The Real Muskoka experience offers educational programming for all ages of children and adults. School Programs include:
Grades 2 & 3
McCabe's Landing
Curriculum = Social Studies, Pioneer Life
Discover the role of pioneer James McCabe and his family in establishing an early settlement during the 1860's. Meet Mr. A.P. Cockburn, steamboat builder, Muskoka's first MPP and his vision of Muskoka as a tourist area. Learn how lumbering activities changed this area form a wilderness to a boom town. Students will walk through a mock steamboat and witness a rare triple-expansion steam engine in motion, visit a wheelhouse and sound the steam whistles.
Grades 4 & 5
Trails, Maps & Waterways
Curriculum = Social Studies, Canada and World Connections
Become familiar with the lakes and rivers of Muskoka, highlighting the importance of its water systems on human activity from the early days of settlement to present day. Get to know Gerald Leeder, 1 st mate and skilled map maker. Learn basic compass reading, practice map skills with historic stage and steamship route maps. Students will be able to apply their map skills to a map making activity.
Grades 7 & 8
We Are All Connected
Curriculum = Canada , A Changing Society, Patterns in Human/Economic Systems
Discover the unique roles of various communities bordering the three Muskoka Lakes . Witness how natural resources influenced the success of this region, how the effects of the industrial revolution changed and strengthened local society. See the entrepreneurial achievements of A.P. Cockburn, steamboat builder, and internationally famous boat builders Herb Ditchburn and Bert Minett. With hands-on activities in a boat building shop, students will follow the economic and social impact of marine transportation from steam to gas.
Grade 11
Pack Your Bags
Curriculum = History, Entrepreneurial Studies, Travel and Tourism
Learn about the impact of the tourism industry on Muskoka. Discover unique features that characterize the attractions, historic sites, landmarks, recreational activities and accommodations of this historic tourist destination. Explore the economic impact of tourism locally and provincially. Students will be able to design marketing material incorporating these factions into a tourism package.