Preschool Programs
Booking Information
Program Seasons
The Ecology Centre has a fall and a spring school program season. Fall programs begin the fourth week of September and end the last week of November. Spring programs begin the first week of April and end on the third week of June. Programs run Monday to Friday mornings and begin at 10 am. If you're visiting outside of our normal school program season, check out our self-guided Eye Spy program!
Booking a School Program
Booking for spring programs begins the first Wednesday of February
Booking for fall programs begins the first Wednesday of September
To book a preschool program, please call 604 990-3755 from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday. Program bookings cannot be completed via email, but if you have questions about our programs you are welcome to contact us by phone or at ecocentre@dnv.org.
When you book, please be ready with the program name, your class size, booking dates, school address, phone number and e-mail. Our school programs run from September to November and from April to June.
School Program Fees
Our program fees vary according to group size and the duration of the program. Our 2019 fees are:
Preschool
- Up to 12 pre-schoolers - $74.50
- 13 to 30 pre-schoolers - $133.50
- $2.50 - per child for self-guided program
Getting Ready for Your Visit
How to Prepare for the Field Trip
- To get ready for your visit, please review your pre-trip materials. There are pre- and post-trip activities for your students to do as well.
- Plan to arrive in the park at 9:45 am or 12:45 pm to leave 15 minutes for a snack and toilet break before you come into the Ecology Centre. This is especially important if you are visiting with younger children.
- It's often wet in the mountains, even if it's not raining elsewhere in Metro Vancouver. Make sure that students and adult assistants are dressed for the weather. Please ask your students and assistants to come wearing layers, with waterproof boots and a waterproof jacket. Rain pants are also highly recommended!
- Remind adult assistants that the forest is a great place to unwind... and unplug. Please leave electronic devices at home. If you'd like to take photographs, keep your camera or phone in a zippered pocket during the rest of the field trip to make sure that it is safe and dry.
When you arrive at the Ecology Centre, check in at the front desk. As your students explore the Centre, our program staff will speak with you about the program and the learning needs of your group.
Getting to the Park
Lynn Canyon Park is easy to access.
- Public transit. Take the #227 community shuttle to Peters Road ad Duval Road or the #228 bus to Burrill Avenue and Lynn Valley Road.
- Private bus. Bus parking is limited. Please notify us in advance if you will be arriving by private bus so we can make arrangements for parking.
- Car. If you're visiting with parent drivers, the closest parking to the Ecology Centre is the parking on either side of the road. Walk along the road and you will see the Ecology Centre on your left. If that parking is full, there is a larger gravel parking lot near the entrance to the park.
Preschool Programs
What's For Lunch?
Runs September to November and April to June.
For groups of up to 24 children ages 3 to 5.
10 am to 11:30 am or 1 pm to 2:30 pm.
The forest is full of food. Discover the food chains of Lynn Canyon Park! Read a story, search for animal food chains in the forest, and make a food chain craft to take home.
Earth Explorers
Runs September to November and April to June.
For groups of up to 24 children ages 3 to 5.
10 am to 11:30 am or 1 pm to 2:30 pm.
Look out below! If you love worms, mud, and fossils, this program will help you explore the world beneath your feet. See fossils from Walter Draycott's collections, and learn about animals that use rocks and soil as their home.
Going Buggy
Runs September to November and April to June.
For groups of up to 24 children ages 3 to 5.
10 am to 11:30 am or 1 pm to 2:30 pm.
Do your students just love bugs? Search for little critters in the forest and learn about the importance of our local invertebrates through outdoor exploration, a story and a bug craft.
Self-guided Programs
Looking for a flexible and low cost program for your preschool group? The Eye Spy program is available at times outside our normal school program times.
Eye Spy
30 minute self-guided Ecology Centre tour. $2.50 per child.
Go on a scavenger hunt to discover nature pictures hidden in the Ecology Centre displays. Receive a small prize when you complete the Eye Spy booklet and then enjoy a nature video in our theatre.