The Exploration Place received national recognition for its Early Explorers preschool program last month.
The Canadian Association of Science Centres awarded the local museum and science centre its CASCADES Best Program – Small Institution award during a virtual awards ceremony on May 28.
“My team is outstanding and Early Explorers Program is truly exceptional – now if we can just find a way to make it safe to start up again in our current circumstances," The Exploration Place CEO Tracy Calogheros said in a press release. “As our young students graduate from Early Explorers preschool, they take with them the foundation for both cultural and scientific literacy. These future leaders embark on their journey of life-long learning with the tools at hand to further their development of broad-based critical thinking, a skill that is a key piece of growing well-rounded adults.”
The Early Explorers preschool was established in 2007 and offers the only STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math)-based preschool curriculum in the city. In addition to learning about science and technology, students also take part in play, stories, songs and Kindergarten readiness programs.
"The Early Explorers preschool is, to our knowledge, the only licenced preschool program of its kind in North America to exist within a museum or science centre," a statement released by The Exploration Place said. "Learning from our curators, from Lheidli T’enneh elders, planting container gardens and processing foods with our master gardener, caring for our animal ambassadors with our head keeper, visits from other local experts and visits to other organizations all combine to create this award-winning program focused on inspiring young minds and hearts."
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