From muskeg to mosquitoes, building the Alaska Highway was a challenge. 2022 marks the 80th anniversary of the construction of this man-made marvel of engineering.
This updated program is aimed at grade one* and focuses on this key event in our history and how it forever changed the lives of settlers and local Indigenous Peoples.
Students will learn about the reasons behind building the highway, the process of construction from surveying to bridge building, the experiences of construction workers, the impact of the highway on Fort St. John and Indigenous Peoples, and travel and tourism today.
Using historic photographs, archival footage, and interactive activities, this program allows students to understand the difficult work of building the highway and to realize how the highway changed the communities of northeastern British Columbia. At the end of the program, students will have the opportunity to make two Alaska Highway related crafts – bulldozers and mosquitoes.
Duration: 75 minutes
Cost: $90 plus GST per class (max. 30 students) (adults are free of charge)
PROGRAM FEES ARE DUE BEFORE OR ON THE DAY OF THE PROGRAM.
An adult must accompany every ten students in an elementary school class. We recommended more accompanying adults for grade three and under. It is the responsibility of the teacher and accompanying adult volunteers to maintain discipline throughout the visit.
*This program has also been adapted for middle school and high school students.
Please note: This program is also available to come to your classroom for an additional $15 as long as your school is within a 15 minute drive of the museum. We do the driving and save you the hassle of arranging a bus to the museum.
