[twitter]BOW HABITAT STATION 1440 – 17A Street SE, Calgary
HOURS: Tuesday – Saturday 11a – 4p
ADMISSION: Adults $10, Seniors $8, Youth $5, Kids under 4 Free.

If your kids like to fish in Alberta, chances are they’ve hooked a rainbow trout that got it’s start at the Bow Habitat Station.

As many as 3 million fish each year are nursed from egg to fry in the Sam Livingston Fish Hatchery in Inglewood near the banks of the Bow River before being used to stock ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams across the province.

In addition to the hatchery, there are information stations, aquariums, interpretive wetlands, and more for the kids to explore. The main floor is home to the hatchery, where tours happen daily at noon and 2p.

The top floor is a vast interpretive area filled with displays, educational games, models, and more. Think of the sort of exhibits you would normally see in a science centre and then target them specifically to wetlands and fishing and you’ll get the idea.

The basement is the aquarium area featuring fish from all over the province of Alberta.

Outside the Bow Habitat Station is a an interpretive wetland on the Pearce Estate Park. There’s a playground, a stocked trout pond and places to wander, picnic and play.

Give yourself 1-2hrs inside the Bow Habitat Station and then you can easily spend another hour or two walking, exploring and playing on the grounds (even longer if you bring your rod and try your luck on the banks of the river).

For other things to do with your family in Calgary, check out the entire “Kids In Calgary“ series.