Explore the John Walter Museum where you can tour the Walter family's original 3 houses!
Students will spend time learning about John, his family and the changes and growth of the River Valley communities. They will also have the opportunity to try activities and practice traditional skills that were required by early Edmontonians in order to survive and thrive.
Year-Round Programs
Book your program anytime of year to cover your Social Studies learning objectives. Tours are also available for any group to book here.
Program Length: 90 minutes
Fee: $230 for 30 students maximum
Social Studies Learning Outcome Curriculum Links
Kindergarten:
- Children explore expressions of traditions, cultures, and histories
- Children explore needs and wants
- Children relate cooperation and collaboration to achieving common goals
Description
Pioneer kids had a lot of responsibilities 100 years ago, so let’s stoke the fire and fill the wash basin! Students will try on old-fashioned clothes, bake cookies on our wood-burning stove and practice washing socks in our washbasin. To celebrate all our hard work as pioneer kids, we’ll discover old-fashioned toys and play some parlour games. This program takes place in John Walter’s 1901 home.
Note: For this program, we require 3 adult volunteers to assist with activity stations.
Program Length: 2 hours
Fee: $250 for 24 students maximum, $330 for 36 students maximum
Social Studies Learning Outcome Curriculum Links
Grade 1:
- Students explore cultures of diverse communities
- Students examine the exchange of goods and services
- Students examine how belonging is supported within groups and communities
Grade 2:
- Students relate tradition to Canada’s heritage
- Students examine how trade supports communities
Grade 3:
- Students relate diversity to Alberta’s western identity
Description
Let’s go back in time and see what life was like for pioneer families over 100 years ago! Students will examine how families took care of each other by baking on the wood-burning stove, churning their own butter, dipping candles and problem-solving how to build their own home. Find out how communities worked together and shared resources by visiting John Walter’s general store. As we tackle these pioneer activities, we’ll compare them to some of our modern conveniences. This program takes place in John Walter’s 1875 and 1884 homes.
Note: For this program, we require 6 adult volunteers to assist with activity stations.
Program Length: 2 hours
Fee: $235 for 30 students maximum
Social Studies Learning Outcome Curriculum Links
Grade 1:
- Students examine how belonging is supported within groups and communities
Students investigate roles and responsibilities in community groups and organizations.
Students explore cultures of diverse communities
Grade 2:
- Students relate tradition to Canada’s heritage
- Students examine how trade supports communities
Grade 3:
- Students relate diversity to Alberta’s western identity
Description
What makes a good community? Let’s find out together! In this narrative-based program designed to complement Hands-On History, we will hear a creation story from the First Nation communities, then learn what life was like for kids and their parents in Walterdale over 100 years ago. We explore the school, lumberyard, brickyard, and Chinese market gardens through activity stations led by volunteers. This program takes place outside (weather-dependent) and in our 1901 house.
Program Length: Your choice of 1-5 days
Fee:
- 1 day: $542
- 2 days: $842
- 3 days: $1,142
- 4 days: $1,442
- 5 days: $1,742
Description
Immerse your students in Edmonton’s history through this customizable program. Our interpreters will plan activities that meet your specific learning objectives. Potential program themes could include discovering the North Saskatchewan River, early Edmonton settlement, the fur trade and how communities change over time. Contact us to see sample schedules.
Please note that multiple programming days can be shared between different classes of the same grade.
Program Length: 90 minutes
Fee: $200 for 30 participants maximum
Description
Step back in time and discover the changes our city has undergone through the lens of the Walter family. Tour 2 pioneer-style homes and 1 Victorian-era style home with a tour guide. Reminisce over wood stoves, humble parlours and classic log-cabin comfort.
Note: Optional activities are available upon request (lemonade or tea, beeswax candle craft, card making, or baking demonstrations)
Seasonal Programs
These specialized programs are only available during certain times of the year. Book early to secure your spot!
Program Length: 90 minutes
Fee: $230 for 30 students maximum
Availability: November 12-December 23
Social Studies Learning Outcome Curriculum Links
Kindergarten:
- Children explore expressions of traditions, cultures and histories
Description
Help the Walter family get ready for a 1920s Christmas morning! Your classroom will discover traditions from the past by baking a holiday snack in our wood-burning stove, creating an ornament for friends and sneaking a peek at the Walter family gifts. Compare the treats inside a 1920s stocking to ones that could be received today and sing carols that have been shared for over 150 years.
Sing along to traditional carols played on a Victrola! Previous Saint Nicholas story reading available if requested.
Note: For this program, we require 3 adult volunteers to assist with activity stations.
Program Length: 2 hours
Fee: $250 for 30 students maximum
Availability: November 12-December 23
Social Studies Learning Outcome Curriculum Links
Kindergarten:
- Children explore expressions of traditions, cultures, and histories
Grade 1:
- Students examine how belonging is supported within groups and communities
- Students explore cultures of diverse communities
Grade 2:
- Students relate tradition to Canada’s heritage
Description
Help the Walter family get ready for a 1920s Christmas morning! Your classroom will discover traditions from the past by baking a holiday snack in our wood-burning stove, creating an ornament for friends and sneaking a peek at the Walter family gifts. Compare the treats inside a 1920s stocking to ones that could be received today and sing carols that have been shared for over 150 years.
