AquaVan visits Grand Forks
By Erin Perkins
The Vancouver Aquarium AquaVan presented by B.C. Hydro toured the Kootenay region last week, including a stop over in Grand Forks Wednesday, May 9 and Thursday, May 10.
The award-winning educational program focusses on teaching students about the environment, the animals that live on the west coast and conservation. Even living as far inland as Grand Forks, it is important to educate kids about their impact on our oceans, said Lydia Gibson, AquaVan operations leader.
“Although they live so far from the ocean what they do can still have an affect on the ocean and their environment,” said Gibson.
On Thursday, May 10 the van was parked at Dr. DA Perley Elementary where students from Grades 1 to 6 had an opportunity to experience the hands-on program with marine life. Students broke up into smaller groups and where led around four unique education stations with an educator. Each station focussed on different animals that are found on the Pacific Coast of B.C. Students had an opportunity to gently touch a variety of critters including sea stars, a Puget Sound King Crab and see a hermit crab. They also stroked the soft fur of a sea otter, learned about how kelp works as an underwater jungle in our ocean and felt the weight of a whale tooth.
The Grand Forks stop over is part of a five week, 2,800 km tour the van is doing through the Kootenay Rockies.
For more information about the AquaVan visit www.vanaqua.org .
