School Programs

IN PARK PROGRAMS

Please confirm with our programmer when your bus will arrive and depart. A GRPF Programmer will be waiting to greet you in the parking lot at the First Trail Head into the park, see the attached Map. In Park programs are outdoor learning days; come prepared for a day at a Provincial Park.

IN SCHOOL PROGRAM – ARCHAEOLOGY

The programmer will come the day before to set up. Archaeology is a station-based program. It requires a full-sized classroom space with 5 table stations for 7 people each and a large circle time floor space. Half-day programs run 2 hours, and full-day programs run 4 hours. The programmer will request that you send a schedule prior to the program that works around your school day breaks and lunch. The program starts generally 1/2hr after school begins.

Smiles, enthusiasm, questions and most importantly, appropriate clothing and footwear.

STUDENT CHECKLIST

• A journal or workbook and a pencil
• Epi-Pen or required medications
• Solid footwear, hat, possibly sunscreen or bug spray
• Weather-appropriate clothing, plan for the unexpected
• Water
• Snacks and lunch

Please try to keep backpacks lightweight, as students will be wearing them in our program.

Our provincial park is accessible by school bus. Due to safety requirements, the bus is required to stay on site during the entire duration of the field program.

• If your driver has any concerns, they can call the GRPF office directly: 403-851-9053
• A map of the bus parking area is available below.

A field program is an excellent opportunity to get parents involved and learn alongside students. GRPF has found that having parent volunteers helps make the day run smoothly. During our field programs, we often divide the students into small working groups of 4-8 students, and we recommend 1 parent volunteer per small group.

• Please ensure that parent volunteers understand that to create an engaging student experience, they will be required to participate actively in the program.
• Archaeology Programs have specific requirements for parents. Please check your program description for more details.

Your biggest role is to learn together with your students. We hope that you get just as much out of the day as they do! But there are a few other roles you’ll have too…

• Communicator – Read through the booking package and communicate pertinent information to students, administration and parent volunteers.
• Liaison – Submit your online booking inquiry form and let GRPF know if there are any changes.
• Traffic Controller – Book the buses, communicate with your programmer about your bus arrival, and print the map so you know where to park.
• Safety Team Captain – GRPF is your safety team, who can respond and assist in case of an emergency. But you know your students best, have access to their emergency contacts and have the responsibility to follow all of your school’s safety protocols.
• Translator – Help your students make the most of the day by reflecting and incorporating the experience back into your classroom learning objectives.

• 30 DAYS BEFORE THE PROGRAM DATE: Full refund minus a $30 administration fee
• 15 – 29 DAYS BEFORE: Full credit, no administration fee
• 1-14 DAYS BEFORE: No refund or credit
• INCLEMENT WEATHER: Reschedule or full credit

24 HOURS BEFORE THE PROGRAM DATE

If the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation (GRPF) Programmer OR the teacher decides the weather is unsafe for the program to run, your school will be provided with a full credit and we will do our best to reschedule you. Please contact your programmer by email in case of inclement weather, or email edprograms@grpf.ca.

DAY OF

If unexpected weather occurs on the day of the program and the GRPF Programmer or the teacher decides the program is unsafe to run, your school will be provided with full credit and we will do our best to reschedule you.

HAIL OR LIGHTNING

Please request that your bus driver stay for the day in order to provide a safe place for all your students.

Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation (GRPF) values safe program delivery and strives to provide a high-quality learning experience in a safe environment. With this, GRPF may modify or cancel a program without notice if site conditions threaten the safety of the staff, students, teachers and/or parent volunteers.

Safety of all program participants is of primary concern to GRPF. As such, the following risk management measures are in place:

• GRPF field program staff have current first aid and carry first aid kits, including a list of emergency contact numbers. Staff also carry air horns and/ bear spray as wildlife deterrents. Staff carry cell phones/radios/spot receivers to ensure a link to EMS in the event of an emergency.
• Teachers are asked to inform GRPF staff, prior to the field trip, of any safety concerns and special needs, i.e. allergies, EPI-Pens, behaviour, etc.
• Students are instructed on “safety in numbers” to avoid wildlife conflicts. We require a 1-10 ratio of school adult to student and suggest 4-6 parent supervisors per class of 30, and emphasize the importance of parent volunteers for safety and supervision.
• Field trips are cancelled in the event of poor driving conditions and severe weather.
• GRPF field program staff perform ongoing site assessments.
• Students are never to leave the supervision of an adult, and must always travel in pairs or groups.
• Trail maintenance is coordinated with Alberta Parks.
• GRPF field program staff are trained in emergency procedures and conduct emergency training drills.
• GRPF requires the bus to remain on-site and/or schools provide a follow vehicle as an emergency contingency vehicle.
• GRPF reserves the right to modify or cancel a program without notice if, for any reason, site or travel conditions threaten the safety of participants.