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A grizzly bear stands in the shallow water of the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia, Canada, with a forested shoreline in the background.
British Columbia

Coastal British Columbia: Indigenous Culture & Majestic Wildlife

Program No. 25700RJ
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Program
At a Glance
Duration
8 days
Program Begins
Vancouver, British Columbia
Program Concludes
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Group Type
Small Group
Meals
19 ( 7B, 5L, 7D )
Activity Level
From
4,899
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Natural and human histories are inextricably intertwined in the Pacific Northwest, and you’ll learn about both in this exciting adventure along the coasts of British Columbia. Explore the histories of the Salish, Kwakwaka’wakw and ’Namgis peoples at cultural centers and museums, hear from Indigenous educators, study the salmon fishery and its cultural significance, and learn about the spiritual connections of Indigenous peoples to the land, the sea and the creatures that inhabit them. Navigate through the Broughton Archipelago in search of whales, harbor seals and seabirds, and into fjords that are home to some of the world’s most reliable grizzly-bear viewing areas.
Best of all, you'll...
  • Board a boat to Knight Inlet, where an abundance of salmon draws high concentrations of grizzly bears.
  • Explore the U’Mista Cultural Center, a center of Kwakwaka’wakw culture and home to an important collection of repatriated ceremonial artifacts.
  • Study marine diversity in the Broughton Archipelago and Johnstone Strait, home to species including orcas and humpback whales.
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Featured Expert
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Jackie Hildering
Jackie is a biology teacher, cold-water diver, underwater photographer and whale researcher living on Vancouver Island. She is the co-founder of the Marine Education and Research Society and winner of the Vancouver Aquarium’s Murray A. Newman Award for Excellence in Aquatic Conservation. Jackie was recently featured on Animal Planet’s “Wild Obsession” and in the BBC production “New Threat to Canada’s Pacific Humpback Whales?” She is passionate about telling “the story of mystery, fragility and wonder of the life hidden in the cold, dark Northeast Pacific Ocean.”
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Please Note:
These experts may not be available for every date of the program
Jackie is a biology teacher, cold-water diver, underwater photographer and whale researcher living on Vancouver Island. She is the co-founder of the Marine Education and Research Society and winner of the Vancouver Aquarium’s Murray A. Newman Award for Excellence in Aquatic Conservation. Jackie was recently featured on Animal Planet’s “Wild Obsession” and in the BBC production “New Threat to Canada’s Pacific Humpback Whales?” She is passionate about telling “the story of mystery, fragility and wonder of the life hidden in the cold, dark Northeast Pacific Ocean.”
Please call the toll free line at 1-866-745-1690 during regular business hours or for non-urgent matters (Mon - Fri 8:30 - 4:30 EST). The mobile phone #1-613-331-5777 is for after hours and weekends for emergency use only. The phone is carried by a staff member.
Lynne Brookes has taught courses in biology, ecology, and environmental studies as well as teachers’ workshops in the U.S., Latin America, and Canada. A former president of an Audubon Society chapter, she served as president of the Arrowsmith Naturalists from 2014-17. “Retired” on mid-Vancouver Island, Lynne is a volunteer teacher focusing on native plants, ecology, and wildlife-friendly gardening for the Vancouver Island University ElderCollege program. She also conducts programs and workshops at the North Island Wildlife Recovery Centre in Errington, British Columbia.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
2-3 miles of walking each day, some on uneven terrain. Standing up to 2 hours per day in museums and cultural centers. Getting on and off expedition boats. Program will require approximately 15 miles of walking over 7 days. Must be physically capable of participating in all planned program activities.
Small Group (13 to 24)
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Suggested Books and Resources
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You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
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Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
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Call 800-454-5768
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Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

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Assurance Plan

Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.

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Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

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Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.

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  • Peace of Mind

    We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

    An illustration of a hand using a pen to check off the final item on a clipboard checklist
  • Assurance Plan

    Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.

    An illustration of an elderly man sitting at a computer with a pair of binoculars beside him
  • Want to Protect Your Investment?

    Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

    An illustration of an elderly woman holding a piggy bank, with the Eiffel Tower in the background
  • Sustainable Travel

    We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.

    An illustration of a hand holding a globe with a small bird flying around it
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