Meet the 2026 field trips team!
The Field Trips Program
Thank you for your interest in the BMSC field trip program, which has been operating since 1975. We host field trips for high school and undergraduate students, offering programs that include hands on experience and an introduction to the marine sciences. Our activities provide learning opportunities on the water, in BMSC’s labs, and on the beautiful beaches and coastline which surround Bamfield. The experiences provided at BMSC by our Education Team have touched the lives of thousands of visitors every year, inspiring many young students to become marine scientists.
Now that you know who we are, how do you get your class here?
We offer field trips in the Fall (September to November) and Spring (February to April), and field trips during these months will have pre-set dates. The available field trip dates for each upcoming Fall or Spring will be announced via an e-mail contact list approximately six to eight months before each season of trips, along with details about how to submit booking requests. Please email us if you would like to be added to this e-mail list to receive info about future field trip bookings.
We offer 2-night, 3-night, and 4-night stays, and we encourage you to check out a sample itinerary to see which activities are included in each visit. Group sizes are always multiples of 12 so that we may comply with Transport Canada regulations for marine vessel capacity, and we require a minimum ratio of 1 chaperone per 11 students (for K-12 groups). We encourage groups to fill all spots in a package, even if this means opening up extra spots to students in other grades, or even partnering with a neighboring school.
The Field Trip Program is very popular, and we aren’t able to accommodate every group who expresses interest. To maximize the number of different schools who can visit, we cannot provide more than one trip for a single school within the same school year. We also cannot guarantee an annual trip for your school, though you can always request to be added to our waitlist. We are working hard to increase capacity so that more students will have the opportunity to attend a field trip to the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre.
The BMSC adheres to current BC Health Authority Guidelines and guests are encouraged to follow these closely when planning your trip. Our safety plan and Hazard Assessment Control Program for Covid-19 is available upon request. Visitors should be aware that Bamfield is located in a remote community, albeit with a 911 first-responder service, and the Bamfield Health Centre is ready to assist in the event of a medical emergency.
Testimonials
“I just want to thank the staff at BMSC for making my school’s trip so incredible. From the background planning to the upfront educational staff, everything was first rate. I don’t think it would be fair to single any of them out as they were all so knowledgeable, friendly, and flexible with our group. Of note, we had a special needs student with us. Your staff were exceptional allowing her to be part of the experience while meeting her needs. The kitchen staff were also super friendly and the meals they provided were first rate. They went well above expectations especially dealing with our diet restricted individuals.
Bamfield is a special place. Personally, this was my third visit and it never disappoints.” – Ian Drysdale, Jr/Sr High Science, Warburg School, Spring 2026
“A true west coast experience this past week at Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre. Such genuine passion from the marine educators here — what a privilege it was to learn from them about the world of marine science and conservation. Thank you.”– Alina Ismaguilova (Ms. I), Head Teacher, Prince of Wales Mini School, Spring 2026
