Registration for our 2023 Who Was Here Before Us programs is now full! Please email museumprograms@fortsask.ca to be added to our waitlist.
This full day program, offered annually in June, July, and August, allows participants to enjoy all that the Fort Heritage Precinct has to offer. The program includes interactive tours of the Historical Village and the North West Mounted Police Fort, four hands-on activity stations, old-fashioned home-made ice cream tasting, and a visit to Fort Saskatchewan’s famous flock of sheep – complete with carrots for the sheep to nibble on!
Cost
Registration costs will be changing for the 2023 year, stay tuned! We do not charge for supervisors, so please bring as many as you would like.
Our preferred method of payment is credit card, over the phone, with a financial representative for your institution. We also accept credit cards, debit cards, and cheque payments on-site. If your institution plans to pay by cheque, please ensure all cheques are made payable to the City of Fort Saskatchewan. If your institution prefers to be emailed an invoice, please state that request in the Additional Notes section of the Registration Form.
Registration
Maximum class size: 44 students
When registering, please specify which grade level you are booking for. The Who Was Here Before Us? program is best suited for students in grades K-3, but we are happy to accept registrations for grades 4 and 5 as well. If you would like to register a different Grade level for a program, please contact the Fort Heritage Precinct Programs Coordinator directly at museumprograms@fortsask.ca or 587-338-1781.
Before You Arrive
- Please divide your students into equal groups. If you have fewer than 33 students, please divide them into three equal groups. If you have between 33-45 students, please divide them into four equal groups. We request that each student wears a nametag.
- Please ensure that you have at least one adult supervisor for each group. We do not charge for additional adults, so please bring as many as you’d like!
- Encourage students to dress for the elements, as recesses and many of our activities are held outdoors.
- Have all students pack a bagged lunch and a water bottle. Our lunch rooms are not equipped with fridges, microwaves, or water fountains.
- Please let us know what time you expect to arrive (between 9:30-10:00), and what time you need to leave (between 2:00-2:30). If you are unsure what time you will need to leave, please let us know upon your arrival at your program what time you will need to leave that day.
- Please contact the Fort Heritage Precinct Programs Coordinator if you have any special needs requirements, questions, or concerns. You can contact the Coordinator at museumprograms@fortsask.ca, or 587-338-1781.
Getting Here
Please ensure that the designated bus driver is familiar with the location of the Fort Heritage Precinct. The Who Was Here Before Us? program begins and ends in our Historic Village. Student drop off areas are indicated on this map. The drop off location for the Historic Village is indicated by the green marker. To see all of the pertinent points listed on the map, it must be viewed in Satellite mode and not in Map mode. Please zoom in on the Fort Heritage Precinct icons, to view the precinct in detail.
Approximate travel times from Edmonton neighbourhoods to Fort Saskatchewan City limits:
| Terwillegar | 55 Minutes |
| West Edmonton | 48 Minutes |
| Mill Woods | 40 Minutes |
| Castle Downs | 32 Minutes |
| Clareview | 22 Minutes |
Arrival
When you arrive at the Fort Heritage Precinct, one of our Historical Interpreters will be waiting to direct your bus to the student drop off area. Next, a brief introduction/orientation will be given before the students are divided into their groups and guided to the first stop on their tour!
Daily Schedule
On Thursdays and Fridays in June, July, and August, Fort Saskatchewan’s famous flock of sheep will join your program at the end of the day! On Wednesdays, and on any day booked before the second week of June, the sheep visit will be replaced by a fun and educational group activity.
The schedule for the day will also depend on the arrival and departure times determined by the attending school. We are happy to accommodate different arrival and departure times and will shape the program to best suit your group’s needs! A sample schedule can be found below:
Who Was Here Before Us Sample Schedule
Connections to Curriculum
This program is uniquely configured to match the needs of each participating group. Historical interpreters deliver the program in such a way that targets the particular curricular outcomes of the grade level attending the program.
For a detailed list of the Specific Outcomes & Skills and Processes that can be taught in the program, please contact the Fort Heritage Precinct Programs Coordinator: museumprograms@fortsask.ca or 587-338-1781.
