Adventure for Living
Recreation and Tourism - Faculty of Management
Access to beautiful outdoor places to play has never been better in BC with over 1,000 natural protected areas and roughly 30,000 km of trails! The ‘Adventure for Living!’ Major will reinforce the value of outdoor recreation in BC and its’ important role in supporting the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities. Come learn why millions of visitors and residents participate in outdoor recreation every year across our region!
Anticipated activities include:
- Learn more about outdoor recreation opportunities on Vancouver Island
- Design a 'Family Adventure Plan' for your next outdoor recreation adventure
- Enjoy a guided interpretive forest walk with an Instructor from VIU's Department of Recreation and Tourism Management
- Enjoy a guided canoe experience on Westwood Lake with VIU Outdoor Recreation Coordinators
Bird Brained Building
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Bird Brained Building will examine the basics of design by examining bird houses. Students will then build a bird house from a selection of pre cut pieces. Once the bird house is glued together, students will decorate their houses using a variety of materials. Students will also get to design and make some basic furniture/add-ons for their feathered friends new home. Students will get an introduction to views that make up a drawing package for a construction project and will create a drawing set to plan for their build.
Anticipated activities include:
- Drafting and design basics with pencils and rulers
- Learn how to draw to scale
- Select materials and pieces for the birdhouse
- Glue and assemble their birdhouse, and paint and decorate their house
- Work in the classroom to plan a birdhouse from their assembled pieces
- Walk about campus to see what kind of birds frequent our community
Blogging: From Passion to Posting
Marketing and Communications
Got a passion you want to share with your friends and family? A blog is a good way to get the word out – and the good news is anyone can do it! This major will teach you how to set up your own blog, write entries and take awesome pictures to keep people coming back for more. In two days, the VIU Communications team will take you from idea to published blog.
Anticipated activities include:
- Creating a blog
- Writing for web
- Photography around campus
- Putting it all together!
- Games outside
Earth Explorers 2.0
Geography - Faculty of Social Sciences
We are always asking questions: where things are, why are they there, and how do we get there? If you've ever asked a similar question then join us for a variety of fun filled activities. Go geocaching with GPS to find hidden treasures. Discover what makes a map, how we use them, and how to use a compass. We will explore our local weather and learn a bit about how we get the weather we see. Examine rocks and minerals, and learn a bit about where and how they form. We will use the knowledge we’ve gained, teamwork and critical thinking to recover ‘lost pirate treasure’.
Anticipated activities include:
- Explore weather using real instruments and collect data
- Use maps and compasses to navigate a mystery trail
- Use a GPS to go Geocaching and find hidden treasures
- Get hands-on with rocks and minerals, the Earth’s building blocks
- Use knowledge and teamwork to solve escape room style puzzles and recover ‘pirate treasure’
Explorations Of Animal Diversity
Biology - Faculty of Science and Technology
Enhance your skills as a naturalist in this Zoology ‘Major’. Experience the thrills of holding living birds and snakes, as well as learn to identify a diversity of pond and terrestrial arthropods in the lab. Explore animal adaptations through microscropy and hands-on observations. One day will include a field trip to VIU’s Buttertubs Marsh bird-banding station.
Anticipated activities include:
- July 4, Morning: 'A Naturalist's Paradise! - A hands-on study of living animals (including snakes and pond insects) and their fascinating adaptations' (Building 470, Room 218)
- July 4, Afternoon: 'Holy Biodiversity Batman! - A field trip to explore the spectacular diversity of intertidal invertebrate animals' (field trip to Pipers Lagoon)
- July 5, Morning: 'The Marvels of Birds! - A hands-on introduction to the lives of birds and the joys of bird banding' (field trip to VIU's Buttertubs Marsh)
- July 5, Afternoon: 'Parasites in the Lab! – A research study of the diet and parasites of the bizarre spotted ratfish (Building 470, Room 218)
Faster, Higher, Stronger – The Science of Sports
SHAPE - Faculty of Education
If you’re like me (and a lot of others), you love sports. Playing them, watching them, imagining you’re scoring the winning goal, or striking out the opponent for the win. Have you ever wondered how athletes are able to do those amazing physical feats? Do you look at the human body and say “that is so cool, how did she do that?” Me too! Join me in the Sport, Health and Physical Education (SHAPE) program at Grandkids University, and we’ll explore the world of sports from a scientific perspective. We’ll use some of the latest technology to see how the human body works, and we’ll perform some of the same tests that your favorite athletes do during training camps and combines.
