Lantern Slides
Fall and Winter events are now available! Reserve your seat today.
Open Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
EDUCATION PROGRAMS
The Whyte offers a variety of education programs for different visitors, including programs delivered onsite at the museum or rentable education kits for the classroom. We would love to welcome your group to share stories and explore the culture shaped by this mountain landscape.
To book a program to be delivered at the museum, to rent one of our Edu-Kits, or for more information about availability, please contact Samantha Palmer-Forrest at spalmerforrest@whyte.org or call 403 762 2291 (ext) 320.
In-Person Programs
In-Person Programs
Education Kit Programs
Heritage Homes Tour
Suggested Ages: 5-18
Number of Participants: Maximum of 10 per tour, Maximum of 40 per group
Cost: $80/tour
Program Length: 30 minutes (Total length of visit: Maximum of 2 hours)
This guided tour takes visitors through two historic homes of prominent community members on museum property. Get to know two local families that contributed to Banff’s history: the home of museum founders Peter Whyte and Catharine Robb Whyte, and notable locals Philip and Pearl (Brewster) Moore. Find yourself immersed in a different era, surrounded by artifacts and art, and see how these two families lived.
Tour content is customized for the age level. Depending on the size of the group, participants are separated into a maximum of 10 people per tour. Any group not in the homes will self-guide the galleries with an adult. Alternatively, if the group is smaller and there is only one tour of the homes, then the group can visit the galleries after the tour.
Scavenger Hunt in the Heritage Gallery
Suggested Ages: 6-18
Number of Participants: Maximum of 30
Cost: $40 per visit (up to 15 visitors) or $80 per visit (for up to 30 visitors)
Program Length: 30 minutes
On teams or independently, search through our Heritage Gallery to find answers about art, history, and Banff culture and explore the stories of the people who have helped built and shape Banff into what it is today. Clipboards with the scavenger hunt and pencils will be ready for your arrival. We customize the content for the age level. This is a self-guided program, but an education staff member will greet the group and be available to answer any questions.
Education Kit Programs
Arty’s Adventures!
Suggested Ages: 4-7
Number of Participants: Minimum of 5, Maximum of 30
Cost: $80
Program Length: 60 minutes
Join a young mouse on his adventures in the Canadian Rockies! Learn about Arty and his experience of moving to a new town and going on a backcountry adventure. As we read about Arty’s story, we will also get to see and touch objects that he finds along his travels. The program includes a visit to the historic home of Whyte Museum founders Peter Whyte and Catharine Robb Whyte. By introducing program participants to Peter and Catharine, they will learn more about our founders’ lives and their impact and legacy on the community of Banff.
Nature in Art
Suggested Ages: 6-8
Number of Participants: Minimum of 5, Maximum of 30
Cost: $80
Program Length: 60 minutes
Get outside and get inspired to create art! Participants get introduced to art appreciation by getting up close to a nature painting and using their creative minds to look at it deeper. A scavenger hunt is done outside looking around at the natural world around them. The visit to the Whyte Museum encourages individuals to create their own work of art based on what they saw and felt. Weather dependent.
History Mystery
Suggested Ages: 6-8
Number of Participants: Minimum of 5, Maximum of 30
Cost: $80
Program Length: 60 minutes
Discover mystery objects from the past first though touch, then sight! Explore a historical home to see how people in the past lived and how objects can tell the stories of the legendary figures of Banff who helped build and shape this community. Discuss why museums are important to uncovering our own history mystery.
Earth Meets Sky
Suggested Ages: 7-11
Number of Participants: Minimum of 5, Maximum of 30
Cost: $100
Program Length: 60 minutes or 90 minutes
What is a landscape painting? Why do artists paint landscapes? Explore landscape art while experimenting with line, shape, colour, and texture. Create your own landscape painting out on the museum grounds. Weather dependent.
Junior Curators
Suggested Ages: 8-11
Number of Participants: Minimum of 5, Maximum of 30
Cost: $80
Program Length: 60 minutes
Come to the Whyte Museum and put on your white gloves! By seeing firsthand how objects are displayed in a gallery and in a historic home, participants gain a deeper understanding of the purpose of museums and the role curators have. Examine mystery artifacts to unlock their secrets and learn what it takes to be a curator!
Arty’s Adventures!
K-Grade 1
Social Studies
Join a young mouse on his adventures in the Canadian Rockies! Learn about Arty and his experience of moving to a new town and going on a backcountry adventure. After we read Arty’s story, we will also get to see and touch objects that he finds along his travels.
The kit includes story pages, artifacts, and touch objects, colouring pages with crayons, a Teacher’s Guide with resources, pre- and post-program recommendations, and a program outline for you to successfully complete and deliver the program. After delivering this in your classroom, your class is invited to book a free visit to the museum and get a tour of Peter Whyte and Catharine Robb Whyte’s home. This visit will help students make a connection with what they heard and saw in the story, to the actual home of Peter and Catharine.
Education Kit Programs
World Travels
Grade 2-3
Social Studies
Travel around the globe with friends! Use clues to discover which country you are in – Peru, Tunisia, Ukraine, India, or Japan. Compare and contrast communities from around the world to your own Canadian community.
The kit includes five country boxes and respective contents, poster paper, a Teacher’s Guide with resources, pre- and post-program recommendations, and a program outline for you to successfully complete and deliver the program in your classroom. Afterwards, your class is invited to book a free self-guided visit to the museum to explore our galleries.
Drawing with Light!
Grade 2-4
Science
Think fast! How many different types of light sources can you name? Learn how light travels and see how it can be captured to create an image. Create your own sun print image!
The kit includes photographic touch objects, supplies for experiments with light, sunprint paper and required materials, a Teacher’s Guide with resources, pre- and post-program recommendations, and a program outline for you to successfully complete and deliver the program in your classroom. Afterwards, your class is invited to book a free self-guided visit to the museum to explore our galleries.