A Night in the Museum

Community Involvement

Mar 23, 2009  Comment

No, we are not referring to the 2006 Ben Stiller Hollywood movie! In this case we’re talking about the Dawson City Museum, which is launching a new educational program today. Yukon Energy’s role was to provide the money needed to develop the cirriculum.

The initiative will see elementary students from Grades 4 to 6 experiencing the hardships and rewards of the Klondike Gold Rush in a hands-on way. When the students arrive at the museum, they will be jettisoned back in time to 1898. They’ll assume the character of one of the people who came to the Klondike in search of riches. Over two days, they’ll be faced with many of the same choices that the earlier gold seekers had to make, albeit in a safer environment than that of their predecessors. Should they come by the overland route or attempt to scale the Chilkoot? What do they need to be successfully outfitted? Will they fall for a scheme? The students will have to live with the consequences of each choice.

A local RCMP officer will be set up at the top of the Chilkoot (the grand staircase in the museum) and will determine whether the students will be allowed in to Yukon. If they haven’t brought all the necessary supplies, they’ll either be turned back or have to make their case with the constabulary as to why they should be let in. Another community volunteer will play the role of the infamous Soapy Smith, who will try to con the students in Skagway (the museum’s Lind Gallery).

Yukon Energy chose to be a part of this project for a couple of reasons. First, we have a mandate to give back a percentage of our profits to the communities and people we serve and we take that mandate very seriously. But more specifically, we recognize that an experiential program like this provides an opportunity for students to learn in a way that is much more profound and long-lasting than merely sitting in a classroom. We believe the money we provided for teaching materials will benefit a great number of Yukon children.

If you are a teacher and would like your school to become a part of this project, you can contact the Dawson City Museum at (867) 993-5291.

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