School and Group Programs at John Walter Museum

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A tour group visiting a building at John Walter Museum.

Artifacts on display at John Walter Museum.

An instructor presenting a program to a group of students.

The museum displays the 3 original homes of the Walter family. Students will spend time learning about John, his family and the changes and growth of the River Valley communities. Students will have the opportunity to try activities and practice traditional skills that were required by early Edmontonians in order to survive and thrive.

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.

School/Groups Program Package

Year-Round School/Group Programs

Preschool Pioneers (Preschool - Kindergarten)

Program Length: 90 minutes
Fee: $230 for 30 students maximum
Curriculum Links and Themes:

Being Together: I Belong

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.

Hands-On History (formerly Urban Pioneers) (Grades 1-3)

Program Length: 2 hours
Fees: $250 for 24 students maximum, $330 for 36 students maximum
Curriculum Links and Themes:

Citizenship: Belonging and Connecting; Communities of Canada
Alberta: The Land, Histories and Stories
Canada: The Land, Histories and Stories

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 1886 homes.

Note: For this program, we require 6 adult volunteers to assist with activity stations.

Walterdale Community Kids (Grades 1-5)

Program Length: 2 hours
Fee: $235 for 30 students maximum
Curriculum Links and Themes:

Citizenship: Belonging and Connecting; Communities of Canada
Alberta: The Land, Histories and Stories
Canada: The Land, Histories and Stories

What makes a good community? Grab your history buddy and let’s find out! In this program designed to complement Hands-On History, we will hear a creation story about the First communities, explore artifacts from the industrial community of Walterdale, and learn what life was like for kids in the community over 100 years ago by trying a school lesson and playing some old-fashioned games. This program takes place outside (weather dependent) and in our 1901 house and Visitor Center.

History Immersion (Grades 1-9)

Program Length: Your choice of 1-5 days.
Fees:
1 day: $542
2 days: $842
3 days: $1142
4 days: $1442
5 days: $1742

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.

Historical Houses Tour (Adult)

Program Length: 90 minutes
Fee: $200 for 30 participants maximum

Step back in time and discover the changes our city has undergone through the lens of the Walter family. Tour two pioneer-style homes and one Victorian-era style home with a tour guide. Reminisce over wood stoves, humble parlours, and classic log-cabin comfort.

Optional activities are available upon request (lemonade or tea, beeswax candle craft, card making, or baking demonstrations)

Seasonal School/Group Programs

History Rocks! (Grade 3-6)

Program Length: 2 hours
Fee: $235 for 30 students maximum
Availability: May-October
Curriculum Links and Themes:

Rocks and Minerals
Citizenship: Belonging and Connecting; Communities of Canada
Alberta: The Land, Histories and Stories
Canada: The Land, Histories and Stories

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.

Note: For this program, we walk approximately 1.6 km round-trip to explore historic and geological features near the river. Make sure you and your students are prepared for this adventure.

Walter Christmas Party (Preschool - Kindergarten)

Program Length: 90 minutes
Fee: $230 for 30 students maximum
Availability: November 12 to December 23
Curriculum Links and Themes:

Citizenship: Belonging and Connecting; Communities of Canada
Being Together: I Belong

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 one that could be received today and sing carols that have been shared for over 150 years.

New for 2024: 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.

Walter Christmas Party (Grades K-6)

Program Length: 2 hours
Fee: $250 for 30 students maximum
Availability: November 12 to December 23
Curriculum Links and Themes:

Citizenship: Belonging and Connecting; Communities of Canada
Being Together: I Belong

New for 2024: 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.

Book Your School or Group Program

(2024/25 School Year)

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.

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

Fees and Payment

The amount owing is shown on your program booking confirmation. 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.

Credit card payment can be made over phone by calling 311.

Mail cheques to:
Citizen Services Payment Processing
PO Box 2359
19th Floor, Edmonton Tower
Edmonton AB, T5J 2R7

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. Adult supervisors are admitted free based on the ratios below. Most of our programs require a minimum of 4 to 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.

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 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 be charged 50% of the program fee. For 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).

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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/Group Program Reservations Office

7000 143 Street
Edmonton, Alberta

Email	artsattractionsbookings@edmonton.ca