A treasure hunt rooted in history awaits at the museum this weekend. The Okotoks Museum and Archives hosts a scavenger hunt on July 21, in conjunction with Taste of Okotoks festivities. Education program specialist Jaime-Brett Sine said the museum hosts a few scavenger hunts each year, usually to correspond with other Town events like Alberta Culture Days. Families or individuals can come to the museum between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and request a scavenger hunt from the front desk, she said. “There will be a couple of versions, one which is geared more towards families with very young children who are very visual, and then a version for kids who are able to read themselves that is more in-depth,” said Sine. Armed with their questions, scavengers will roam through the museum exhibit looking for the right answers, she said. There may be certain clues that stand out, photos that may give a hint in the right direction or stories that could give away the answer. If it’s nice outside, there could even be a couple of questions that have hunters take to the outdoors to search around the building, she said. Once the hunt is completed, names are entered into a prize draw, she said. It’s about making history come alive for the children and helping parents teach their little ones, she said. “Often families and children greatly enjoy the museum, but the scavenger hunt just makes it a little easier to engage with the exhibitions in a very active, visual and exciting way,” said Sine. “It’s a different way to make history a lot more accessible, not only to the kids themselves but to parents who struggle as to teaching their children history or telling them about these exhibitions.” Current museum exhibits include Wash Day Blues, Homesteading – from Backache to Heartbreak and The Sheep River Valley. Wash Day Blues catalogues the weekly routines of pioneering women and pays homage to the tireless housewife, featuring stories and artifacts to remind visitors of their toil. The courageous and optimistic homesteader is saluted in Homesteading – from Backache to Heartbreak, which tells the story of early settlers who ventured west to try to make a better life for themselves and their families and the backbreaking work that went into creating a new life. The Sheep River Valley takes a look at the natural and human history of the local river valley and the vital role its waters have played on the community’s history. For more information visit www.okotoks.ca.
