School Visits
Whether it’s on the water, in the exhibits or around our campfire – The Canadian Canoe Museum has your experiential education needs covered!
Encourage students to see their studies in a new light and take their learning a step deeper by getting outside and putting their knowledge into practice. At The Canadian Canoe Museum, we are thrilled to offer unique and engaging field trip programs for classrooms from K-12.
Explore the history of Canada through the canoe as a vessel for the past, present, and future and what connects us. Discover the geography of Canada, Indigenous perspectives and knowledge, the history of the fur trade, and stories of people and places connected to the canoe.
All of our school visits include curriculum-based outdoor and experiential learning opportunities that can be adapted to meet the needs and interests of your class. All programs contain an element of indoor and outdoor activity, so make sure to dress for the weather!
We’re excited for students to learn about canoes… and then paddle one!
- Interactive, hands-on, inquiry-based learning
- Cross-curricular emphasis on Indigenous cultures and histories
- Outdoor and experiential education philosophy
- Accessible to students with different styles of learning as well as students with disabilities
- Available to book Monday to Friday during the school year
Pick and choose your class’s next adventure at The Canadian Canoe Museum today!
Explore our programming opportunities
| Programs | JK – Grade 3 (Ages 5-8) | Grades 4 – 8 (Ages 8-13) | Grades 9+ (Ages 13+) |
| Canoe Senses | ✔ | ||
| Voyageur Canoe Program | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Food and Fire | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Campsite Olympics | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Canoe Trip | ✔ |
Canoe Senses
Interactive and fun activities exploring the five senses throughout the Museum’s Exhibition Hall. Program elements include bannock cooking and tasting, cooperative storytelling, and song learning. Students also create (and take home!) a cardstock canoe based on a watercraft in our collection.
- Available for JK – Grade 3 (Ages 5-8) only
Voyageur Canoe Program
This is a classic “Learn & Do” experience. Through the exhibits and stories, students learn about the people and logistics of the fur trade. Then, they can experience paddling a 36’ or 25’ canoe on Little Lake and continue learning about the voyageur lifestyle on the water.
Available for:
- JK – Grade 3 (Ages 5-8)
- Grades 4 – 8 (Ages 8-13)
- Grades 9+ (Ages 13+)
Food and Fire
Hungry? Students will work hard for delicious campfire food in this program that teaches different fire-building methods and basic campfire cooking. It is designed with safety and success in mind, and of course, the goal of tasting a couple of campfire treats! It is part of our Camping 101 series.
- JK – Grade 3 (Ages 5-8)
- Grades 4 – 8 (Ages 8-13)
- Grades 9+ (Ages 13+)
Campsite Olympics
Not your typical sports-a-thon. Orienteering, paddling, and fire building comprise the main events in this series of challenges, which will require some teamwork and determination. Student teams will face off in friendly competitions on our campus that will culminate in the spectacular rope-burning challenge. Extra points to all teams if the teachers compete as well!
Available for:
- JK – Grade 3 (Ages 5-8)
- Grades 4 – 8 (Ages 8-13)
- Grades 9+ (Ages 13+)
Canoe Trip
We practice what we teach here at The Canadian Canoe Museum! Join us for a fully outfitted, collaborative canoe trip with your class. A certified canoe guide will take your class on a backcountry canoe trip through the beautiful local provincial park, Kawartha Highlands.
Using the Museum as a base camp, we will work with your class to involve them in menu creation, gear packing and preparing the route before embarking on an adventure. A typical Canoe Trip program is five days long, with the first day and night at the Museum and three nights on the trip.
- Available for Grade 9+ (Ages 13+) only
How to Book
To book a school program, please fill out the form below. Please note that filling out this form does not confirm your booking. The form is to streamline booking inquiries. Staff will respond to confirm your date and program and any additional information. Due to the high volume of requests, please allow several days for a response.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- The school-day program costs $15 per student for a full day of staff-facilitated programming unless otherwise noted above.
- A half day of staff-facilitated programming costs $12 per student.
- We require a minimum number of 15 participants.
- There are no additional taxes on education programs.
- Lunch space is included in your visit if scheduled.
- A water refill station is available at the Museum.
- The Silver Bean Cafe is located in the Atrium and is available for food purchase. Check out their lunch menu here.
Chaperones are included at no extra cost at the following ratios:
- Grades K-3: 1:5
- Grades 3-8: 1:8
- Grades 9+: 1:10
We do not recommend any additional adults.
- We will work with you to create a day at the Museum that suits your needs.
- Programs are approximately 90 minutes long unless otherwise noted.
- Most classes do a two-program day with a 30-minute lunch and 30 minutes at the end of the day for a self-tour of the exhibits and a visit to the Museum Store.
We do not currently have bilingual program leaders. Please check back in the future as we grow our team.
Yes, we can schedule time for students to enjoy self-guided tours of the exhibits and visit the Museum Store. We recommend a time frame of 30 minutes after a staff-facilitated program.
Yes, but please let us know in advance so we can plan your program accordingly.
At this time, we are not offering after-hours programs on their own.
You can schedule free time in the galleries as part of your visit. Make sure to indicate this when booking.
As a non-profit organization, we run our educational programming with the lowest fees possible. However, many of our past groups have made their trip possible with support for busing fees through the charity Day Trippers.
