The Sooke Region Museum provides educational school programs for students from Kindergarten to Grade 8.  We have specialized tour experiences tailored for specific grades to complement the BC Curricular Competencies. Activity descriptions are below on this page and in the downloadable pdf.

We can accommodate 2 classes per visit.
Kindergarten to Grade 5 classes participate in four 15-minute activities + a 30-minute activity where they cook bannock in the fireplace and have time for snacks they bring. Teachers book the other 4 activities on the booking form.

Grades 6-7-8 participate in four 30-minute activities.
One of these activities is a block where they will cook bannock in the fireplace and make camas seed balls.

Cost $200 per visit. No charge for chaperones and teachers. Payment can be made at the time of booking by credit card, or at the time of visit by cheque or cash. Discount offered for single classes. Note: online bookings will be charged $200. If you are only booking for 1 class, use the discount code ‘Single Class’ to pay $100 for a single class (code is case sensitive).

Spring 2026 dates:
7, 8 April
14, 15 April
21, 22 April
13, 14 May
20, 21 May
26, 27, 28 May

Questions? Contact Sarah at programs@sookeregionmuseum.ca or call the museum at 250-642-6351.

When booking your class, select a date, tell us the grade(s) and preferred activities. We will confirm by email.

• Each tour includes 5-6 different activities of 15 minutes each (unless otherwise organized). To ensure the best experience, groups are kept to a maximum of 8.
• All students will participate in each selected activity.
• Activities are selected at the time of booking (see pdf linked above for activity descriptions)
• Students should be organized in 5-6 groups with name tags.
• Chaperone requirements- adult chaperones are an important
  component of the museum tour. Chaperones accompany the students, moving between the stations and assisting in the activities as required.
• School tours start at 9:45am with a welcome circle, ending by 12pm.

• BANNOCK 

  Nearly every Indigenous community across North America has their version of making bannock with favourite recipes passed down through generations. Before Europeans came, Indigenous Peoples made bannock from Camas bulbs. Students will have the opportunity to cook bannock (with wheat flour) over an open fire and enjoy with jam. Bannock will be included as an activity for all programs, unless you request otherwise. Students in Grades 6, 7, 8 will make seed balls with camas in addition to the bannock.

  ALL GRADES

• ART INSPIRED BY THE LAND

  Inspired by seasons, the land, cultural, and natural heritage, activities will encourage students to use creative processes to explore elements, materials, tools and techniques. Individual self- expression is encouraged to create a unique item with locally available materials. Spring Craft options: flower pounding OR tree-ring prints OR seed balls

• BUTTER MAKING

  Ever wondered how butter is made? How does that creamy spread come from something as liquid as cow’s milk? Experience what it is like to make butter from cream. The best part: they get to taste their hard work

• LATHER, RINSE, REPEAT

  Before there was running water, power, and washing machines, how did our ancestors wash clothes by hand? Part of our ‘Learn From Yesterday’ series, students will learn (and practice!) the steps involved in washing clothes by hand, and be encouraged to think about energy and water needed to wash clothing.

• MOSS COTTAGE

  Believed to be the oldest standing settler home in Sooke, Moss Cottage was built in 1869-70. In 1902, Matilda Gordon moved into the home where she raised her two children, Alice and Harry. K-5 students are greeted by Matilda “Aunt Tilly” Gordon who talks about life in Sooke in 1902. Grades 6-8 students are greeted by a contemporary guide, invited to consider the original tiny home.

• TRACKS & SCAT

  Vancouver Island is home to creatures big and small, and they all leaves tracks & scat outside. Using replicas from actual tracks & scat, students will identify which animal made the tracks & scat and make prints from the tracks in dough.

• TRIANGLE ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE

  The ocean was the historic gateway to Sooke Region. Challenged by fierce storms, fog and currents, many vessels wrecked on the reefs and rugged shores of the west coast of Vancouver Island. Learn about the life of lighthouse keepers, the science of the Fresnel lens, and how this lighthouse came to be at the Sooke Region Museum.

  OPTIONS BY GRADES

• ARTIFACT DETECTIVES – GRADES 2-3-4-5-6-7-8

  Artifacts are the driving force behind sharing local history at the museum. Students get close to artifacts in the collection, with specimens ranging from human-made to natural, with a selection of some of the most interesting artifacts in our collection. Students will ask questions and make inferences to tell the story of each artifact. Why were they important? How were they used in Sooke? Do we use similar artifacts today?

• FORESTRY – GRADES 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8

  How is the forest an economic driver in our area? Logging camps and mill communities have shaped our region in physical, social and economic ways. Logging has been done in different ways over the years. Students will take a guided walk along our Forestry Path and learn about how forestry has shaped our past.

• SPINNING FASHION – GRADES 3-4-5-6-7-8

  Learn from yesterday with hand-powered tools from the past such as carders and spindles. Students will learn about the difference between making clothes from locally available materials versus fast fashion, and us hand carders and drop spindles with wool.

• SEQUENCING SOOKE – GRADES 6, 7, 8

  Challenge your knowledge of the past by putting archival photographs in chronological order – and maybe learn a bit about local history while you’re doing it!