Educational Programs

Guided Hikes

The Burgess Shale Geoscience Foundation, in partnership with Yoho National Park offers Earth Science educational hikes to the Walcott Quarry, Mount Stephen Fossil Beds and a hike along the iceline trail that showcases the effects of climate change. All of our guides are experienced in wilderness travel, have current First Aid certifications, and a post-secondary background in Earth Science.

Fifty per cent of each hike is spent taking photos and talking about the following:

1. History of life on earth
2. Rocks and mountain building
3. Climate science and landforms
4. UNESCO World Heritage Site themes on protection, education and interpretation

Group Presentations

The Foundation will conduct an in-house presentation for college/university students, geology/paleontology groups or for small groups and families, right here, in one of the empty classrooms in the school.

The presentation will consist of:

1. a slide show
2. an examination of the Burgess Shale trilobite collection
3. a paleo-geographic history of planet earth and a 40 minute video

Phone 1-800-343-3006 to register/determine fees

Professional Development Workshop for Teachers

2010 Teacher Workshop (August 14th to 19th)

Based in beautiful Yoho National Park, home of the world-famous Burgess Shale Fossils.

Designed for teachers by teachers, the curriculum-based course will not only increase your knowledge of earth science, but will also provide you with classroom resources to enhance your existing science curricula with illustrative Earth Science activities.

The course consists of a mixture of practical classroom sessions, field trips, and field exercises facilitated by professional geo-scientists. Designed with a flexible, modular format, the course includes science-specific workshops (i.e. Chemistry in the Mountains, Biology in the Mountains, Physics in the Mountains) that provide links to pure science curricula. In addition, you will be provided with the skills to create your own geological field trips with your students.

“Our unique, cross-curricular approach involves illustrating scientific principles taught in the classroom with real-world examples from earth science. It makes the theory more relevant to students by relating it to their surroundings.”

Lisa Holmstrom

The 2010 Earth Science Professional Development Workshop is made possible with financial support from:
CSPG – The Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists
CSEG - The Canadian Society of Exploration Geologists

Phone 1-800-343-3006 to register and Download the brochure

Half a billion years ago was only the beginning…

Did you miss your chance to hike to the Burgess Shale, or the Mt. Stephen trilobite beds, or don’t have time? Join us for 1.5 hrs.

You will understand how half a billion year old marine fossils are now found high in the mountains of Yoho National Park.

Participate in a scientific journey of discovery of what life on earth was like during the Cambrian geological time over half a billion years ago.

When: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12 noon and 7:00pm (local time) starting June 22nd. Bring your lunch.

Where: Field School, in the village of Field, no parking in the village—so please park at the gas station (Yoho Trading Post) or the Field Visitor Info Centre then walk 5 minutes to the school.

Fee - $10 single, $15 couple, $20 family

1. Field Visitor Information Centre
2. Yoho Trading Post (Field gas station)
3. Field Community School

Phone 1-800-343-3006

Download the poster