Spring Break Fun in The Mud at Britannia Mine Museum With “Mini Mud Monsters” Science Experiments

For immediate release.

Spring Break Fun in The Mud at Britannia Mine Museum With “Mini Mud Monsters” Science Experiments 

 March 15 – 19 and March 22 – 26 from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Photo: Britannia Mine Museum’s “Live in the Lab: Mini Mud Monsters” STEAM learning sessions is a great Spring Break option for families. 

Britannia Beach, B.C. (February 27, 2023) – Spring Break at the Britannia Mine Museum just got a little dirtier but a little dirt doesn’t hurt especially with the Museum’s fun, family-friendly, interpreter-led “Mini Mud Monsters” special educational programming inside their Terra Lab STEAM learning space.  

 Taking place Wednesdays to Sundays (March 15 – 19 and March 22 – 26) from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., the “Live in the Lab: Mini Mud Monsters” drop-in sessions inside the Terra Lab will focus on the important environmental remediation lessons of the Britannia Mines due to acid rock drainage, which occurs naturally when rainwater reacts with oxygen and exposed minerals. 

Participants will meet tiny organisms from nearby Britannia Creek and learn how they help us understand the impacts of mining on local ecosystems. Located up the mountain from the Museum, Britannia Creek is a freshwater body that empties into Howe Sound/Átl'ka7tsem, Canada’s 19th UNESCO Biosphere Region. Dissolved metals from the mine due to acid rock drainage were once a significant source of pollution and Britannia Creek was heavily impacted. Skimming the creek for insect life and looking for pollution-intolerant species can help demonstrate the positive impacts of the Epcor Britannia Mine Water Treatment Plant, which has significantly improved water quality since 2005. 

The Museum’s Terra Lab is an exhibit and STEAM programming space that allows for public and student engagement on the innovative exploration of sustainable mining, environmental remediation and our move towards sustainable resource extraction. 

“We pride ourselves in providing fun, family-friendly yet educational programs that keep inquisitive minds engaged in the science of mineral exploration and environmental remediation,” says Derek Jang, Manager of Interpretive Delivery at the Britannia Mine Museum. “This Spring Break, kids of all ages can immerse themselves and get their hands dirty with our STEAM related Mini Mud Monsters sessions and learn about the tiny organisms that are now thriving in Britannia Creek.”  

The Museum is also celebrating “100 Years of the Mill” this year, paying homage to the iconic 20-storey Mill No. 3 building, a National Historic Site which was built in 1923. Throughout this year, the Museum will celebrate the Mill’s history through an exhibition and events which highlight the technology and engineering developed within it, the impacts it made to the mine’s operations and the memories it has for people within the community. More details of the Mill’s Centennial to come in the following weeks.  

Located 45 minutes north of Vancouver on the picturesque Sea-to-Sky highway, the Britannia Mine Museum provides unique and memorable experiences that engage visitors of all ages. Visitors can enjoy fun exhibits and crowd favourites like the underground mine train, gold panning, the historic 20-storey concentrator Mill building and its BOOM! special effects show, the minerals and gem gallery, the gift shop and the Beaty Lundin Visitor Centre.  

The Museum gratefully acknowledges the following financial supporters and educational partners in the development of the Terra Lab: Government of Canada, Province of British Columbia, Finning International, Teck Resources Inc., CIM Underground Mining Society, Canadian Mineral Processors (National), Jerome Renwick III Endowment Fund (Canadian Geological Foundation), EPCOR Utilities Inc., Prof. Neil Banerjee and Dr Lisa Van Loon /Western University. 

General admission tickets and annual memberships are available online at www.britanniaminemuseum.ca.  

About Britannia Mine Museum:  

The Britannia Mine Museum is a mining legacy site and a vibrant, internationally recognized education and tourist destination located between Vancouver and Whistler on the Sea-to-Sky highway. It is a National Historic Site and a non-profit organization encouraging mining awareness through entertaining, experiential education programs and exhibits, important historic collection preservation and insightful public engagement that allows guests to leave with a better understanding of mining in BC; past, present and future. www.britanniaminemuseum.ca 

Twitter: @BritanniaMine Facebook: @BritanniaMineMuseum Instagram: @BritanniaMineMuseum 

Media contact: Yvonne Chiang, 604-880-5090, ychiang@bcmm.ca