Community Groups

Overview

To make a booking contact our Manager of Programming & Education at 867-334-3338 or email education@yukonwildlife.ca

We will need the following information to make a booking:

  • What experience and subject matter you are interested in;
  • Your association;
  • Teacher/Leader Name(s) ;
  • Primary phone number;
  • Email addresses;
  • Grade(s) and class sizes:
  • Anticipated number of chaperones:
  • Mode of transportation to and from the Preserve (yellow bus, white 20-24 passenger bus, personal vehicles, etc);
  • The dates and times you are interested in;
  • Any special needs – especially mobility related disabilities (the more we know the better experience we can provide you).

Discounted pricing is available for groups/organizations providing programming to children/youth/elders.

Risks and Dangers

Our Philosophy

We offer high-quality, experiential programming in a natural setting with low instructor to child ratios! Our programs are an opportunity for students to actively engage with the natural world and wildlife in ways not feasible in the classroom.

We believe:

  • Students need to be active participants in their learning;
  • Nature is not just a science lesson – its a life lesson with science;
  • Unstructured, outdoor play is an essential part of learning.

Some of the ways this philosophy is expressed in our programs includes: 

  • Programs are special, unique experiences crafted for the interests and ability of that grade.
  • ‘Seeing all the animals’ is a passive activity – instead we use a specific theme focusing on a smaller group of species or even a single species. This allows for more variety and activity.
  • Students need to be physically active (less standing/sitting and more walking/running).
  • We don’t focus on facts. Too many facts becomes boring and emotionless. 
  • We use stories – emotional narratives that help us understand who we are and how we got here (sometimes they even have facts in them)!
  • We relate to wildlife through science, culture, history, politics, math, language, social studies and more.
  • We create opportunities for unstructured learning – games and activities where students get to choose how and what they will engage with.
  • We recognize that children don’t see things the way we adults do – that a muskox is cool, but sometimes the bug on the ground is cooler. Our activities take this into account, preferring the immediate, touchable experience to the look from afar experience.
  • Hiding, sneaking, running, asking questions, and more. We use these child passions – things we love(d) to do as kids – to draw students to their edges.
Our Resource

In addition to 12+ species of Yukon’s Boreal and Arctic Species on a 700 acre site, our school program resources and facilities also include:

  • Learning Centre for indoor play, stories, lunch and shelter from inclement weather;
  • Bathrooms (outhouses);
  • Emergency transportation and first-aid materials.

Programs are conducted outdoors. In the event of severe or prolonged inclement weather it may be necessary to cancel and try re-booking a program.

Self-Guided (Walk/ski/bike)

We highly recommend this option any time of year for any and all ages! Children of all ages benefit from unstructured, physical play in the outdoors. Self-guiding allows them to take control of their experience, making them active, self-directed, engaged participants in their learning. Interpretive panels around the Preserve offer stories and insight and a pocket trail-guide is also available. Walking distance is flexible, ranging from 2.5 km to 5 km.

Allow for 2 1/2 hours.
Timing is flexible.

General Programming (walk/ski/bike)

We recommend this option any time of year for any and all ages! Students explore the Yukon Wildlife Preserve on foot, delving into the adaptations, habitats and other features that make Yukon’s wildlife unique. This active option retains some of the unstructured exploration but adds some more structured activities. We may be able to direct this experience to specific class interests. Walking distance can be adjusted for the age and ability of the group from 2.5 km up to 5 km.

½ day (2 1/2 hour program)
9:00am to 11:30am or 12:00pm to 2:30pm

General Tour (bus)

Students explore the Yukon Wildlife Preserve by bus, delving into the adaptations, habitats and other features that make Yukon’s wildlife unique. We may be able to direct this experience to specific class interests. This option has more elements of traditional, passive, information based tour and is only recommended when ‘seeing all the animals’ is the objective and limited time rules out the other options.

1 1/2 hour program,
Timing is flexible.