MOOSE JAW — The Western Development Museum (WDM) was bustling with energy recently for Museum Day as hundreds of students rotated through 23 interactive activity stations — from blacksmithing to ice cream making — in an immersive celebration of local heritage and hands-on learning.
“Museum Day is all about bringing history to life in a fun, interactive way,” said Alexis Jones, program co-ordinator at the WDM. “We had over 400 people through the museum today, including 70 chaperones and 17 different school classes.”
This year’s event, held during the museum’s peak field trip season, welcomed seven partner groups to help deliver a diverse learning experience: the Regina Astronomical Society, 15 Wing Moose Jaw, the Moose Jaw Amateur Radio Club, Prairie Hearts Quilters Guild, the local Métis community, the Model Train Club, and the Carousel Riders.
Compared to last year’s 14 stations, this year’s lineup grew to 23 thanks to expanded volunteer support and new activities.
“We added about nine different stations,” Jones said. “One of the new things we tried was a volunteer role with detailing technicians. They popped the hoods of some of our vintage vehicles and talked about what’s underneath — what parts are there, and how they work.”
Another new addition was a “pen and ink” station, where students wrote their names using traditional dip pens. “A lot of the kids were surprised you had to dip the pen every couple of letters — it’s not like writing with a regular pen,” Jones said, recalling the reaction of several surprised students.
Among the most popular stations was old-fashioned ice cream making — a process that mixes milk, cream, vanilla and sugar, then chills it with salt-packed ice and a hand crank. “We talked about the process, and the kids got to take turns cranking it before tasting,” said Jones. “One volunteer told me a student even offered them five dollars for a second scoop — which of course, we couldn’t allow.”
The blacksmithing station just outside the museum was also popular among students. “Each group spent about 20 to 30 minutes there, just because of how long the process takes,” explained Jones. “They were making ornamental metal leaves, and I saw our volunteer Dawn hammering in the details of the veins. It’s a great way to show what goes into it.”
Jones said she was thrilled with this year’s turnout and participation. “We had more students than last year, and more stations, so it was a bigger event overall. It was a ton of fun, and I’m happy for everybody who came and got to enjoy it.”
Museum Day is an annual event hosted at all WDM locations across Saskatchewan. While Moose Jaw’s version runs for one day, larger branches in Saskatoon and North Battleford hold theirs over two days.
“It’s mostly a way for us to bring in as many schools as possible during May and June, which is our big field trip season,” said Jones. “It also gives schools a chance to try out experiences they might not be able to book individually.”
Jones noted that teachers or schools interested in participating next year should keep an eye out for booking opportunities.
“If you know a teacher, recommend us,” she added. “We’ll be back next year, and we’re always excited to share what the museum has to offer.”
For more information, visit WDM.ca/Moose-Jaw. Alexis Jones can be reached at 306-693-5989 or by email at [email protected].
The Western Development Museum in Moose Jaw is located at 50 Diefenbaker Drive.
