Programs & Tours

We have made a number of changes to the Museum to maintain a healthy and safe environment for all students, families, teachers and staff, while providing educational opportunities.

Some of these changes include:

1. Scheduling exclusive time slots for classes to visit the Museum in their learning groups. The Museum is available for school programs exclusively on Thursday and Friday mornings. If you need another time, please contact us 
2. Enhancing cleaning and disinfecting protocols. The Museum will be cleaned before your class arrives, as well as after you depart.
3. Providing hand sanitizer for all participants to use. We have done our best to continue to offer hands-on learning opportunities. Using hand sanitizer allows us to keep this learning format available.
4. Maintaining physical distances between classes and the presenter. In situations where physical distances cannot be maintained, a mask or face shield will be worn.
5. Providing a Lending Library of materials that can be used in your classroom. These materials will be quarantined after being borrowed. See below for more details on what is available and how to borrow these items.
6. Offering the opportunity for an educator to come to your class to present educational programs of your choice. In Class Programming below for more information.
7. Offering the opportunity for an educator to take your class outside to explore and learn about ecosystems around your school and in the neighbourhood. See Outdoor Programs below for more information.
8. At this moment, the Archives is only accepting email or phone requests for services and information.  Currently, it will take approximately two weeks to process requests due to a large backlog.

If you have further questions, please contact the Museum by email or phone (250-490-2454).

The Penticton Museum & Archives have many program opportunities to help meet your educational objectives. We have programming connecting the B.C. Ministry of Education curricula with local topics. If you don't see something you're looking for, please contact us. We may be able to help you out.

These programs are developed and delivered by our educator, Chandra Wong, a trained science and math teacher with a background in art. She uses hands-on and place-based learning that your students will enjoy.

Programs are about one hour long, and can take place in the museum or your classroom. Contact Chandra with any questions or program ideas you might have.

We will continue our special promotional rate of $25 per program. In-museum programs are delivered Thursdays and Fridays, 9 am to 12 pm. This time is set aside so your class can attend the museum exclusively. In-class programs are schedule dependent, as this is a new development for the museum. 10 student minimum, 30 student maximum.

Explore science and technology principles with hands-on activities in the museum or in your classroom.

Cost: $40 per program

Length: 1.5-2 hours

Minimum 10 students. Maximum 30 students. Available Wednesdays through Fridays.

Visit and explore local ecosystems with a trained biologist. Students will learn about Okanagan plants and animals.

Cost: $52.50 per program

Length: 2 hours

Minimum 10 students. Maximum 30 students. Available Wednesdays through Fridays.

Our programs require a minimum of 10 people. Smaller groups will be charged the cost of a regular program. Please discuss museum behavioural expectations (calm bodies, low voices, etc.) with your students prior to your visit. Please provide students with name tags to assist with class management.

Bookings are limited, so please register early. Please book at least two weeks in advance by phone (250-490-2454) or email. Programs are available Wednesday through Friday between 9 am and 5 pm.

Educational Programs

*Teachers and Educators: Sign up for our exclusive email list and receive information about the Penticton Museum's newest educational programs and exhibits, special guest lectures, deals on museum visits, and more! You will not receive spam or our regular newsletters, nor will your email be shared with third parties - you'll just get the good stuff!

From the Royal BC Museum, Penticton is proud to host this incredibly rich and detailed kit that explores the life of the Chinese immigrants that came to BC through graffiti and historical primary documents. Utilizing the "Big Six" approach to learning, the kit and online resources help students explore the archival materials, artifacts, and activities. The result is an experiential journey of extracting information from primary sources and incorporating that into the student's knowledge base.  

Click here for more information.

This original Artifact pack was developed to highlight the challenges and opportunities that faced European settlers that came to this area. It covers the local history from the first contact with the Okanagan First Nations, right through to Tom Ellis and the settlement of Penticton, and continues on to the First World War.

