The Royal BC Museum is filled with historical objects that help us better understand what it was like to live in the past. How are the objects we use now (like toys, cooking instruments, phones, etc.) different or similar to what your uncle or grandmother or older neighbour used when they were kids.  

For this session we’ll read a book about the wonder of museums, then look at a few of the historical objects within our museum collection and sketch them.

Get your paper and pencil ready for some fun time travel. 

What's That? Mystery Specimen with the Greater Victoria Public Library

The Royal BC Museum is filled with weird and wild natural history specimens- things that swim, things that fly, and things that…well, I’m not even sure what that is?

For this session we’ll look at one mysterious specimen, and go searching for clues to find out what it is. We might need to explore the galleries and collection areas to crack the case. We’ll also read a book about animals that might live in BC.

Follow us into the galleries.

We all have our favourite parts of the Royal BC Museum- that cozy corner, or that diorama that feels so real. Throughout the summer we'll meet community members, volunteers and staff that will show us their top spot.

Through Instagram Live, we'll bring you into the museum and chat about what it is about that space that is so meaningful, special and dynamic to them. From youth to grown-ups and everywhere in between, each week will be a new special guest. 

Salmon Famine

From sound pollution to plastics, there are many reasons that make it hard for Orcas to survive in our water. One major threat to the Southern Resident Orcas is the lack of their favourite food – Chinook Salmon. 

During this session, we will create some cardboard Chinook Salmon as we explore ways we can help Orcas by helping our oceans. 

This session will be guided by educator Jenny Arnold.

Materials needed:

Hello History with the Parliamentary Players, part 2

We again go across the street (to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia) and back in time to meet some important historical figures. Thanks to the Parliamentary Players, during this session we'll meet both Francis Rattenbury and Nellie Cashman. After we hear their fascinating stories, we'll be able to ask them questions. Oh, hello there history- how have you been?

Follow us into the galleries.

We all have our favourite parts of the Royal BC Museum- that cozy corner, or that diorama that feels so real. Throughout the summer we'll meet community members, volunteers and staff that will show us their top spot.

Through Instagram Live, we'll bring you into the museum and chat about what it is about that space that is so meaningful, special and dynamic to them. From youth to grown-ups and everywhere in between, each week will be a new special guest. 

It’s a well known fact—kids LOVE getting messy! Making slime is a great way for kids to learn about the science of polymers while reaping the benefits of sensory play. Polymers are made up of long, bendy molecules that are kind of like spaghetti. There are lots of good examples of polymers, like plastic cups, balloons, and even skin.

During this session we'll create our own sea slime and use that slime to make a tide pool and beach scene, just like the one at the Royal BC Museum. 

This session will be guided by educator Anu Shant. 

Materials needed:

What better way to get ready for Canada Parks Day than to visit one of BC’s newest parks? Join learning program developer Liz Crocker and BC Parks community liaison officer Natasha Ewing for a virtual summer visit to rainforests in two BC provincial parks: Goldstream Provincial Park on Vancouver Island and the Ancient Forest/Chun T’oh Whudujut Provincial Park east of Prince George. Established in 2016, the Ancient Forest / Chun T’oh Whudujut has a dramatic history and is co-managed by the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation and the Province of B.C.

The Royal BC Museum is filled with specimens of animals of all kinds. Some are big and some are small. Some are furry and some are scaly. Some have two legs, and some have six. Some can be found deep in the ocean and some high up in trees. 

For this session we’ll read a book about animals, then look at a few of the animals within our museum collection and sketch them.

Get your paper and pencil ready for a wild journey among the wild animals of BC.

RBCM @ Home (Summer) is hosted by Chris O'Connor. 

Click on the Zoom link to join:

Music For Natural History with Tina Pearson and Paul Walde

Follow us into the galleries.

We all have our favourite parts of the Royal BC Museum- that cozy corner, or that diorama that feels so real. Throughout the summer we'll meet community members, volunteers and staff that will show us their top spot.

Through Instagram Live, we'll bring you into the museum and chat about what it is about that space that is so meaningful, special and dynamic to them. From youth to grown-ups and everywhere in between, each week will be a new special guest. 

Orca Speak

In many ways, orcas and humans are not that different. Both orcas and humans are social animals and rely on communication to express love, frustration and even let each other know where there is a good place to grab a snack. For this session we'll be joined by Bridget Penner, youth learning facilitator here at the Royal BC Museum, as she explores how orcas vocalize and what it can tell us about how they live and interact with each other.

During the session we'll also play a fun listening game and create a short craft.

Of all the ocean's mysteries, none are more confounding than the orca. What are they? Where did they come from? What do they want?! Join infamous Field Zoologist Brad Gooseberry as he reveals the secrets of these majestic beasts of the deep.

From the creators of Fake Ghost Tours, Abdul Aziz and Shawn O'Hara bring you a "lecture" by "world-renowned" and totally "qualified" field zoologist Dr. Brad Gooseberry.

When a grade 2 class from Discovery Elementary School (in Shawnigan Lake, BC) heard about the environmental problem of plastics in the ocean, they decided it was time to take action by making art from trash.

Of all the ocean's mysteries, none are more confounding than the orca. What are they? Where did they come from? What do they want?! Join infamous Field Zoologist Brad Gooseberry as he reveals the secrets of these majestic beasts of the deep.

From the creators of Fake Ghost Tours, Abdul Aziz and Shawn O'Hara bring you a "lecture" by "world-renowned" and totally "qualified" field zoologist Dr. Brad Gooseberry.

When a grade 2 class from Discovery Elementary School (in Shawnigan Lake, BC) heard about the environmental problem of plastics in the ocean, they decided it was time to take action by making art from trash.  

Orca Dining with the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea

What's on the menu? Food webs are complex and connect all living things in an ecosystem. Explore the links in one chain of the Salish Sea food web — the orca food chain. The coast of BC is home to three ecotypes of orca, all making different selections off the menu. Learn through creating a craft with the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea.

Materials needed:

The Saturna Island Marine Research and Education Society is a community-based non-profit organization building awareness of marine life and ecosystems in the Salish Sea. Martin Wale will give an update on new, evidence-based research and education from SIMRES.

Register in advance for this webinar:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5kCf0yuuQ-26FjIFoLDwzw

Join host Liz Crocker and Tina Kelly, Director of Learning and Communications at the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea as we try our luck whale watching from land! No guarantees that we’ll see any orcas, but you never know. Tina will share tips on what to look for and we’ll dive into a discussion of the beautiful Salish Sea that our southern resident killer whales call home.

Create a Watercolour Resist Orca Painting

Let’s have some fun experimenting with watercolour resist while learning to draw an Orca. First we’ll draw and colour our Orcas while learning about the different relationships they have in our waters. Then we will have some fun discovering what happens when we apply watercolours to create the many blues of the ocean.

This session will be led by arts educator Jeri Engen, from Kudzu Studio.

Materials needed: