Yukon Energy Teams Up With Museum on New Educational Program

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Mar 04, 2009  Comment

The Dawson City Museum, in partnership with Yukon Energy, is pleased to announce a new educational program for elementary students in the Yukon. This innovative pilot project will see elementary students from Grades 4-6 experiencing the hardships and rewards of the Gold Rush in a hands on way.

Joanna Mazanti, Program Coordinator describes the program. “Children will arrive at the museum only to leave 2009 behind and assume the character of one of the many people who came to the Klondike in search of riches. They will be faced with the same choices, albeit in a safer environment than their predecessors were.”

“Will they come by the overland route or attempt to scale the Chilkoot? Will they be successfully outfitted? Will they fall for a scheme? Each choice made by the children will have real consequences,” Mazanti said.

“This program will help students gain problem solving skills and give the children a unique perspective on the Gold Rush - one that I hope values cultural and socio-economic differences between individuals, perseverance, and ingenuity. And of course, as the title suggests, they will spend one night in the Dawson Museum,” added Mazanti.

“When officials from the museum approached us about being a part of this project, we were intrigued,” Yukon Energy spokesperson Janet Patterson said. “We recognized that an experiential program like this provides a wonderful opportunity for students to gain an in-depth and long lasting understanding of a subject. Yukon Energy believes the money we provided for teaching materials will benefit a great number of Yukon children and we’re delighted that we can be a part of this project.”

Laura Mann, Executive Director of the Dawson City Museum is very pleased to have the support of Yukon Energy. “We all know that heritage is important in the Yukon – it is one of the mainstays of our tourism based economy. But I think Yukon Energy has shown a great deal of foresight in knowing that museums are uniquely positioned not only to service the tourism communities, but also to have a profound and lasting effect on our own citizens, particularly children. The Dawson Museum is very committed to developing educational programming for all grade levels in the Yukon. With Yukon Energy’s support, we are able to realize the first of what we intend to be a full roster of programs."

The pilot program will take place on March 23 and 24, 2009 with students from Robert Service School in Dawson.


Contact:
 Joanna Mazanti
Museum Program Coordinator
(867) 993-5291 ext 23

Janet Patterson
Yukon Energy Corporation
(867) 393-5333

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