It contains artifacts that illustrate the life of pioneers and invites critical thinking through artifact exploration. The pack includes photos of early Penticton, a copy of Tom Ellis's actual diary from 1865, worksheets, classroom and small group activities, and suggested reading and resources.

Having a Voice encourages participants to use their inquiry skills to investigate participation and representation in BC politics, the electoral process and electoral boundaries. The kit, designed by the Royal BC Museum and Elections BC, fits the Grade 5 Social Studies: Canadian Issues and Governance curriculum.

Click here for more information.

Teach your students to see bat species in a new light! Celebrate bats and learn about how essential they are to our environment.  Discover fascinating facts, uncover common myths and examine BC bat specimens up close.

Containing over 35 hands-on activities for elementary, middle, and high-school students, the BC Bat Edu-Kit is intended to be used in either a classroom or a non-formal classroom setting. 

The BC Bat Edu-Kit consists of:

• BC Bat Edu-Kit Activity Guide
• BC Bat Edu-Kit Craft Binder
• Props for the activities (including bat puppets, a bat costume, games, posters, books, and more)
• Digital files of activity guide, crafts binder, and a bat PowerPoint presentation.

Note: The BC Bat Edu-kit was developed though the efforts of many partners. The Okanagan Similkameen Conservation Alliance provides classroom presentations for this kit. Please check their website for more information.

This kit was made possible thanks to the following partners: Bat Education & Ecological Protection Society, BC Community Bat Program, BC Government, En'owkin Centre, Kelowna Museum Society, NatureKids BC, Okanagan Community Bat Program, Okanagan Nation Alliance, Penticton Museum & Archives, Regional District of Central Okanagan - Environmental Education Centre for the Okanagan.

SumBlox Building Blocks teach a wide range of mathematics through guided, hands-on discovery. Learn basic math skills, including multiplication, fractions and factors.

Teachers’ guides help students to reach a deeper understanding of the properties of math through step-by-step investigations, engaging discussions and fun challenges like:

Pre-K to 5th grade

Simple concepts

Hands on application

Builds confidence

Creates excitement

Increases retention

The Educational SumBlox Set includes 30 x single blocks, 12 x two blocks, 8 x each of blocks 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 2 x ten blocks. The set also includes 4 teaching manuals for teaching addition, subtraction, multiplication and fractions.

Makedo is a cardboard construction system for exploring ideas through making and play. With simple to use and deliberately designed tools, Makedo facilitates the creation of something new from up-cycled, low-tech cardboard.

Online videos expand cardboard construction ideas.

Class set of 24 available to borrow. Each kit contains: 1 Scru-driver, 21 Scrus, 7 XL Scrus, and 1 Safe-Saw

Recommended for ages 7+ years old

Nine teeth and jaw fragment replicas from the three major animal classifications: herbivore (Gorilla, Hippopotamus, Beaver), carnivore (African Lion, Alligator, Coyote), and omnivore (Human, Grizzly Bear, Baboon).

For children 6 to 12 years old.

Included: 9 tooth and mandible replicas, lesson plan and educational material.

Book an item in the Lending Library by calling 250-490-2454 or send an email.

There are two ways to use the kits:

• Sign it out for $15 for up to a week at a time (you can renew if you need more time, provided it has not been booked by other educators!).
• Have a Museum educator bring the kit to your classroom to present the materials and introduce the kit for $2 per student.

Note: Lending Library items are quarantined upon return to the Museum. Items that can be sanitized easily have a shorter quarantine period. 

Lending Library Borrowing Guidelines can be read here.

Teachers and Educators: Sign up  for our exclusive email list just for you, and receive information about the Penticton Museum's newest programs and exhibits, special guest lectures, deals on museum visits, and more! 

Spend part of an afternoon making crafts with your family hosted by the Penticton Museum & Archives.

