Observe the hidden history of Vancouver all around us by examining the traces of its past. In this camp, we will explore the historical neighbourhoods of the city we all love with our tour guide and history teacher, Kieran Forry. Traveling on foot and via public transit, we will visit Gastown and explore the first Downtown Core of Vancouver, learn about city planning on the seawall and discover how Expo ‘86 changed our city forever. The city’s streets and buildings have a lot to teach us, we just need to know where to look.
When?
Tuesday August 8 - Friday August 11, 2023; 9:00am - 12:00noon.
Who?
This camp is designed for students aged 11-16 years.
Cost:
$225 (including tax). All transportation cost are included in the fee.
If the fee is a barrier to your participation, a limited number of bursaries are available for eligible families - please email camps@visst.ca to inquire.
Where?
We will start and end each day at The Vancouver Independent School for Science and Technology (VISST) at #200 - 1490 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC. We will take public transportation to the various neighbourhoods.
Why should you attend?
Engage with the past in ways that you wouldn’t ordinarily do in the classroom by actually experiencing and examining historical sites: Gain a fuller understanding of Vancouver’s history.
Make connections between Vancouver’s past and present, and investigate the forces that have shaped the society we live in today.
Learn from an experienced high school history teacher and Vancouver afficionado.
Earn a certificate of completion from the Vancouver Independent School for Science and Technology.
What will you learn?
Students will visit Vancouver’s most historical neighbourhood by public transit including:
Gastown: Vancouver’s One-Time Skid Row – Learn how the trials and tribulations of “Gassy Jack” changed what was a locally known portage route into what would become the first downtown core of the City of Vancouver. Discover the changing fortunes of this part of the city, from its reputation of a den of iniquity in the past, to its current status as a retail and commercial district.
Seawall: How to City Plan – Discover how the City of Vancouver has tried to balance the competing interests of the different groups of people who live by and use the seawall, and the conflicts that have ensued. Learn about the seawall’s protective purpose, it’s intended role as a public park, and why it’s so hard to find something to eat there!
Yaletown to Expo 86: The Birth of the Skytrain – Learn about the changing face of Yaletown and False Creek. From sprawling industrial location to the site of Vancouver’s centenary party, Expo 86. Investigate the changes to the city’s transport that this heralded, as well as the displacement of communities that other transport plans, such as the Georgia viaduct, caused in the area.
Camp Instructor
Kieran Forry – Secondary School Teacher
Kieran is an experienced history teacher, having taught in both the private and public sectors of the English and Canadian education systems. After graduating from London Guildhall University in the UK with a BA Hons in History and Politics, Kieran undertook his postgraduate teacher training at the UCL Institute of Education. This was followed by a Master’s Degree in History Education in 2015, which was also from the IoE. In his spare time, he loves travelling, live music, and all things Star Wars! In addition, he has been active in Holocaust education in both the UK and Canada, which has included taking groups of students to visit Auschwitz as part of the “Lessons from Auschwitz” educational program.
Additional Notes:
This is primarily an outdoor camp. Please provide your child with a water bottle, sun screen, weather appropriate clothing, a hat, comfortable footwear and lots of snacks.
Our staff, instructors and volunteers will take students on public transit. All transportation costs are included in the camp fee.
Students should be prepared to do a fair bit of walking.
Refund policy: Email us at least 2 weeks (14 days) prior to the start of the camp for a full refund.
Questions?
Please email camps@visst.ca