garden walk, with a focus on learning to identify some of our common native plants species, exploring the role they play in the ecology of our region. We will discuss and consider the relationship between First Nations and these species, and share ways to connect plants to place with your students.
Nature Play in the Garden or Schoolyard - VBGA Educators will lead a tour through the Garden, exploring nature-based games & activities aimed at helping your student’s make a deeper connection through engaged observation of and interaction with the natural world. This workshop will immerse participants in the springtime Garden, exploring plant life cycles including the amazing role that flowers and pollinators play in shaping our environment.
* Please note that our Indigenous Initiatives Coordinator, regretfully, will not be able to join us due to unforeseen circumstances. We apologize for the change in schedule but look forward to presenting an engaging and informative morning session.
LUNCH (1hr): Please bring a packed lunch or you may purchase lunch from the Garden Café located on site (hot drinks, sandwiches, soups, salads and desserts). An electric kettle is available in the classroom.
This is an outdoor based, participatory program so please come dressed for the weather, rain or shine, and wear comfy shoes for walking. Please let us know in advance if we can accommodate any accessibility needs for your group.
More info about parking, directions, and other Garden details can be found at: www.vandusengarden.org
Target Audience
Elementary
To Bring/Important Notes
Please dress for the weather as we will be primarily outdoors, rain or shine. Comfortable and sturdy walking shoes are recommended as we will be walking throughout the day. Participants are welcome to bring a camera or binoculars, however, we will need hands-free for some activities. Handouts will be provided.
Lunch is the responsibility of the participant. Break will be 1 hour, with the classroom or Garden available for participants to eat in. A kettle is available in the classroom, along with a sink. The onsite Garden Cafe, located in the Visitor Centre, serves sandwiches, soups, salads, coffee, and other lunch items.
Free parking is available in the parking lot located off W. 37th Avenue at Oak Street, or along W37th Avenue.
Please arrive a few minutes early to allow time to find the room. We are located in the Guides Classroom in the Visitor Centre.
Sessions
Presenters
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Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association
Jessica Henry
Dedicated to creating transformational experiences connecting people to the natural world, Jessica has been privileged to work as an environmental educator, and flower and food farmer, in many beautiful places across Turtle Island, and beyond. In her current role as Manager of Adult & Family Program with the VBGA, she absolutely loves that her job requires her to share her nerdy love of all things related to plants & ecology with others, young and old, in such a beautiful, urban nature space.
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Vancouver Botanical Gardens Association
Geronimo Alec
We regret to inform you that our Indigenous Initiatives Coordinator, Geronimo Alec, will be on medical leave and unable to facilitate the morning workshop on Friday, May 5th. We will refocus out morning session on exploring Native Plants of BC's South Coast & the many ways these plants shape our experience of place, both with traditional and current indigenous cultures, and for each of our students today.
Sangeeta Thomas will join us as the second VBGA facilitator. Sangeeta is the Teaching Garden Coordinator at the VBGA, and has a background teaching many ages, in outdoor education settings.
We look forward to a great day of learning together!