History is cool for school if you listen to the comments from Lorrie Swan's students.
The Grade 3/4 Davis Bay Elementary School children attended a week-long museum school at the Sunshine Coast Museum and Archives in Gibsons last week.
"It's not every teacher who will bring a class here for a whole week," said program volunteer Gillian Kydd.
During the final day's sharing time, each student was asked about his or her favourite part of the week. Topping the list was the visit to the marina and history of boats and ships on the Coast. One boy said the only thing missing from the museum that he would have liked are Canucks jerseys.
Swan told her students, "I have heard, 'This is the first time my child has enjoyed coming to school' and for me to see all the work you've done" By the look on her face, Swan was impressed with the children's achievement.
Kydd was involved in co-ordinating similar interactive programs in Calgary before moving to the Coast. She helped start the museum school in Gibsons last year with Langdale Elementary School as its first participant. A total of three groups are planned for the 2008/09 school year.
"It's tailored to the teacher's needs," she said. "It was a pioneer theme this week. The teacher does all the instruction, so it appeals to a certain number who have the time and interest to create lessons." Kydd said community resource people to act as guest speakers and help with the archival material in the museum are available to educators. Friday afternoon's speaker was mural artist Jan Poynter. The children worked with her on a paper re-creation of the mural that is mounted on the outside of the museum. They had opportunity to try her scratchboard technique and held a question-and-answer period with Poynter at the end of the session. Davis Bay school paid $750 for the week that included daily busing, and the class fundraised for their trip. One mom chaperoning for the day said after fundraising it cost each child $15.
Alison Macpherson is the museum assistant. She said there are several small heritage and culture groups up and down the Coast meeting in the New Year to discuss working collectively - something similar to the partnership with the new Egmont Heritage Centre that includes exchange, donation and preservation of exhibit resources. "We collect and preserve history and culture of the Sunshine Coast region including the islands," Macpherson said. She said being located in Gibsons sometimes leaves people thinking they cover only that town. Macpherson said they are always looking for people to participate in an oral history session where a photo and personal stories are collected and digitally preserved. Two Elphinstone Secondary School students have offered to volunteer their time on the project.
Beginning Wednesday Nov. 12, an exhibit to honour war veterans was set up, and on Saturday author and historian Chris Weicht will talk about surveillance here on the Coast during the Second World War.
In 2009 the museum will host an underwater exhibit, one of several displays the society has planned.
The museum and gift shop, funded through the regional district, with two staff and eight core volunteers, is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is by donation. Bus and group tours are available for a fee with pre-booking. Research services are also open to the public, whether for a school project or personal inquiries.
