Classes take place at the Williams Building (221 Cumberland Ave North) Monday to Friday 8:30am-12pm and 1-2:30pm.

Workshops and socio-cultural activities will take place in the afternoons and early evenings. Please note that the schedule can change without notice.

• May 5: Arrival at Mohyla Institute (residence students only)
• May 6: Classes start
• May 20: No classes
• May 23: Midterm exam
• May 30, 31 or June 3: Part A of final exam
• June 5: Part B of final exam
• June 6: Departure

Are you a current or past Explore student? You can order a transcript for $10.

During the program, there are scheduled French Immersion workshops for students. These are compulsory for all students. Every student must be registered for 5 workshops. Please note that these workshops group students according to interest and not according to their level of French proficiency. Bring your speaking and listening French language skills, and enthusiam for the subject!

Please read through the description of the workshops. This will help you decide before you go online to register. We do our best to offer enough spots, but it is first come, first serve. (In the past, students have always obtained their first, second and/or third choice.)

Les Souvenirs en argile - polymère

Avec Helena Larsen McKay

In this workshop, students will use polymer clay to create their own special souvenirs of all things from Le Petit Prince. Helena will focus on roses, but students will also be encouraged to create miniature representations of their favorite character: le petit prince, le renard, la planète, le mouton, to name a few. This workshop is suitable for those of all levels of experience in art and is offered to help students reuse the vocabulary in their reading of Le Petit Prince and to make memorable souvenirs that they can take home with them.

L'Aquarelle, l'alcool à friction, le sel et les crayons

Avec Helena Larsen McKay

Students will learn to create baobab trees, flowers, dandelions and more by dropping rubbing alcohol on watercolor paint. Other media will be used to enhance the paintings. This workshop is suitable for all levels of experience in art or “chemistry” and is offered to help students reuse the vocabulary in their reading of Le Petit Prince. Helena invites all students to take home all of their paintings.

À la découverte artistique des exoplanètes

Avec Erica Bird

Exoplanets are planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. There are now more than 5,000 known and confirmed exoplanets. And we keep finding more all the time. In this art workshop, we’ll create and illustrate exoplanets using chalk, pastel chalk and collage techniques. What color is the sky? Does it rain? Are there oceans, mountains, moons? How long is a day? Is there life on your planet? This workshop is suitable for those of all levels of experience in art and is offered to help students appreciate their tour of the Observatory and the reading of Le Petit Prince.

Erica is the manager of the USask Museum of Natural Sciences and loves to share the history of Earth and the evolution of life on it with visitors, through the dinosaur skeleton replicas, fossils, live animals and plants, rocks, and minerals. She has a PhD and MSc in physics, a BSc in physics and astronomy, and is fascinated by the natural world and our incredible universe.

Hockey, badminton, ballon volant, foot, frisbee ultime, et ballon panier

Join us to learn a variety of sports! In each of these workshops, you will learn the specific French terms and key phrases to encourage your classmates in team and competitive sports and actually play these sports. Students are invited to indicate their interest and will be informed of more details at a later date.

Please bring:

• Suitable running shoes
• Sportswear for indoors and outdoors

Tournée du Musée des sciences naturelles

Avec Erica Bird 

The Museum of Natural Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan showcases the history of Earth and the evolution of life on it through exhibits and displays that include dinosaur skeleton replicas, fossils, live animals and plants, rocks, and minerals. Join museum manager Erica for a tour and some hands-on activities to learn more about the natural sciences.

Wanuskewin

The visit to Wanuskewin Heritage Park is an opportunity for you to understand the rich history of the park and the Plains Indigenous people who have lived in the area for thousands of years! Students and instructors will participate in the Opimihaw Walk, learn about tipis and traditional games and end the day with a dance performance.

Entrance and programming fees, are covered by the Explore Program. The Explore program will also cover the costs of a Bannock dessert.

Pike Lake Provincial Park

Located 20 minutes south of Saskatoon, Pike Lake Provincial Park is loved for its lush lawns pleasantly shaded by aspen, ash and birch trees. Situated on the South Saskatchewan River, the park offers various recreational opportunities for visitors to enjoy including water activities, playgrounds, tennis and volleyball courts, golf and a popular outdoor pool with a waterslide. The park's 1.5-km nature trail begins at the interpretive centre and provides a great opportunity to experience the diverse wildlife and ecosystems contained within the park. 

