School Groups - Grizzly Bear Field Trips

Our Mission: To encourage conservation, preservation and respect for all components of the Rocky Mountain environment through natural history interpretation. The Lake Louise Gondola travels directly over a protected Grizzly Bear refuge and provides your best opportunity to see a wild Grizzly Bear.

Background and History: The Lake Louise Sightseeing Gondola is located in Banff National Park, 4 km from the Hamlet of Lake Louise. The company has a history deeply rooted in outdoor appreciation, from its humble beginnings as a ski in/ski out lodge in the Skoki valley (established in 1931) to the World Class resort status of today.

Since 1959, people have had the opportunity, in the summer months, to appreciate and learn about the uniqueness of this area by riding the summer gondola. In 2002, the summer program was strengthened with a significant enhancement geared toward interpretive education and visitor experience. An extensive wilderness conservation educational program was established to help guests foster a greater appreciation
of this vulnerable ecosystem and its constituents. The outcome has been exceptional, with over 75,000 guests participating in these programs to date.

This year the summer sightseeing gondola would like to open this exceptional educational opportunity up to school groups in the Calgary area. With a program focused on Grizzly bear conservation/preservation, teachers can fulfill their course curriculum requirements by bringing their classroom to the beautiful mountains of Lake Louise.

• Pre trip safety messages that are geared toward fulfilling your day at the mountain.
• Experienced Interpretive Guides for all programs.
• 5-minute pre-ride welcome and orientation.
• Walks to explore and discover the ideas being addressed. (*Available once trail is open- approximately mid-June) (group size is a factor)
• Interactive presentations with a variety of props and supplies.
• Free use of our Wildlife Interpretation Center with a variety of in-house displays about local wildlife.
• Photo taking opportunities from one of the best viewpoints in the Park.
• Program handouts.
• Program opportunities for teacher-directed activities if so desired.

In the frst component, Students will learn from an interpretive guide about the changing world of Banff's Rocky Mountain Grizzly Bear over the past 100 years. They will discover what factors affect Grizzly bear survival and how they can help ensure that Grizzly bears remain in this habitat for generations to come. In the second component, students will join their guide on an excursion into an active wildlife corridor. They will take a tracking tour to discover the needs of the grizzly and then decide if this area is good habitat for bears. Observations and activities will lead students to come up with their own grizzly bear conservation plan.

This program can be conducted indoors if poor weather conditions make it diffcult to travel outdoors.

Program Pricing:
$15 per student (including interpretive program and gondola ride)
$17 ride, program and breakfast
$20 ride, program and lunch
*Prices do not include GST

What to Bring:

• warm cloths, toques and mitts can be handy
• back pack (to keep everything together)
• good walking shoes
• rain gear
• cameras
• sun glasses
• sun block / insect repellant
• binoculars
• note books and pencil/pen
• packed lunch
• water (the body requires more at higher elevations!)
• LUNCH if you are not partaking in the Lunch / gondola combo

*Be prepared for any type of weather any time of the year (the temperature at mid-mountain can be 5 to 10 degrees cooler than the temperature at the base of the mountain. Please make sure your class is prepared for mountain weather).

Booking Information
Please call our group sales department at 403-522-1341 or e-mail llgroups@skilouise.com.

All teachers will be required to fill out a Calgary Board of Education "B-2" Off-Site Activity Template. The Lake Louise Interpretive Department is prepared to support you in completing this template if you require assistance.

See you soon !