Let’s Have Fun with History
Summer Group Program
Looking for a interactive summer experience? Book our Let’s Have Fun with History program!
Designed for camps, youth groups, community organizations, daycares or special interest groups.
Program Information
This program lets you choose your own activities and design a visit that works best for your group.
Choose either a 70 minute session or 90 minute session.
These session lengths are for the interactive program.
At booking we will coordinate your arrival and departure times and if you wish to add on additional time for a washroom/snack/lunch break or self-led exploration time.
Program is designed for ages 4 to 14.
It can be adapted to older age groups as well (14+).
During your session a costumed programmer will lead groups through a series of hands-on activities that you have chosen.
Available in July & August, Tuesdays to Fridays, during the Heritage Village’s open hours (10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). Must be pre-booked.
Are you interested in exploring the Heritage Village? We can schedule additional time before or after your program for self-led exploration of the Village. Take a look in the buildings and talk with the costumed staff. Your program fee includes entrance into the museum.
Outdoor lunch space is available for picnic lunches.
Program Option Details:
70 Minute Session
Choose 3 activities (choices below)
$8.00 per participant
Participant Capacity (not including supervisors): Minimum 15 & Maximum 60-75
95 Minute Session
Choose 4 activities (choices below)
$9.50 per participant
Participant Capacity (not including supervisors): Minimum 15 & Maximum 80-100
Note: If you have less then 15 participants we may be able to still book you in, but we would need to charge a minimum fee. Dependent on staff availability.
Ready to Book:
Contact our Education Coordinator or click the Request Availability button below to fill out a Summer Group Program Request Form.
Education Coordinator:
education@fanshawepioneervillage.ca
519-457-1296 x 817
All programs are subject to availability and must be pre-booked.
Activity Choices
Please note activities marked with *** are suitable for all ages.
If you have participants between ages 4-6 please choose an activity marked with ***.
Dancing ***
Stomp your feet along to the music! Come together to celebrate and learn a simple 19th century dance. Participants will learn about dance etiquette too!
19th Century Outdoor Games ***
Time to relax and have fun! While there was always work to be done, villagers still found time for fun and games. Play with some of the simple games children had in the 1800s.
19th Century Laundry ***
Experience a hard day’s work! Learn how people did laundry in the 1800s and compare your chores to the children of the past. Groups will get to help scrub the laundry and hang everything on the clothes line.
Feeding the Chickens ***
Better get to work! Life was busy on the farm and children had to help. Learn about the Village animals and help grind corn to feed the chickens.
Discover the Log House ***
See an early settler’s log home! This activity will take groups inside the log house to learn about the home and early belongings. Groups will participate in an eye-spy scavenger hunt to to find objects and learn what they were used for.
Parlour Toys ***
Have fun with these simple toys! Discover the various toys children played with and then try them out! Groups will get to play and create their own simple toy to take home.
Clothes & Undies
(Suggested for ages 10+)
Sneak a peek at some 1800s unmentionables! Groups will see some of the popular styles ladies, gentlemen and even children would have worn in the mid-1800s, including their undergarments.
One Room School House Lesson
Make sure to sit up straight! Participate in a role playing activity, by pretending to be students in our one room school house. Groups will get into character, practice writing on slates, and recite lines as a class.
Visit the Blacksmith
Listen to the bang of the hammer on the anvil! Watch the Village blacksmith work in their shop and see the tools they used! Children will have the opportunity to ask questions.
Visit the Print Shop
Read all about it! The print shop shows the hard work that went into creating a newspaper in the 19th century. Groups will learn the steps to set-up the type to print and will finish their visit with a chance to try the printing press.
Carding and Spinning Wool to Make Yarn
How did they do it? Making your own clothes took patience and hard work. Participants will follow along as they learn the steps to make yarn. Groups will learn to brush wool and spin with their fingers.
Rope Making
We’ve come a long way! During this activity groups will see early farming equipment in the barn, as they help us make rope using the Village rope maker. Participants will be able to ask questions about the tools they see.
Butter Churning
Come butter, come! The kitchen was the heart of the home and there was much to be done here. One of those tasks was making butter. Group will learn the steps to make butter and see the tools that were used in the process. Note: we do not make butter for this activity, but children will get a chance to try the butter churn.