Outdoor workshops
Outdoor science workshops: nature is the lab
The best classroom might be just outside. Our outdoor workshops let students observe, explore and experiment directly in their natural environment, in your schoolyard, a park or a natural area near the school.
Learning outside, on purpose
Outdoor learning is known for its many benefits: it supports concentration, stimulates creativity, encourages physical activity and strengthens students’ well-being. It is also a wonderful way to build respect for the environment while giving real meaning to what students learn in class.
Designed in connection with the BC curriculum, our outdoor workshops turn the schoolyard, a park or a natural space into an open-air science lab. Every outing is a chance to observe, handle and understand natural phenomena right where they happen.
- In the schoolyard or a nearby park
- Offered in September, October, May and June
- Moved indoors in bad weather
Outdoor workshops
Trees, flowers, insects, birds in their natural environment, spring plants and underground life.
Pricing
Outdoor workshops
Rates based on a minimum of two classes per day
- 60-minute workshop From$205
- 75-minute workshop From$256
Extra fees, GST and PST
- Travel: $0.90 per kilometre, round trip, between our office and your location, with a $25 minimum per trip.
- Remote regions: preferential travel rates may apply. Ask us for details.
- Perishable supplies: a few workshops carry a supplies fee, stated in the workshop description.
- Waiting time: a $60 fee applies when more than 90 minutes separate two workshops.
- Taxes: GST and PST are added to the amounts shown.
What students do outside
In Trees, students work out the age of trees and plants by counting their growth rings and handle balsam fir cones. In Flowers, they dissect a real flower to observe its parts and learn that the Indigenous peoples of what is now Canada used more than 1,000 different plants. In Insects, they study the anatomy of insects and arachnids with a collection of real specimens.
Birds in their natural environment and Spring plants in their natural habitat are two-hour outings with binoculars or observation sheets, to identify British Columbia species near the school. In Underground life, students turn detective to find out why the leaves buried under the snow disappear, then observe mites, springtails and earthworms from our compost.
Google reviews
What people say about Profaqua
4.4out of 57 Google reviews
Reviews written in French.
Une équipe dynamite! Ce sont des fous de la science. Mes enfants se rappellent encore des ateliers donnés dans leur classe au primaire. "Ah oui, c'était super cool avec Profaqua!" ;) Et maintenant ils offrent un camps d'été, mais mes enfants n'ont plus l'âge. Snif. Salut à toute l'équipe Profaqua!
J'ai assisté à une démonstration sur la chimie et ce fut excellent, j accompagnais un groupe de jeunes et ils ont gardé leur concentration tout le long. Ils ont adoré et ce fut instructif, Éric en plus d'être drôle , connaît très bien sa ma matière .
Request a quote: Outdoor workshops
You will receive a personalized proposal within 24 to 72 business hours, with no commitment: activity, number of groups, length, travel, GST and PST.
No booking, payment or commitment is required before you approve the proposal.
What happens if the weather is bad?
The weather sometimes surprises us, but never the fun of learning. In case of bad weather, the activity is adapted and run inside the school.
When are outdoor workshops available?
To make the most of outdoor conditions, they are offered in September, October, May and June.
Why learn science outdoors?
Learning outdoors supports concentration, sparks creativity, gets students moving and adds to their well-being. It also builds respect for the environment and gives concrete meaning to what students see in class.
Which grades are the outdoor workshops for?
Flowers suits kindergarten to grade 8; Insects, kindergarten to grade 4; Underground life, kindergarten to grade 5 and grade 8; Trees and Spring plants, grades 3 to 7; Birds in their natural environment, grades 3 to 6.
Is the activity entirely in French?
Yes. Every Profaqua activity is led in French. For French Immersion and Core French classes, the facilitator adapts the pace and vocabulary and relies on demonstration.
Do the outdoor workshops include Indigenous perspectives?
Five of them do: Trees, Flowers, Insects, Birds in their natural environment and Spring plants are also part of our workshops with Indigenous perspectives, with stories such as the legend of the Thunderbird.
Can we book an outdoor workshop for a single class?
The rates are based on a minimum of two classes per day, so two classes, or more, usually share the same visit.
How long does an outdoor workshop last?
Trees, Flowers and Underground life last 60 or 75 minutes, from $205 or $256 per class with a minimum of two classes per day; Insects lasts 60 minutes. Birds in their natural environment and Spring plants in their natural habitat are two-hour outings.
Can outdoor workshops be funded?
In francophone schools, outdoor workshops on natural heritage are among the activities that can fit a PassepART project, once their eligibility is confirmed. Immersion and Core French schools can look at Canadian Parents for French.
Where do outdoor workshops take place?
In the schoolyard, or in a park or natural area near the school. The workshops are designed with the BC curriculum and turn these places into an open-air science lab.
No question matches. Try another word or write to us!