School and Group Programs at John Janzen Nature Centre

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Please note: bookings for the September 2024 - June 2025 school year open June 3, 2024. Requests submitted prior to this date will not be processed.

The John Janzen Nature Centre is nestled in the heart of the River Valley, the largest stretch of urban parkland in North America. Our goal is to promote stewardship of our natural world through experiences that build appreciation, encourage discovery and inspire action for the ecological challenges that the River Valley faces. Join us, and discover Edmonton naturally!

School/Groups Program Package

Preschool and Kindergarten

A Walk in the Valley

Tread among the trees in this nature program that uses the senses! Discover how soft moss is, hear the birds, see the blue sky above and smell the damp earth. Discover different plants, learn about local wildlife and play some forest games. We'll go out on a limb and say that we are going to have a great time!

Program Length: 1 hour
Fee: $195
Availability: All Year
Curriculum Links and Themes:

General Nature
Senses
Local Wildlife

Dino Discovery

Discover dinosaurs through sensory play! In this hands-on program, we will discover the world of dinosaurs through activities that engage the senses and inspire learning. Dig for dino fossils, sort meat eaters from plant eaters and get a hands-on fossil experience. What a roaring great time!

Program Length: 1 hour
Fee: $195
Available: All year
Curriculum Links and Themes:

Dinosaurs
Senses
Fossils

Peter Rabbit Comes for a Visit

Peter Rabbit is in town and it’s his birthday! All of the animals are invited to celebrate, but no one has come. Through fun games and activities, we'll discover how animals adapt to the seasons and make their homes in Edmonton!

Program Length: 1 hour
Fee: $195
Availability: All year
Curriculum Links and Themes:

Animal Adaptations
Seasons
Local Wildlife

Choose Your Nature Adventure (formerly Tegler Program) (Ages 10 and Under)

Experience the John Janzen Nature Centre in a whole new way! Run, jump, and play as though you were a squirrel and watch the bugs scuttle through the leaves and dirt. Students will play in the Tegler playspace and enjoy a short facilitated activity with their very own nature expert in our Exhibit Room. Activities are based on birds, pollinators, bugs, or mammals - teacher’s choice! This one-hour program must be booked for access to the shared Tegler playspace and is restricted to students 10 and younger.

Program Length: 1 hour
Fee: $195
Availability: All Year
Curriculum Links and Themes:

Local wildlife
Crawling and flying animals
Needs of animals and plants
Animal life cycles

Grades 1-3

Busy Bees and Bugs

Look into the lives of our crawling and flying friends! We’ll take a look at a working beehive, learn about plants the help pollinators and go on a hunt under the leaves and logs. Get a taste of the hard work of bees and a new appreciation for the forests tiniest creatures.

Program Length: 90 minutes
Fee: $210
Availability: May-October
Curriculum Links and Themes:

Needs of animals and plants
Crawling and flying animals
Animal life cycles

Clever Creatures

What does a woodpecker eat? Where does a beaver sleep? Where did that sparrow go? We'll take a close look at how animals build their homes, what they eat and how they adapt to the city. We'll try our hand at nest building or food gathering and see if we are as clever as the creatures!

Program Length: 90 minutes
Fee: $210
Availability: All year
Curriculum Links and Themes:

Needs of animals and plants
Crawling and flying animals
Building with materials

Explore the Season

Snow, flowers, leaves, sticks and then more snow! Join us as we take a close look at the seasons of the River Valley. We'll talk about how the changes affect the plants and animals, how we adapt to the season and take a close look at ways of measuring temperature. Snow or sun, we'll be prepared!

Program Length: 90 minutes
Fee: $210
Availability: All year
Curriculum Links and Themes:

Seasonal changes
Hot and cold

Choose Your Nature Adventure (formerly Tegler Program) (Ages 10 and Under)

Program Length: 1 hour
Fee: $195
Availability: All Year
Curriculum Links and Themes:

Local wildlife
Crawling and flying animals
Needs of animals and plants
Animal life cycles

The Very Hungry Salamander

What do salamanders eat? What else lives in a pond? Explore where the salamanders live and discover the life cycles and food chains of local critters as we dip into our Prairie Pond. This program won't leave you hungry for answers!

Program Length: 90 minutes
Fee: $210
Availability: May-October
Curriculum Links and Themes:

Needs of animals and plants
Crawling and flying animals
Animal life cycles

Grades 3-6

Life Cycles and Ecosystems

Take a look at a local pond, dip a net, and help us identify local species of critters and plants! We'll peer at a pond creatures life cycle from beginning to end and discover the web of life of a pond ecosystem. Come prepared, we might get a little wet!

Program Length: 90 minutes
Fee: $210
Availability: May-October
Curriculum Links and Themes:

Life cycles
Wetlands ecosystems

Stalking and Tracking

Investigate habitats around the Nature Centre for tracks and traces that animals leave behind. Practice identifying tracks with our animal track replicas, hone your hiding skills and practice stalking prey with a game! We'll find who's been wandering through the woods for sure!