Anticipated activities include:
- Exploring sports science and related disciplines like kinesiology
- Using the latest technologies to discover how humans “work”
- The ‘VIU Combine’ – fitness testing to examine sports performance
- Lots of fun, activity and learning
Field Naturalist
Milner Gardens & Woodland (transportation to and from is provided)
Do you love exploring local parks and green spaces but wish you knew a bit more about the plants and animals you see? Then you will love becoming a field naturalist at Milner Gardens & Woodland. Explore the forest, ponds, and garden with an experienced naturalist while recording your sightings using nature journals as well as new online tools that you’ll be introduced to.
Anticipated activities include:
- From Nature Journals to iNaturalist – we will be introduced to a variety of ways to keep nature notes, and practice making observations that can be easily shared with others.
- Introduction to Birding – we’ll use a variety of fun exercises and games to practice spotting and describing birds before setting off on a bird survey of Milner Gardens.
- Pond Critter Comparison – we’ll get hands on in our natural ponds, use tools to identify the invertebrates we find, and then compare our findings to our Reflecting Pool.
- Plant ID Challenge – race through the forest identifying native plants
It’s All In The Chemistry!
Chemistry - Faculty of Science and Technology
A mix of fun, hands-on chemistry experiments where you’ll make crystal snowflakes, instant super-cooled ice cream, be a detective and see what colours smelly markers are made of, and make pop-bottle rockets!
Experimental sections:
- Making slime and bouncy balls
- Making crystal snowflakes
- Making soap
- Testing invisible ink and smelly markers
- Making pop-bottle rockets
Class section:
- Learning about the power of chemistry in the environment
Demo section:
- A whole bunch of fun demos that explore the chemistry of solid materials, colour changes, and fire!
You Are A Star!
Theatre Department - Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Great scenes from famous plays are featured in this ‘Major’ that gives participants a chance to shine! We will play theatre games, and have fun with improv exercises in this expressive course that develops skill and talent in a welcoming space. Celebrate creativity and comic timing that enhances performance know-how, develops team spirit and self-confidence! A performance piece could be developed depending on the group – who knows what we might be inspired to create! Anticipated activities include:
- Character-building exercises
- Acting games
- Laughing!
See Exciting Moments From Past Years
Tuition Fee
Tuition Fee of $125 + GST per participant includes all 'major' activities, materials, a program T-shirt and the Thursday night dinner. Participants are responsible for all meals except dinner. All grandkids must be accompanied by a grandparent or favourite adult, and adults must be accompanied by a child to register.
Maximum two children per adult.
(Fees are subject to change)
Call to Register: 1.866.734.6252
Afternoon Activities
Following your ‘Major’ classes on Day 1, join us for fun hairstyles by the VIU Hairdressing students, outdoor fun, board games and new this year… fun, active Physical Education challenges! Join the Faculty of Education while they show you how much fun you can have while you are learning. Have you ever tried to walk on stilts, move on spooner boards, or juggle cigar boxes? Why not challenge your grandparent to a traditional game like badminton or hopscotch? However, you may find that your grandparent would prefer to explore new sports and activities like Danceplay, DrumFit, Jump Bands, Kickbo, or Kanjam! Either way it will be fun! There will also be a pizza dinner followed by a choice of 2 movies.
Accommodation
Stay Overnight! Enhance your on-campus experience by staying in the student residences for just $57.50 (incl. taxes) per person per night (single occupancy – you can book two adjoining rooms with a shared bathroom) or $69 (incl. taxes) per room per night to share a room (one twin bed or bunk beds with linens supplied – bring a foamy, pillow and sleeping bag for the floor and bedding and pillow for the upper bunk). Grandkids are paired with grandparents in the rooms and free evening activities are provided.
Towels, soap and shampoo are supplied. Please bring any other toiletries. There is a communal kitchen available for your use in the Residence Accommodation, equipped with kettles, toaster, coffee maker, microwave, and stoves. Please bring your own dishes, cutlery, and cooking utensils.
Booking and payment for student residence rooms is required at time of registration in GrandKids U.