School programs

Outpost Explorers (half day)

Engage your students with this immersive staff-led tour of a recreated 19th century British Naval and Military establishment and its significant connections to the Indigenous and Métis peoples of Upper Canada. Hands-on opportunities abound in this exploration of the lifestyles and work of British sailors, soldiers, officers and ladies of the outpost, and of the Indigenous and Métis who interacted with them.

• Interactive tour of the historic site
• Availability: May to June – 10 am to 5 pm
• Tour length: 2.5 hours
• Capacity: 15 to 75 students
• Grades: 7-8 (adaptable to grades 3-6)
• Cost: $7 per student (tax exempt)
• Teachers/Chaperones: Free admission for 1 accompanying adult per 10 students

A Soldier in Upper Canada (half day)

This program looks at the core elements of the British military in Upper Canada; skills, technologies, lifestyles – and their relationship with Indigenous peoples.

Across the British Empire, the life of a British redcoat was a highly regimented mix of hard work and technical skill. A posting to Upper Canada saw soldiers face unique challenges in remote areas and harsh climates, and an ever-evolving relationship with Great Britain’s Indigenous allies.

In this highly interactive program, students will:

• Set-up camp, learn basics of musket and cannon drill, and explore the key belongings of the common soldier.
• Tour Discovery Harbour’s original stone Officers’ Quarters and see the striking contrast of their upper-class lifestyle.
• Explore aspects of Indigenous and Métis culture and their complex relationship to the British Empire.
• Take part in a concluding black powder demonstration (weather permitting) highlighting 19^th century British weapons technology – and its use as an oppressive tool of colonial expansion.

NOTE This program does not visit the replica vessels HMS Tecumseth and HMS Bee – if you wish to include this experience for your students, please consider pairing with the “Outpost Explorers Tour” or the “Sailor in Upper Canada” program. Don’t have time for the full day?  Add a ships-only visit (up to 1 hour) for $4 to your “Soldier in Upper Canada” program.

• Availability: May to June – 10 am to 5 pm
• Program length: 2.5 hours
• Capacity: 15 to 75 students
• Grades: 7-8
• Cost: $9 per student (tax exempt)
• Teachers/Chaperones: Free admission for 1 accompanying adult per 10 students

A Sailor in Upper Canada (half day)

This program looks at the core elements of the British Navy in Upper Canada; skills; technologies, lifestyles – and their connections with Métis and Indigenous peoples.

The lives of sailors in the Royal Navy comprised of very particular skills, mixed with ongoing manual labour and a highly developed social order.  These men, and the officers who commanded them, also relied on the knowledge and expertise of Métis and Indigenous peoples in continuing to expand colonial boundaries on the waters of British North America.

In this highly interactive program, students will:

• Visit the replica transport vessels HMS Tecumseth and HMS Bee and try their hand at various sailors’ tasks.
• Experience the trades-related skills required to keep a fleet of vessels afloat and in sound condition.
• Explore the important relationship between Métis and Indigenous peoples and the British Royal Navy in the exploration and charting of remote areas.
• Learn about the social aspects of sailors’ lives and explore the basics of signal-flag communication.

• Availability: May to June – 10 am to 5 pm
• Program length: 2.5 hours
• Capacity: 15 to 75 students
• Grades: 7-8
• Cost: $9 per student (tax exempt)
• Teachers/Chaperones: Free admission for 1 accompanying adult per 10 students

Make it a FULL DAY! Combine 2 programs or pick 1 program and 3 activities.

Expand your dynamic half-day experience into a full day and ensure you get the complete Establishments story. Each of these extended hands-on sessions focuses on the European and Indigenous aspects of the subject at hand, based on the lives of the people at this remote 19^th century base.

• Pick 2 half-day programs from these 3 options: Outpost Explorers Tour, A Soldier in Upper Canada, A Sailor in Upper Canada

• OR Pair 1 half-day program with 1 activity block (choose 3 activities)

Activity Block Menu (pick 3 activities to be combined with 1 half-day program):  

• Historic Games
  • Explore the uses and importance of games from both the European and Indigenous perspectives by learning about and playing examples of each.
• Quill pens / Doodems
  • Compare European writing skills with Indigenous use of doodems and pictographs and discover how two different worldviews approached politics, nationhood and treaties.
• Ropework skills
  • Discover the similarities and differences between European and Indigenous development and uses of rope.  Students will try their hand at basic processes and knots.
• Fire starting
  • Whether European or Indigenous, the ability to start a fire was a crucial skill to have in the 19^th century.  Students learn about and try the various methods utilized.
• Historic cooking
  • Europeans and Indigenous each brought core recipes and techniques to the table when it came to 19^th century foodways.  A taste of history indeed!
• Treaty negotiation
  • Treaties and agreements underpin all European/Indigenous relations in the 19^th century.  In this immersive activity, students take sides to negotiate an historical land purchase – the territory encompassing Penetanguishene harbour.
  • Availability: May to June – 10 am to 5 pm
  • Program length: 5 hours
  • Capacity: 15 to 75 students
  • Grades: 7-8
  • Cost: $15 per student (tax exempt)
  • Teachers/Chaperones: Free admission for 1 accompanying adult per 10 students