Pre-Visit Information Package

Welcome teachers and students! The Kilby Historic Site provides an enjoyable learning experience in an interactive, authentic historic setting–depicting pioneer life in rural British Columbia. Our living history program actively enables student learning with actual artifacts and costumed role players such as a shopkeeper, pioneer wife or farmhand that would have lived in the 1920s, in rural British Columbia. All education programs complement current school curriculum and augment resources used by secondary school classes.

Teachers’ Packages consisting of detailed site information, guidelines and directions are available to teachers prior to your visit for in class lesson and travel preparation assistance.

We require a minimum of 20 students for all school programs and additional experiences listed below.

Our friendly, costumed interpreters will lead a fun and highly interactive program that explores the operation of a 1920s general store and farm in a rural Canadian community. This three-stationed program begins with the unique experience of shopping in the 1920s in our General Store Museum. The farmhand then guides the students around our living history farm, where they learn about rural farm life during BC’s early years. Finally, students are encouraged to use their imagination as they explore the Jr. Merchants Playroom.

Optional Experiences:

Ice Cream Making $4/person

Students have a first-hand experience at making ice cream the old-fashioned way! This fun and interactive demonstration allows students to learn by instruction and participation. The reward for their hard work is a sample of the real ice cream they themselves have made.
(Approx. 30 minutes) Minimum$60

Cider Pressing $4/person

Students see how apples turn into juice on our 100–year old cider press. They can try their hand at pressing the apples and listen to the stories shared as the old cider press is used once again!
(Approx. 30 minutes) Minimum $60

Strolling Through Time $4/person

In this walking tour, students learn about Harrison Mills and the surrounding area’s unique culture. The students will be introduced to our region’s geography and industry. Archival photographs will reveal the need for the extensive dyking system in place today.
(Approx. 30 minutes) Minimum $60

Exploring First Peoples’ ways of knowing and being, we will learn how knowledge, ecological sustainability, and prosperity were, and still are, all linked. Take some plants back with you and create a calendar of their natural cycles through the year.

Learn about local traditional knowledge of plants and explore how they contribute to our sense of place, well being, and interconnectedness. Take some plants back with you, and get to know them throughout the seasons!

Spring is a magical time in the forest, and we want you to see all of it. Track the season as it unfolds from bud to flower to berry, meet the plant and animal species that call our forest home, and learn about how local First Nations people celebrate spring. Every visit promises new wonders of the changing season!

This program consists of three visits sceduled from March through June.

Plants grow from seeds that develop from flowers pollinated by bees. Except when they are pollinated by wind. Or grow from runners. Or tubers. Or bulbs. Or more! Discover some of the many, many ways plants reproduce sexually and asexually on our farm.

Team Builds are a chance for students (and teachers and chaperones!) to get their hands really dirty helping our farmers grow Good Food for All. This program includes an introduction to Fresh Roots and the many things we do, and plenty of time to work on projects around the farm, from weeding to building. Exact projects will vary depending on the group and the needs of the farm.