| Duration | 75 minutes |
| Child, Youth, Student and Senior | $ 9.00 |
| Adult | $12.00 |
* Please see booking information for more details.
A biodiversity museum like the Beaty is one way of understanding the natural world. Inside, specimens are kept safely for close observation, measurement, record-keeping, and preserved for hundreds of years. But, species live outdoors! Scientists need a combination of outdoor observation and museum specimens to fully understand the world around us.
In this program, you’ll be introduced to the museum, then taken outside to try out different methods to explore nature right beside the museum! Our interpreters will choose activities for your group that explore a variety of species and are appropriate for the season. You’ll write down your observations and keep them as a record of your research at the museum. You’ll learn ways to safely explore nature that respect the plants, animals, and other organisms around us.
Scientists do work in the rain, snow, heat, and cold. Be prepared for the weather on your program day and plan to spend about an hour outside. A coat, boots, gloves, hat, sweater and/or sunscreen are great things to have with you.
This seasonal program is available March 1-October 31 each year for groups of all ages. We may be able to accommodate requests in the winter, but we encourage you to explore our indoor options for your group’s comfort.
Resources
We encourage you to plan to arrive early and/or stay late after your program is finished, so you can explore the museum collections more fully. We have a wide variety of educator resources to support you before, during, and after your visit. Here are some suggested ways to frame your exploration:
Before your visit:
- Get to know our space, enjoy an audio tour or 360° virtual tour of the museum, using our online visitor guide (html) or printable visitor guide (pdf) to help navigate the museum.
- Explore our museum terminology sheet and Researchers Revealed site
- Inspire your group’s creativity with these printable black-capped chickadees colouring sheets and butterfly origami instructions
At the museum:
- Look for Culture at the Centre and the Sturgeon Knowledge Web exhibits sharing First Peoples’ knowledge and perspectives on biodiversity.
- Check out the current exhibitions
After your visit:
- Learn how to create your own biodiversity word searches with this word search template and answer key
- Explore symbiotic relationships with the printable cards included in this activity
Accessibility notes
We will move around the museum and on mixed pavement, between taller plants, and through grass. There are no lips or steps to get to all program areas, but there are transitions between ground textures. Most of our time will be spent outdoors. Students may work in pairs, small groups, or as a large group. Some light equipment will be used either sitting or standing.
Inside, the museum which is equipped with level concrete flooring and ramps. Some spaces in the museum are dark and/or narrow but can fit a wheelchair easily. Expect to spend some time walking, standing, and sitting. Activities may incorporate drawing or writing, touching real museum specimens, and discussions. Read more about accessibility in the museum here. We will ensure we get all group members to participate in a way that works for them. Let us know how we can meet the access needs of your group!