Program Length: 90 minutes
Fee: $210
Availability: All year
Curriculum Links and Themes:

Life cycles
Evidence and investigation

Choose Your Nature Adventure (formerly Tegler Program) (Ages 10 and Under)

Program Length: 1 hour
Fee: $195
Availability: All Year
Curriculum Links and Themes:

Local wildlife
Crawling and flying animals
Needs of animals and plants
Animal life cycles

Tree-mendous Trees

Take a walk on the shady side! Classify plants on the trails and learn about the different uses they have. We'll take a close look some issues in forest use and how we can plan for our urban forest. You'll have a great time, we guaran-tree!

Program Length: 90 minutes
Fee: $210
Availability: All year
Curriculum Links and Themes:

Plant growth and changes
Trees and forests

Junior High

Ecosystems

Humans depend on the environment to live, just like every other species on Earth. This program explores the ecosystems of Edmonton’s river valley and how we use the environment for our needs, such as food, water, and much more. Join us to find out what makes the river valley a special place in the city!

Program Length: 90 minutes
Fee: $210
Availability: All year
Curriculum Links and Themes:

Interactions and Ecosystems
Plants for Food and Fibre

Wetlands

Explore a wetland and get inspired to be a changemaker! In this program, we'll test the water quality of a pond and determine possible impacts of urban development. We'll discover the importance of wetland organisms, ecosystems and current conservation tactics. Small actions create big change!

Program Length: 90 minutes
Fee: $210
Availability: May-October
Curriculum Links and Themes:

Freshwater & saltwater ecosystems
Environmental chemistry

Additional Information

Our programs are designed to complement the Alberta curriculum and badge themes for Science. But If you are looking to cover a specific topic that you do not see here or require a shorter program, please connect with our team. We are happy to help.

Booking Checklist

Please be prepared with the following information to make your booking:

Program name
2-3 potential program dates
School mailing address, including postal code, school telephone number, and fax number
Contact name and names of teachers for all classes being booked
Email address(es) of teacher(s) booking and attending the program
Number of students attending
Number of supervisors
Special needs / accessibility arrangements
Name and cell phone number of on-site contact person for programs at your school

Three kids wearing green pinnies that say "Daycamp" on the back.

Day Camps

Explore nature with hands on activities and adventures in the Edmonton River Valley!

Book Your School or Group Program

(2023/24 School Year)

Fees and Payment

The amount owing is shown on your program booking confirmation. Payment is required prior to the program. Invoices are sent out by the City on the first of each month. You will receive your invoice in the same month as your program runs. For example: for a May booking, your invoice will be issued May 1. Payment can be made by cheque, Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Please have cheques made payable to the City of Edmonton and write your booking confirmation numbers on your cheques.

Credit card payment can be made over phone by calling 311.

Mail cheques to:
Citizen Services Payment Processing
PO Box 2359
19th Floor, Edmonton Tower
Edmonton AB, T5J 2R7

Group Size

The maximum number of students permitted in a program is 30. Groups exceeding 30 students must book an additional program.

Adults are required to remain with their group and supervise participating students at all times during the program. Adult supervisors are admitted free of charge with the program in the following ratios:

Pre-school (3-4 years): 1 adult per 3 students
Kindergarten - Grade 6: 1 adult per 5 students
Grades 7-12: 1 adult per 10 students

Additional adults and students/siblings exceeding these ratios will be asked to pay facility admission fees and tour the facility on their own. Additional participants can rejoin their group after the registered program ends. To ensure a high quality program, we recommend that all students participating are within the age range advertised for the program.

Planning Your Visit

The John Janzen Nature Centre explores a variety of outdoor spaces during your program in sun, snow or rain. Please ensure your group is prepared for the weather and wears closed-toed shoes. If you are planning for your group to stay at the facility outside of your scheduled program time, note that there are no indoor or covered resting areas.

Cancellation and Rescheduling

You are required to submit written notice of cancellation of program(s) via email to artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca.

Programs cancelled with 30 days notice or more will not be charged the program fee or a cancellation fee. Programs cancelled with 8-29 days notice are subject to be charged 50% of the program fee. For programs cancelled with 7 days notice or less, the full program fee will be charged.

Programs run rain or shine. In the event of poor weather, you must email artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca if you are not coming.

Programs cancelled due to severe weather conditions will not be charged a cancellation fee as long as they are rescheduled within the current or upcoming school year fall term (September-November).

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Other School and Group Programs

Looking for more program options? See the complete list of school and group programs at attractions and recreation centres.

Contact Us

School/Group Program Reservations Office

Location
7000 143 Street
Whitemud Drive & Fox Drive

Shared parking lot with Fort Edmonton Park

Mailing Address
PO Box 2359
Edmonton, AB T5J 2R7

Email	artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca