
School Programs
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.

Program Overview
Dates: | Program: | Cost: |
YWP Spring School Programs: |
| No Cost to Yukon Students |
YWP Winter School Programs: |
| No Cost to Yukon Students |
Swan Haven Programming | No Cost to Yukon Students | |
Anytime |
| 40% off posted rates for Yukon Students + GST if applicable |
Anytime |
| 40% off posted rates for Yukon Students + GST if applicable |
How to Book
- Grade Specific Emails are sent out to all Yukon Teachers (Winter program offers advertised in November. Spring program offers advertised in February)
- Request a School Program Booking via online booking request forms found in the table below
- Once you have submitted the Grade Specific Booking Request Form, you will receive a Booking Confirmation email within 72 hours.
- Contact our Manager of Education & Programming if you have any questions via phone (334-3338) or email (education@yukonwildlife.ca)
Dates: | Program: |
YWP Winter School Programs: February 1, 2023 to March 3, 2023 | Grade 7 program: Registration OPEN, complete the Grade 7 Booking Request Form Grade 3 program: Registration OPEN, complete the Grade 3 Booking Request Form Grade 2 program: Registration OPEN, complete the Grade 2 Booking Request Form |
Swan Haven Programming April 5, 2023 to April 28, 2023 | Grade 2, 3 or 5 program: Registration OPEN, complete the Swan Haven 2023 Booking Request Form |
YWP Spring School Programs: May 5, 2023 to June 6, 2023 | Grade 4 program: Registration OPEN, complete the Grade 4 Booking Request Form Grade 1 program: Registration OPEN, complete the Grade 1 Booking Request Form Kindergarten Program: Registration OPEN, complete the Kindergarten Booking Request Form |
Info Required to Book
We will need the following information to make a booking:
- What experience and subject matter you are interested in;
- Your school/association;
- Teacher Name(s) (if more than one class is coming, we’ll need contacts for each class);
- 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 / times you are interested in;
- Any learning differences or special needs we should be aware of – especially mobility related (the more we know, the better experience we can provide you).
Curriculum Based Program Descriptions
Kindergarten - Animal Explorations
Spring: Up to 48 students
½ Day Program (2.25 hour)
9:15am to 11:30am or 12:00pm to 2:15pm
Students will participate in an exciting investigation of animal adaptations and changes in the spring time. Through a combination of story-telling, animal observations, and hands-on exploration, students will discover how animals meet their basic needs.
Teachers are responsible for bus transportation as follows:
- Transportation to and from Wildlife Preserve;
- Please Note: for Spring season programs, you will need your bus for the entire duration of the program
Curriculum Connections
- Plants & animals have observable features
- basic needs of plants & animals
- adaptations of local plants & animals
- Daily & seasonal changes affect all living things
- weather changes & seasonal changes
- living things make changes to accommodate daily & seasonal changes
- Language & story can be a source of creativity & joy
- Curiosity and wonder lead us to new discoveries about ourselves and the world around us
Grade 1 - Plants and Animals
Spring: Up to 48 students
½ Day Program (2.25 hour)
9:15am to 11:30am or 12:00pm to 2:15pm
While travelling around the Yukon Wildlife Preserve on foot students will engage in an exciting adventure focused on animal and plant classification. Students will explore the wild and natural world through guided observation, story-telling, classification games, and hands-on activities.
Teachers are responsible for bus transportation as follows:
- Transportation to and from Wildlife Preserve;
- Please Note: for Spring season programs, you will need your bus for the entire duration of the program
Curriculum Connections:
- Living things have features and behaviours that help them survive in their environments
- classification of living and non-living things
- names of local plants & animals
- Language and Story can be a source of creativity and joy
- Stories and other texts can be shared through pictures and words
Grade 2 - Surviving Winter
Winter: Up to 26 students (1 class)
½ Day Program (2.25 hour)
9:15am to 11:30am or 12:00pm to 2:15pm
This half-day program explores life cycle strategies employed by Yukon species to deal with a harsh northern winter. Through guided observation, activities and hands-on props, students will explore challenges and solutions to surviving winter in the Yukon.
Teachers are responsible for Bus/transportation:
- To and from the Yukon Wildlife Preserve;
- First 15 minutes after scheduled arrival time;
- Last 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
Curriculum Connections:
- Science: life cycle strategies of Yukon species in winter (hide, survive, avoid)
- Science: the water cycle and winter in the Yukon
- Science: hypothesizing, make/record observations, discuss/compare
- Social Studies: how Yukoners have adapted to winter in the north.
Grade 3 -Winter Biodiversity
Winter: Up to 26 students
Half Day Program (2.25 hour)
9:15am to 11:30am or 12:00pm to 2:15pm
The ‘dead of winter’ is really full of life if you know where to look. Students explore winter ecology – how living things interact with each other and their environment – and biodiversity. Through experimentation, we discover how the production and transfer of thermal energy is key to survival for living things in a winter landscape.
Curriculum Competencies:
- Demonstrate curiosity and a sense of wonder about the world
- Make predictions based on prior knowledge
- Collect simple data
- Experience and interpret the local environment
- Compare results with predictions, suggesting possible reasons for findings
- Make simple inferences based on results and prior knowledge
- Identify simple environmental implications of their and others’ actions
- Express and reflect on experiences of place
Big Ideas & Elaborations:
- Living things are diverse, can be grouped, and interact in their ecosystems
- Local biodiversity & interconnectedness in ecosystems
- Populations & communities
- Energy is needed for life (food chains & webs)
- The Knowledge of local First Peoples of ecosystems
- Local biodiversity & interconnectedness in ecosystems
- Thermal energy can be produced and transferred
Teachers are responsible for Bus/transportation:
- To and from the Yukon Wildlife Preserve;
- First 15 minutes after scheduled arrival time;
- Last 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
Grade 4 - Wild Habitats
Spring: Up to 48 students
Full Day Program (5 hour)
9:15am to 2:15pm
Students will participate in a focused investigation of the dynamic relationships that define wildlife in the Yukon. Through story-telling, wildlife observation and experiential games students will discover that they are inseparable from nature.
Teachers are responsible for Bus/transportation:
- To and from the Yukon Wildlife Preserve;
- First 30 minutes after scheduled arrival time;
- Last 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
Curriculum Connections:
We’ve updated our programs to reflect the new curriculum!
- All living things sense & respond to their environment
- How is sensing and responding related to interdependence in an ecosystem
- Biomes as large regions with similar environmental features
- biomes are classified by areas with similar temperatures/precipitation
- terrestrial & aquatic biomes
Grade 7 - Caribou in the Yukon
Winter: Up to 26 Students
Full Day Program (5 hour)
9:15am to 2:15pm
Caribou are phenomenally well adapted to the challenge of living in northern landscapes. This full day program explores how caribou have come to be an iconic Yukon species, but how those very traits put their future at risk. Through guided observation, experiential games, hands-on props and stories, students explore the fragile past and future of Caribou in the Yukon.
Teachers are responsible for Bus/transportation:
- To and from the Yukon Wildlife Preserve;
- First 15 minutes after scheduled arrival time;
- Last 15 minutes before the scheduled departure time.
Curriculum Connections:
- Science: Evolution by natural selection provides an explanation for the diversity and survival of living things
- Science: evidence of climate change over geological time and the recent impacts of humans
- Social Studies: human responses to particular geographic challenges and opportunities, including climates, landforms, and natural resources
General Visit Program Descriptions
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.
Not recommend during cold weather.

Box 20191
Whitehorse, Yukon
Y1A 7A2