Overnight Field Studies for Schools
Outdoor adventures that are more than just a field trip
Are you and your students looking for something unique? Do you want a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that blows your typical school overnight out of the water? Well, you’ve come to the right place! When you choose VOS, you’re choosing to give students an opportunity to unplug and build newfound skills, friendships, and independence by just getting out into nature.
From canoeing along the coastal rainforests of BC to dogsledding in the Yukon, we have 14 expeditions that can be tailored to fit the time of year, number of participants, and preferred locations and experiences you’re looking for. No matter which adventure you choose, we guarantee an experience full of Kodak moments!
Why Choose Us?
- Commitment to Community: We are all about building long-lasting, meaningful relationships with your students, staff, and school community.
- Bespoke Adventures: We can adjust our field study experience to best suit each individual learner in collaboration with their teachers. We take into account the students’ age, level of interest and comfort, cultural background, and the core competencies that are in place at your institution.
- Excellence in Leadership: Our instructors are skilled outdoor educators and aspiring teachers. We hire the
best and bring our best. - Never Boring: We take pride in our ‘Rebels Against the Boring’ badge, making sure to stay flexible, always fun, and 100% experiential. We weave together outdoor and leadership workshops, expressive arts, cooking challenges, and activities as diverse as parkour and Dungeons and Dragons!
- Indigenous Perspectives: In everything we do, we integrate Indigenous knowledge and history through our long-standing ties to the Squamish and Sechelt Nations in BC and the Selkirk and Champagne-Ajax Nations in the Yukon.
- Climate Education: Climate change is a real challenge that our kids are facing and VOS takes this seriously. We incorporate age-appropriate discussions, ideas, and lessons about climate change into our activities. Crucially, our climate education a point of hope, showing learners how to take action rather than drowning them in doom and gloom.
For more information about our programs read on or Click here to review all our offerings in our 2024–2025 Catalogue!
How do I organize an Overnight Adventure for my class?
1. Review our 2024–2025 Catalogue and decide on your favourite.
2. Contact us so we can learn more about you, your class, and your hopes for this experience.
3. Based on our conversation, we will put together a comprehensive plan for the experience.
4. Finalize student information, travel details, and payment.
5. Get outside and have an awesome outdoor learning experience with VOS!
No outdoor experiential education program? No problem!
We can connect your core competencies with a guided, overnight outdoor experience while offering a fun and skill-centred school trip for your students. Our dynamic team is committed to providing exceptional outdoor educational services and activities for schools during the school year and beyond.
Wild Within BC Learning Series
Experience the best of Beautiful BC
Welcome to “Wild Within”, where we explore British Columbia’s world of temperate rainforests, jagged mountain ranges, and ocean ecosystems. In this world of late-night stargazing, sunset canoe journeys, secret waterfall hikes, and meaningful friendships, everyone has their own place and their own leadership journey.
Sample Wild Within Adventure: March 2025 Golden Ski and Paddle Experience (8-day)
Vancouver Outdoor School is now offering an 8-day epic adventure that offers a uniquely BC opportunity: ocean canoeing and downhill skiing in the same trip! Only offered in March thru Early April 2025, it's our premier “Wild Within BC” experience that showcases the best of Vancouver, Whistler, and the Sunshine Coast by allowing students to participate in both an ocean paddle experience and two days of skiing at two different mountains (Seymour and Whistler).
Click here to review all our offerings in our 2024–2025 Catalogue!
Watch the video above to see just a portion of the incredible landscapes we’ll visit in our Wild Within BC Learning Series.
Some of last year's BC highlights!
Larger Than Life Yukon Learning Series
The central character in thousands of years worth of stories, the Yukon is steeped in history and tradition. This larger-than-life creation of unique geology demands respect and attention, requiring every aspiring expedition leader and adventurer to “let go and lean in”. Our ‘Larger Than Life’ expeditions offer students the opportunity to see this indescribable landscape in its two grandest forms: summer and winter.
Sample Larger Than Life Adventure: Yukon Snow Rush (5-day)
On this winter adventure, we'll experience Canada’s True North in it's truest form. Together, we’ll embark on a winter adventure across a landscape blanketed in sparkling snow, where the Northern Lights dance across the night sky. Brace yourselves for dog sledding through serene forests, skiing and snowboarding on snowy slopes, exploring the Yukon’s endless wilderness, and so much more!
Click here to review all our offerings in our 2024–2025 Catalogue!
Watch this video to learn more about the Yukon and its one-of-a-kind beauty.
Some of last year's Yukon highlights!
It’s a life-changing experience.