Entrance and canoe rental fees are covered by the Explore Program. Please note that weather conditions may cause this excursion to be cancelled or certain on-site activities to be closed.

Danse folklorique

Avec Guy Verrette

Folkloric dance means dances of the people. This type of dance reflects the traditions, cultures, and beliefs of people in a particular region. Folkloric dance expresses the life and spirit of a people through its movement and music. Come and have fun or encourage your classmates, and all in French!

Please bring: 

• Running shoes (no flip flops nor sandals)
• Comfortable clothing

Le film : Le Petit Prince

Released in 2015, this film has won the César Award for Best Animated Film, Annie Award for Outstanding Achievement for Music in a Feature Production. It is adapted from the short story, Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. In the film, the Aviator introduces a girl to a world where she rediscovers her childhood and learns that it's human connections that matter most, and that it is only with heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.

Tournoi de ballon volant

Whether an athlete or an amateur, students will form teams to play in our very own in-house tournament. Medals and prizes are given to winners. A French event that is enjoyed by all!

La Course intergalactique

Based on one of Canada's most popular tv shows, this event offers teams of participants, of various levels a similar experience with pit stops and challenges designed to discover the USask campus and underline the links to the short story: Le Petit Prince.

Loups-garous

For Intermediate and Advanced speakers of French. A game where your opinions matter, where your "game life" depends on your ability to convince others, and where you need to be innocent until proven guilty.

Kiosques touristiques

For Beginner and Low Intermediate speakers of French. An activity where you can practice your questions, your "travelling" vocabulary, your listening comprehension skills and more... Welcome to Paris on the Prairies!

Observatory

The USask Observatory provides the public with weekly viewings of our night sky every Saturday night. Admission is free. The campus observatory was constructed in two phases between 1928 and 1930, at a cost of approximately $23,000.

The Observatory houses a 3-meter long refracting telescope with 6 inch diameter lens. On clear Saturday nights, staff will point the telescope at seasonal objects in the sky. Planets, nebulae, star clusters, galaxies, and even comets can be viewed at the right times of the year. On cloudy nights, staff present an educational slide show depicting objects in our solar system, galaxy, and beyond.

The Observatory also features a small museum with a tour of our solar system. Exhibits also highlight the history and fundamentals of Astronomy, and there is even a display on black holes!

Saskatoon Berry Barn

Cost: $49.95 includes GST

The Berry Barn is a relaxing getaway just minutes from the city, with homestyle cooking served in a country-style dining room or on the patio, with beautiful views of the South Saskatchewan River.

Berry Barn offers Orchard-fresh Saskatoon Berry pies and desserts, a craft shop featuring an exclusive line of Saskatoon Berry gifts and souvenirs, jams, jellies, and toppings made in house, beautiful displays of flowers in the gardens and in the Berry Patch, a laid-back country atmosphere in a scenic riverside location surrounded by orchards, away from the roar of the city, and U-Pick berries (in season).

The fee covers the cost of accompanied Explore staff, transportation to a venue where you can walk the river edge, pay to pick berries, view gift shop and enjoy a piece of homemade Saskatoon Berry Pie, juice, tea or coffee.

Prairie Lily Riverboat Cruise

Cost: $38.85 includes GST

Enjoy a cruise through the heart of Saskatoon on the South Saskatchewan River! Cruising on the Prairie Lily you'll see the natural beauty of the Meewasin Valley, the welcoming of our downtown, the friendliness of River Landing and the personality of our living river.

Students will walk to the boarding area on the river from Mohyla Residence. Recommended departure time: 12:45pm, boarding at 1:30pm, sailing at 2:00pm.

Remai Modern

During a visit to the Remai Modern, students will be able to: 

• Compare and contrast original works of art and build critical viewing skills
• Understand the ideas of a wide variety of professional historical and contemporary art/artists
• Practice inquiry-based investigations
• Develop a lifelong appreciation for art

Western Development Museum

Take your breath away and step into the WDM Saskatoon. A visit to Boomtown lets you walk through time: Saskatchewan-inspired stories unfold everywhere as you journey from 1910 to the present.