In School Programs & Guests

CVRD- Connected by Water

New!  The Comox Valley Regional District has developed materials to support students in learning about their connections to the watershed, learning what makes a watershed healthy and how to conserve water by using it efficiently at home. 

The resources are written as inquiry units (one primary k-3 and one intermediate 4-7), and are designed to support answering the driving question: What allows me to have safe water that I can drink?  They can be used in their entirety, or the activities within each unit can stand alone. They include a long list of additional links and resources connecting educators to many ideas and projects in the community, including options for field trips. 

CVRD Environmental Educator Tina Willard-Stepan is available to come in to speak to you staff about the resources and to help you implement them.  She is available by email at willstepcoaching@shaw.ca

Local Programmer

DV8 Education aims to create an alternative to the classroom by utilizing the school yard or community parks and forests.  Programs focus on environmental education and building relationships between self, others, and nature. Using games, singing, storytelling, outdoor adventures, field studies, stewardship, and play.  Programs are offered in both English and French and are run by one of our local BC Teacher Certified Teachers spreading her enthusiasm and compassion for the environment and the outdoors.​​

Fianna Wilderness School and Outdoor Leaning Programming

Opportunities for SD71 Schools 

School onsite full day programming:   

• All grades- onsite full day or single class programming available between 10am-3pm
• Fianna Forest Program (Cumberland or forest local to the school)
  We would build our day around the current season or by request (possible requests: animal tracking, plant foods and medicines, bird language, shelter-building and survival, navigation and mapping). Every program will include circle councils, singing, storytelling, awareness games, sit spots, and lots of exploring.

Full Day Field Excursions:

• Day programs at Black Creek farm location. 
• Our day will involve some time on the farm and some in the forest. We will participate together on one brief farm activity that will vary seasonally (harvesting from the garden, feeding the animals, stacking firewood etc.), and we will spend the rest of the time in the fields and forest shelter-building, playing awareness games and practicing fire making. The day will include circle councils, singing, storytelling, games, sit spots, and exploring.

Full Day– Cost $450 for up to 20 kids (2 instructors) or $650 for up to 30 kids (3 instructors)

​​​ Local Program

Project Water shed has not only an incredible amount of local information on the Comox Valley Watershed but will also come to your class and support you in water cycle and watershed lessons.  There lessons are informative, hands on, interactive, with local examples and relevance.  They also offer supported day filed excursions to Comox Valley watershed locations with lessons and activities linked to current curriculum K-7.​

AdventureSmart is a national program dedicated to encouraging Canadians and visitors to Canada to “Get informed and go outdoors”. AdventureSmart combines online and on-site awareness with targeted outreach to try and reduce the number and severity of Search and Rescue Incidents. 

NOTE:  Comox Valley’s local rep. is available all year round on Fridays, presentations usually run 40 min at no cost.  Program delivery is in French or English on request, please specify on program request form.

     “Hug a Tree & Survive” 

AdventureSmart program that helps lost children survive in the woods. It teaches children how not to become lost in the woods, and what to do should they become lost.  Geared to Grades 2-7

   ‘Survive Outside’

Statistics show that each year across Canada there are approximately 5,000 ground Search and Rescue incidents. They involve all types of outdoor enthusiasts, from hikers and skiers to back country travelers and boaters.  Geared towards Grades 7-12

‘Snow Safety’

AdventureSmart encourages you to have fun and play, but always be informed and prepared before you set out. Time spent gaining this extra knowledge and skills can help reverse the SAR incident trend.  

  Comox Valley- Naturalists Society

The Comox Valley Naturalist Society is made up of dedicated volunteers from scientists, stream-keepers to educators.  They are committed to restoration and rehabilitation of our natural environmental around the Valley.

The CVNS often holds events for the public to help with planting or removal of invasive species projects on weekends.  They are excited to include SD71’s schools in this invitation and are happy to help support any groups interested in their own projects.  Most recently they have opened up some space for classroom and school site supported programs.

Please click the above link to find out more information about Comox Valley Naturalists and their contact information to have them support outdoor and environmental learning in your classroom.

To conserve and protect native wildlife and its natural habitat through education and rehabilitation.

MARS has now opened an onsite visitor and education centre.  Please considering going on sight to learn directly from these amazing volunteers putting so much energy into protecting our local wild life.  MARS is still available for their ambassador bird program, please contact with ample time and link it to your in class studies to get the most out of the experience.  

​​Comox Valley Fossil Adventures

​Contact: 250 650 7069 /  250 703 3444   comoxvalleyfossiladventures@hotmail.com​

Adventures that take you back to the time of the dinosaurs! Husband and wife fossil hunters, Russ and Lori Ball, have combined their teaching skills, educational backgrounds and passions into an educational adventure for ages 8 to 88.

What we offer:

Elementary / Secondary level: based on ages

Classroom: up to three hours of hands on show and tell with slide shows, physical specimens, question period and discussion on fossils, rocks and geology. This can include a word search/crossword/drawing activity for a marking component.

Outdoor: follow up the classroom discussion with a hike, geology lesson, flora and fauna chat, and a fossil hunt. Students would leave the classroom and participate in a short hike and a chance to dig for dead critters.