Hear traditional carols played on a Victrola! Previous Saint Nicholas story reading available if requested.
Note: For this program, we require 3 adult volunteers to assist with activity stations.
Program Length: 2 hours
Fee: $235 for 30 students maximum
Availability: May-October
Social Studies Learning Outcome Curriculum Links
Grade 3:
- Students examine natural resource use in Alberta
- Students investigate natural and created features of Alberta
- Students relate diversity to Alberta’s western identity
Grade 5:
- Students examine how geographical features and environmental changes contributed to the settlement and trade of ancient civilizations.
Science Learning Outcome Curriculum Links
Grade 2:
- Students investigate the properties of materials and relate them to a purpose
Grade 3:
- Students analyze changes in the Earth’s surface and explain how its layers hold stories of the past
Grade 4:
- Students investigate the systems of the Earth and reflect on how their interconnections sustain life.
Description
Leave no stone unturned as we dig into the history of early Edmonton! Try your hand at gold panning, make a brick or log house and explore the geology of our city as we travel and map one of the most history-rich intersections of Edmonton. This program is outdoors and explores our 1875 house.
Register Your School or Group
(2025/26 School Year)
All programs must be requested a minimum of 3 weeks in advance and are booked on a first-come, first-served basis. Please review the Booking Checklist before registering for your program.
Booking Checklist
Please be prepared with the following information to make your booking:
- Program name
- 2-3 potential program dates
- School mailing address, including postal code, school telephone number, and fax number
- Contact name and names of teachers for all classes being booked
- Email address(es) of teacher(s) booking and attending the program
- Number of students attending
- Number of supervisors
- Individuals with diverse abilities, allergies or accessibility arrangements
School and Groups Program Guide
Programs are cross-curricular in nature, explore Canadian identity and reflect on our relationship with the land around us. If there are specific learning objectives you would like to have included in your program, we are happy to accommodate them.
Is your class or group focusing on a specific topic or working on a special project? Let us know when booking your program so we can do our best to highlight that topic or provide inspiration for your special project in your program. For example, we can make connections between the ways people lived in John Walter's time and actions we can take to live more sustainably today.
Fees and Payment
The amount owing is shown on your program booking confirmation and payment is required prior to the program.
Invoices are sent out by the City on the first of each month. You will receive your invoice in the same month as your program runs. For example: for a May booking, your invoice will be issued May 1.
Payment can be made by cheque, Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.
Please have cheques made payable to the City of Edmonton and write your booking confirmation numbers on your cheques. Mail cheques to:
- Citizen Services Payment Processing
PO Box 2359
19th Floor, Edmonton Tower
Edmonton AB, T5J 2R7 - Credit card payment can be made over the phone by calling 311
Group Size
Due to the size of the facility, our standard program size is 30 students. Groups exceeding 30 students will be required to book additional programs.
Most of our programs require a minimum of 4-6 adult volunteers to actively participate with students and lead rotation stations. We recommend inviting parents and adults who are comfortable interacting with your group.
Adult supervisors are admitted for free based on the following required ratios:
- Pre-school (3-4 years): 1 adult per 3 students
- Kindergarten - Grade 6: 1 adult per 5 students
- Grades 7-12: 1 adult per 10 students
Additional participants can rejoin their group after the registered program ends. To ensure a high-quality program, we recommend that all students participating are within the age range advertised for the program.
Accommodations
Please let us know if you have any inclusion needs (learning, medical, physical, behavioural) and we will do our best to accommodate your group.
Allergies: Our site avoids nuts in our baking, but we bake with dairy, eggs, soy and gluten regularly. Please ensure you check with your group for allergies before you arrive if your program has a baking activity. You may wish to bring an alternative treat.
Mobility: If your group has mobility needs please let us know and we will modify your program accordingly.
Sensory: We have a few sensory overload kits on site available for use, just ask!
Cancellation and Rescheduling
You are required to submit a written notice of cancellation of program(s) via email to artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca.
- Programs cancelled with 30 days notice or more will not be charged the program fee or a cancellation fee
- Programs cancelled with 8-29 days notice are subject to being charged 50% of the program fee
- Programs cancelled with 7 days notice or less, the full program fee will be charged
Programs run rain or shine. In the event of poor weather, you must email artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca if you are not coming.
Programs cancelled due to severe weather conditions will not be charged a cancellation fee as long as they are rescheduled within the current or upcoming school year fall term (September-November).
Program Evaluation
Did you recently participate in a John Walter Museum program? We value customer comments and feedback!
Other School and Group Programs
Looking for more program options? See the complete list of school and group programs at attractions and recreation centres.
Contact Us
School and Group Program Reservations Office
Email artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca
Address 7000 143 Street Edmonton, Alberta