12:30 pm

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.

In this program, your class will be divided into two groups. One group is guided by a costumed storekeeper through the General Store Museum, learning about rural country life during the 1920s. The other group explores the farmyard, with help from the farmhand and encouragement from our friendly farm animals.

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

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

There are aliens in the forest, and they’re taking over! Do you have what it takes to stop the invasion? Meet some common introduced and invasive species, discover why they are so successful, and help restore the habitat for indigenous plant and animal species.

Salmon, squirrels, ravens, and raccoons are just some of the tails you might find in the forest. And people have been telling tales to teach about those tails for thousands of years. What tales will you discover?

Is the farm an ecosystem? We will look at the attributes of an ecosystem, and search for evidence of those on our farm. This can a good introduction to ecosystems, or a chance to apply prior ecosystem knowledge.

From the invention of crop rotation to the industrial revolution to the creation of Genetically Modified Organisms, agricultural technology is always changing. See what technologies, modern and ancient, we use on our farms to grow delicious food, and even give some of them a try!

“You can eat that???” Yes, you can! Explore often overlooked foods on our farms and in our indigenous plant garden as you learn about ethical foraging and some of the traditional food and medicine uses of common plants.

Beyond just a place for growing food, the farm is the perfect spot to exercise your creative muscles. Whether it’s the stark beauty of winter foliage, the rich greenery that follows spring rain, the beautiful blooms of summer, or the striking colours of fall, nature provides a natural palate to inspire the artist inside all of us. We’ll explore both Loutet Farm and the surrounding forest, gathering material and learning about how we grow such a diverse range of vegetables, fruits, and flowers. Students will learn how some plants have been used for many generations to create works of art, natural dyes, and more. Hands-on opportunities abound in this field trip, with a chance to make their own nature-inspired art throughout the visit.