Yes. To see how each field trip is linked with the BC curriculum, click here for high school and click here for elementary school.

We require a 1:8 adults to student ratio for grades K-3, 1:10 for grades 4-7 and 1:15 for grades 8-12. Adults are requested to participate in all activities and asked to help maintain group attention. If you are unable to provide support, please let us know in the request form so we can find volunteers.

Full payment is due by the day of your field trip, and you are encouraged to send it sooner. To make these payments, you can send an e-transfer to niki@eya.ca. If you would prefer to pay by cheque, the mailing address is 500-610 Main St, Vancouver BC, V6A 2V3. Please include your name, school name, and division number so we know who the payment is from.

We understand that plans change. One week or more before the field trip, we will do our best to reschedule to another date at no cost or refund all fees paid if you need to cancel. Less than one week before the field trip, we will charge 50% of the field trip fee if you need to reschedule or cancel. All changes must be made by email to the program manager (contact info below).

Yes. One form must be completed for each student and signed by a parent or guardian. If a parent or guardian is not available, the form may be signed by another supervising adult (e.g. teacher, social worker). Each attending adult must also fill out a waiver. Please bring the completed forms to the field trip; students without completed forms will not be able to participate.

Plants and animals are outside regardless of the weather - and we will be too! Make sure your students wear appropriate attire. For rainy days, this looks like boots, rain jackets, rain pants, hats and gloves. For sunny days, this means a sun hat, sunscreen, and a water bottle. We also have some gear to lend out as needed.

Please try to have students go to the washroom at school before arriving on site. At our Strathcona site, students must be accompanied by an adult to use our single gender neutral washroom with a composting toilet.

Our gardens have unpaved pathways with a steep incline from the road. Students with mobility challenges or who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices may have trouble navigating the gardens. Please let us know if you have any questions about accessibility and we will do our best to accommodate.

The street address for Strathcona Community Gardens is 759 Malkin Avenue. The garden is situated between Malkin Avenue and Prior Street, adjacent to Hawks Avenue. We will meet your class at the “Eco-pavilion,” a large wooden building in the centre of the garden with solar panels on the roof (see map). The #22 bus stops at Strathcona Community Garden and there is free street parking available along Hawks Ave.

We use the following communicable disease protocols to keep our staff and participants safe:

• Face masks are optional. EYA provides disposable masks for staff or participants who choose to wear them.
• If a participant is sick, they should notify an EYA program staff right away.  EYA staff may direct the participant to wear a mask / maintain distance from other participants, or ask them to go home.
• Hands must be washed or sanitized:
  • When entering and leaving the garden
  • After coughing or sneezing
  • Before and after eating

We strive to make our programs as accessible as possible for our participants by being transparent on the inherent barriers that exist, and providing adequate support where possible. We recognize that disabilities are experienced on a spectrum and accessibility needs vary. Here are a few aspects of our programs which may create barriers or require further support to participate safely and comfortably:

• Fully outdoor program: Rain or shine, in public greenspaces. We have large tents, and warm layers to lend, but participants are exposed to the elements throughout the program day.
• Program areas: uneven ground that has rocks & roots and can be slippery at times.  Some steps and ledges in indoor and outdoor spaces.
• Communication: Largely verbal.  Facilitators will utilize visual supports such as white boards and diagrams to support when possible. 
• Accessibility of washroom facilities: At our Strathcona site, the composting toilet is not wheelchair accessible.
• Activities: Many EYA activities are physical, such as games, digging, planting, walking.  Many activities can have alternative options and be adapted as needed.

Accessibility needs are extremely specific to the individual, and therefore this list is not comprehensive. Please reach out to us directly with any questions or concerns.