Hybrid programs

Experience the Biogeoscience Institute through our new hybrid program, featuring two days of classroom activities and a day trip to Kananaskis Country

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In response to COVID-19 and resulting restrictions on overnight trips for some schools, we are happy to offer a new program built on Biology 20 curricula that combines approximately 5 hours of virtual classroom learning (2 hours pre-trip and 3 hours post-trip) with a one-day immersive field experience. We can provide this program with either a focus on terrestrial or aquatic ecology to best suit the needs of your students.

Please contact us for pricing and availability.

Day 1

A pre-trip ecology lesson delivered either in-person to by a BGI instructor or through a virtual teaching platform, such as Zoom. During this time, we will prepare the students to make the most of their trip to the field by providing background information, engaging the students in developing hypotheses, demonstrating data collection techniques, and discussing exciting advances in the field of ecology.

Day 2

A full day of experiential and inquiry-based learning in Kananaskis country where students will gather data, make observations, collect samples and a design a testable research question.

Day 3

The final stage of the program takes place back in your classroom, where BGI instructors will help students gather background research on their topic, analyze their data and put together a poster and presentation about their research.

Students examine lichen and collect data in the forest.

A BGI Instructor points out wildlife signs on nearby trees.

Students work together to collect terrestrial ecology data in the forest.

Students observe the landscape for clues about the local ecology.

A student takes depth measurements in the creek.

Students perform a field titration to determine dissolved oxygen in the stream.

Students use nets and buckets to collect aquatic invertebrates from the stream

Day trip in the mountains

The day trip portion of the program takes place at the Biogeoscience Institute (BGI) Barrier Lake Field Station in Kananaskis Country, 80 km west of Calgary.

BGI is located at the base of Baldy Mountain, next to Barrier Lake, approximately 10 km south of the Trans-Canada Highway along Highway 40 in Kananaskis Country. Surrounded by montane, subalpine, and boreal foothill natural regions, the station provides access to a rich diversity of forests, flora, and fauna along the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies.

Learn more about the station

Education at the Biogeoscience Institute

The Biogeoscience Institute is a research institute of the University of Calgary with an integrated research-education mandate. Not only does BGI support high quality long-term scientific research regarding ecosystem and earth processes in the Canadian Rockies, but also provides support for training of future scientists, through experiential and outreach programs for university and school students.

Information for educators