The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, the TELUS Spark science centre and Contemporary Calgary will be offering new experiences during Alberta’s province-wide teachers’ strike.
In addition to the science centre’s regular exhibits and activities, Spark will be offering a limited number of first-come, first-served camps specifically designed for students in grades 1-6, according to a center-issued statement.
These programs will run while school is out, according to the statement, with registration opening weekly as the strike continues. Centre staff and members will receive priority for registration.
Science centre camp offerings will be evaluated as job action continues or changes. Any pre-booked camps that have not happened when strike resolution is found will be refunded.
“Nothing will ever take the place of schools as the place for students to learn about the world around them under the expert guidance of their teachers,” the statement reads.
“At Spark, we seek to augment the great work done by teachers for students to reinforce their classroom connections through non-curriculum-based activities throughout the building. We seek to have hands-on learning and inspiring interactions that promote curiosity to learn more about all things STEAM and put some wonder in their hearts about the world around them.”
Exhibits and experiences are not designed to have a unilateral outcome, instead, guests can explore by trying things out and learn through experience at the level that they would like to engage, be it a two minute fly-by or a 30 minute deep dive, according to the statement.
Specifically designed camps aside, all ages are welcome at the centre.
New at the zoo and Contemporary Calgary
While the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo won’t have any special programming during the teachers’ strike, there’s always new things to see and do during every zoo visit, according to a zoo-issued statement.
Recent additions to the zoo include new babies, like the two slender-tailed meerkat pups, three black and white-tailed lemur pups, one Malayan tapir calf, two bison bull calves, four rock hyrax pups and a North American river otter pup.
For $20 per child, guardians and children can learn about colour theory and fundamental painting techniques, and complete an art painting project to take home, among other temporary activities at Contemporary Calgary from Oct. 8-10.
The field trip is available for students 5-13 and their guardians, but it is not a dropoff program as parents must remain with children.
A maximum of 30 children can register for each 3-hour field trip. Registration and payment are required before the session, and all art supplies are included.
If the strike lasts more than one week and there is sufficient demand, Contemporary Calgary may expand programming to offer additional sessions.
