Discovery Day - October 16

Heritage Park is offering a series of Discovery Days for homeschooled and other children. Students will be in groups of up to 8 students with 1 – 2 leaders per group. 

We will explore different themes throughout the year. Our curriculum based programs will be delivered all around the park. Payment must be made online at time of registration to hold your spot. First come, first served. 
 

Groups

• Group A:    Grades 1 – 3            
• Group B:    Grades 4 – 6            
• Group C:    Grades 7+            

Program Availability:

October 9th  | 9:30am to 2:00pm

Grades 1-3 and 7+: Half day or full day program available
Grades 4-6: Full Day Only

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Group A (Grades 1 – 3)   |  Morning (9:30 - 11:30)

Settling our Prairie Frontier

Students will be introduced to the stories of fur traders, First Nations peoples, and early settlers on Canada’s western frontier. Discover how the beaver pelt brought First Nations and Europeans together and how communities developed and grew on the prairies. Visit the trading Fort and the original log home of Sam Livingston and his wife Jane to compare life then and now.

Afternoon (12:00 to 2:00)

Prairie Pumpkins

This program explores Halloween traditions and how they were brought from the “old country” with new immigrants. Some early games will be played as well as a scavenger hunt throughout the Settlement. Taking the scary out of the traditionally creepy Halloween critters -bats, snakes and spiders - students will learn the important role they play in our local ecosystem and how they can protect them to ensure their survival.

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Group B (Grades 4-6) | Full Day (9:30 - 2:00)

Ways of Life

This program focuses on the lifestyles of the Blackfoot people and the Métis in Alberta. The Blackfoot portion will begin with their pre-contact lifestyle and move forward to changes and challenges faced post-contact during the later 18^th and early 19^th centuries.  Discussion of the Métis will begin with the Voyageurs with whom their history is intimately linked and continue throughout the 19^th century.  Understanding the history of these two groups is fundamental to appreciating Alberta’s fascinating history. What the population once looked like, and how and why it changed, will come to life through discussion and activities in the Settlement area

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Group C (Grades 7+) | Morning (9:30 - 11:30)

Paddlers & Partners

The fur trade was more than jolly voyageurs collecting beaver pelts in their birch bark canoes. However, they were essential to this industry. Would you have what it takes to become a voyageur? Experience the complex interplay of international power politics, high finance, and cross cultural trade. Profits may have driven the world’s oldest surviving corporation, but the trade was only possible by the partnerships that different classes and cultures forged themselves.

Afternoon (12:00 to 2:00) | Shivers & Hoots

This program will have both a social studies and science component. The social studies portion will look at how Halloween was practiced at the turn of the century. We will look at where the traditions came from and how they were brought from the “old country” with new immigrants. The science component will look at bats, snakes, and spiders – all traditionally creepy Halloween critters. Taking the scary out of these animals will be our aim by showing what an important role they play in our local ecosystem. How students can protect these creatures and ensure their survival will also be covered. This program will be done through a combination of stories, artifact demonstrations, and activities.

COVID-19 Precautions

As per current government guidelines, our Discovery Day will adhere to the following:

• Staff members, parents or guardians and children must not attend the programs if they are sick, even if symptoms resemble a mild cold.
• Parents and guardians will be required to check the temperatures of their children prior to attending the programs. 
• Programs will be modified to incorporate physical distancing measures.
• Increased cleaning and disinfecting of programming spaces and materials will be done.
   

Questions?  

Please contact the Education Department at schools@heritagepark.ca or 403-268-8522.