School programs
Fort St. James National Historic Site
Where the spirit of the past lives...
Travel back in time as both teachers and students alike experience life as a fur trader in 1896. Join us as you hunt and barter for supplies the old fashioned way. Then you can build your own cabin and learn about all the furs traded here.
At the Fort St. James National Historic Site we see the vital connection between a time for learning and a time for play. Therefore, our programs are intertwined with aspects of the B.C. school curriculum.
Programs can also be adapted, customized or modified to fit any school group and can be run at various times of the year upon special request.
Elementary school program
Elementary school program
Availability: Mid-May to September
Learning Level: All elementary grades
Program Length: Two hours, 10 am - 12 pm or 1-3 pm (times negotiable)
Maximum Capacity: 70 students
Description:
In this program each student has the opportunity to live like a fur trader. This program is filled with hands-on activities that engage the students in a historic setting. We start the program in the Visitor Centre where the students can use the washrooms and then watch a nine minute introductory film. After seeing the film, the students are broken up into a maximum of seven groups and sent to various stations, including historic buildings. Five of the stations are run by costumed interpreters that educate the students while doing interactive activities. The stations that the student will rotate through are:
- Bartering for trade goods using rabbit furs
- Building a Red River Frame style house
- Handling furs
- Historic and First Nations games
- Hunting with spears
- Learn domestic livestock of the fur trade
- Pet the Nigerian Dwarf goats
- See the Giant Flemish rabbits
High school programs
High school program
Availability: Mid-May to September
Learning Level: Gr.6-12
Program Length: Varying
Maximum Capacity: 70 students
Description:
This tour is a self guided tour of the historic grounds. We offer tours through the largest group of original wooden buildings representing the fur trade in Canada. Your tour will start with a nine minute introductory film and a look through the display room. Then walk along Stuart Lake and step back into 1896. In each of our historic buildings there is a costumed interpreter that will guide you through life at Fort St. James from 1806-1952. This tour is easily adaptable to fit your time schedule. Our buildings include:
- Fur Warehouse
- Fish Cache (no interpreter)
- Staff House
- Trade Store
- Officer's Dwelling House
- Hide Tanning Shed
Self guided bookings and facility space
If you or your school group plan to make a visit to the site in the off season on a self-guided basis, we can also provide you with tools, materials and facilities to conduct your own investigative and discovery programs. Please call to discuss options for these opportunities.
Teacher and student feedback
In order to maintain and increase the effectiveness of our school programs at Fort St. James National Historic Site, we encourage teacher and student feedback at any time. If you can think of an improvement to our programs, create a new program concept or better connect BC Curriculums to make your program better, always let us know. Email: stjames@pc.gc.ca
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