Talking Trees Schools Tour

Indigenous Coast Salish societies had lived in Stanley Park and Vancouver for millennia, practicing sustainability living through an intimate practice and connection to the land. This school tour includes Coast Salish cultural stories and or songs.

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Location:

 Vancouver, Stanley Park

Season

 jan / feb / mar / apr / may / jun / sep / oct / dec

Duration:

 1.5 Hours

Guests:

 16-32 Students

Rates:
  • 2 adults per group of 20 students are complimentary. additional adults pay same rate as students.
  • $16 per Student

Includes:
  • Cultural Ambassador Guides

What to Bring:
  • Walking shoes
  • Layered clothing. Adequate thermal clothing in fall and winter.
  • Water bottle
  • Snacks
Download Itinerary (PDF 0.22 MB)

Tour Overview

Each plant, each tree has its own story. Explore Stanley Park, Beaver Lake, with a local First Nations guide-educator and learn about the land, through the stories and teachings of the local trees and plants that were harvested by First Nations people for food, technology and medicine.

  • This program shares indigenous practices of living, via sustainable and selective harvesting
  • The Tree of Life – Cedar, it’s sacred gifts: medicine, technology, shelter, clothing, transportation
  • West Coast Temporal Rain Forest – an ultimate community network
  • The Land is Us and We are the Land – land management techniques, the social practices. Selective burning, the various forms for practiced agriculture, transplanting, pruning
  • Your class will learn about the Maple tree, Douglas Fir tree, Red Alder tree, the Western Hemlock, and the many wild berries and medicinal plants of this regions
  • Plants as medicine, frog leaves, plantain, horsetail – the forest is our grocery story and pharmacy

"Spoken Treasures Tour"

Thank you for a wonderful and informative walking tour. Wes was a brilliant guide and he really brought the first nations people and their stories alive for us. It was great to hear him speaking his language and singing; 21st century Vancouver melted away and we were taken back in time.

We could have spent the whole day listening to him and learning about the coast Salish peoples. A memorable afternoon and thoroughly recommended if you want to learn about the culture and traditions of the first nation peoples of Vancouver.

Christine R — TripAdvisor

Tour Locations

Stanley Park - 1.5 Hours

Meeting Location

Meet in front of Bus Loop 2, Stanley Park (At the Interpretive Sign) Map. Your access our site via Pipelane Road by vehicle. Our location is the the same parking lot that is used for the mini train.

Times

Morning: 9:30am – 11am, or 10am – 11:30am

Afternoon: 1pm – 2:30pm

Please note: custom times can be arranged when booking well in advance.

Discount Student Rates

The discounted student rate (60%) is effective with 20 or more students. Teachers and Chaperons are complimentary. Max of two complimentary members.

In planning your land based learning activity with your class, we invite all teachers to inform us of any curriculum connections you would like to meet in our tour program. Discussion of these curriculum goals require advanced planning.

Notes

In planning your land based learning activity with your class, we invite all teachers to inform us of any curriculum connections you would like to meet in our tour program. Discussion of these curriculum goals require advanced planning.

Additional Information

Exclusions
  • Please contact us in advance to discuss curriculum connections and goals of your tour.
  • Schools are discounted 60% for our group tours.  20 or more students is required for this rate.
  • GST (tax) will be added to all bookings.  
Booking Details

Talaysay School Rates:  These rates are reserved for public and private secondary and elementary schools.  The $16 per student rate is approx. a 60% from our retail rate.  We only do select dates and recommend you book in advance.  Payments can be made on-line, via credit card.  Cheques will be accepted if provided 2 weeks prior to the tour.  

Talaysay Customer Service and policies: Our tours and school programs proceed on rainy days. If weather is extreme with respect to severe rain or wind, we will contact you to re-schedule or cancel without cancellation penalty.

Medical: We ask the teachers to inform us in advance if there is any student or participants who requires an epi pen or if there are any participants with injuries or health matters that could affect their ability to experience our tour program in its full capacity.

Group Cancellation: 7 days or more are required for a refund; we will reimburse less a 20% administration fee.

Customer Service, Policies & Best Practices

We walk on light rainy days and encourage visitors to love our rain forest coast, just as the locals do. If weather is extreme with respect to rain or wind, we will consult and re-schedule. Cancellations with 48 hours advance notice will be reimbursed with a 20% admin fee. If you would like to reschedule for another day, our company will schedule you in. Groups of four or more, if cancelling with Talaysay, we require 7 days notice for reimbursement.

Payments, Taxes & Group Rates

We accept Visa and Mastercard. Your booking will be completed by your payment in full in which you will receive a full itinerary by email. 5% GST will be added to your booking payment.

For more information on our booking & rental policies, please call 1 (800) 605-4643.