This program provides opportunities for families to make and create a nature-based craft, disconnect from technology, and spend time together. Activities designed for 6 years to adults. Children under 6 are welcome to participate with adult support.
Jan. 23 - Paper Lanterns
Feb. 6 - Stick Heart Art
Feb. 20 - Nature Weaving & Cone Bees
Mar. 6 - Backyard Bird Guide
Mar. 20 - Fairy Homes

Participation by donation.

Take-home Crafternoon Kits
A limited number of kits are available at the museum to take and create at home . Kits come with instructions and most of the materials. You and your family get to go outside to discover the nature materials. Kits available by donation. Send an email to be notified when kits are available.

In museum sessions are all booked.
To maintain Covid protocols:
- Groups must pre-register for 30 minute time slots between 11 am and 2 pm.
- Family groups limited to maximum of six (6) people
- Register by phone (250-490-2454) or email (chandra.wong@penticton.ca)

Get revved up about science with the S.T.E.A.M. Powered Series! A joint Museum/Library series of programs running from September to April. Intended to inspire tweens to explore different aspects of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math. This after-school program takes place on the fourth Wednesday of the month.

Ages: 8-12 years.

When: After school on the fourth Wednesday of the month, September to April inclusive.

Cost: Free

Details to be posted with each session on the Penticton Library website: www.pentictonlibrary.ca

Toddlers explore their world through play. Learn how children learn as you and your toddler play together at the Museum. All sessions include hands-on activities for toddlers using Montessori and Reggio learning philosophies as a guide. Recommended ages 2-5 years.

This program is currently suspended. Check back later for updates. Thank you for your understanding.

This program is currently suspended. Check back later for updates. Thank you for your understanding. 

The Brown Bag Lecture Series is held every Tuesday at lunchtime (noon to 1 pm) from September to April. Each week a guest lecturer speaks about a subject in their area of expertise. Topics range from local history to history, travel, culture, and natural history. Everyone is welcome to bring their lunches with them, and coffee, tea, and confections are provided. Admission is by recommended donation of $2 per adult and $1 for children.

Sign up for our event newsletters for the latest information and news about events, programs, exhibit openings, and programs.

Our presenters for 2020 are as follows:

By Donation

Check out the museum at your leisure any time, Tues to Saturday, 10 am-5 pm. While there is a minimal charge for self-guided visits, the Museum must schedule them so there is no conflict with our other programming. Contact us at 250-490-2454 or email.

Check out our Exhibits page to see what's new!

Have an experienced staff member or volunteer show you around the permanent gallery and tell you the stories behind the artifacts. Ask lots of questions! Suitable for groups of up to 10 people due to space considerations. Cost is $3 per person, please book at least 3 days in advance! 250-490-2454 or email.

Have an experienced staff member show you the behind the scenes activities in the Museum & Archives' collections.

What does it take to take care of and preserve objects and documents of the past for generations of the future? Suitable for groups of up to about 25 people.

Cost is $3 per person. Please book at least three days in advance! Phone: 250-490-2454 or email.

Explore Penticton's Historic places through a scavenger hunt and colouring book.

Created through a partnership between the museum and the Penticton & District Community Arts Council (PDCAC), this celebration of Historic Places Days offers a guided journey through some of Penticton's historic places by visiting each site and hunting for the answers.

Historic places Days is part of a larger national event hosted by the National Trust for Canada. Events take place July 3-31 in communities across the country.

Nearly 30 historic places are highlighted in the scavenger hunt and colouring book. 17 local artists were commissioned to create the colouring book pages based on the historic places.

Each comes in a booklet that can be picked up at the museum and the PDCAC. Both are free to the public. Digital downloads are always available online for printing. A digital version of the scavenger hunt is available through the Actionbound App, which can be used on a mobile phone or tablet.

For questions, contact us at 250-490-2454 or chandra.wong@penticton.ca

Teachers and Educators: Sign up  for our exclusive email list just for you, and receive information about the Penticton Museum's newest programs and exhibits, special guest lectures, deals on museum visits, and more!