Day 3, Wednesday, July 13: Calgary, Alberta

The kids on the train at the mine.

It sounds like Tuesday was a BIG day with lots of cool activities. Today looks like another big day as well. I got a text from Katie in the early evening that said, "Right this minute we are at Wal-Mart and all the kids are sitting on the bus watching TRON and most of the leaders are inside buying their 'necessary essentials'!" That cracked me up. I told her Lyly was probably buying a new camera!


Here's the day's note from Lyly:  

We began day 2 by leaving Calgary for the "Pope Lease Pines" campsite. Upon arrival, the students were assigned a miner cabin for the duration of our stay. The cabins are small and compact but very cute. It's easy to imagine what they must have been like in the 1920's with a little pot belly stove, a mini table, 2 chairs, and a bed. Life was much more simple back then. :)

After lunch, we went for a little hike in Horse Shoe Canyon. Chelsea gave us a mini geological lesson as we walked and I was constantly surprised by how much the students already knew. Then it was off to the Hudderite Colony. The Hudderites originally came from Austria and fled to Canada after being religiously persecuted. Hudderites are unique because they live as a community. 

Although each family unit has their own apartment, everyone in the colony eats three meals a day together, share their finances, and attend church together every day. Lydia, one of the Hudderite women, was our guide. It was very interesting to get a tour through the meeting place, the kitchens, and one home. After the tour our students were given a chance to ask questions about the community. I was very proud of the thoughtful questions students asked.

We spent our evening at the East Cooley School. It was built in the 1920's and still has most of the original furniture and nick knacks. Our delegates were given the opportunity to experience what it was truly like to be a student in 1936.

Upon entering the school we were met by Miss Morrison. After a stern lecture on the importance of being on time, Miss Morrison marched our students into the classroom. On each desk was a name tag and a family history for each child that attended school in 1936. Our students took on these identities for the duration of class. If any student misbehaved, Miss Morrison was very quick to mete out punishment.

I was punished for coming to class late and was given the strap out in the hallway. When class was over, many students came up to ask if I had truly been whipped. That's when I told them to be thankful they didn't attend school in the 1930's. :) Everyone said they enjoyed attending class and they especially liked seeing me get punished.

On a happy note, I was able to buy a new digital camera at Wal-Mart tonight. Yeah! Elizabeth, another teacher, took some photos on her iPhone. I am forwarding them to you so you can at least see something.

The People to People Itinerary

Looks like some pretty cool dinos! Albertosaurus!

1. Explore the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology - the largest dinosaur museum in the world and a world-class facility dedicated to the study of dinosaurs.
2. After learning about Canada's rich history of prehistoric animals, return to Calgary and its premier recreational attraction: the Canada Olympic Park! In 1988 Calgary hosted the XV Olympic Winter Games. Through a series of highly interactive games and activities, you will come to know what it takes to be a true Olympic champion.
3. After dinner in downtown Calgary, it's back to the University of Calgary where you stay for the night.

The museum.

Cool license plate I found online from 1988!