Outlaws and Heros

Hey Everyone!

Lately, I've been doing lots of research for an educational school kit for children called Outlaws and Heros! This kit is going to be all about the pioneer era, focusing on a few infamous outlaws of the Wild West, some of whom, like Billy Miner, actually lived in B.C. in their lifetimes. Before this kit, I had never really been a Wild West fan, but what I've learned so far has really changed my mind. The exciting lives of these Western outlaws bring up countless important historical questions about the societies they lived in and the events that influenced their actions. Questions such as, who were these people? What brought them to break the law? What was the law system in the U.S. like in the late 1800s and early 1900s? How is it comparable to the justice system both the U.S. and Canada have now? How did the invention of trains effect their lives? What about the Gold Rush? How did the police force try and stop the crime? And of course, how did all these elements effect this area of the lower mainland? Those are only a few of the questions I will be answering in the school kit and the information will come with fun props and pictures to further illustrate what it would have been like to have lived in the pioneer era. If you have any information that you think would be fun for kids about the Wild West, the RCMP, or trains, I'd love to hear it!

Friday, I got the chance to look through old magazines and books from the early to mid 1900s. Some of them were even from the 1920s! I love looking through old literature to see what people thought, what people liked and what was in style almost 90 years ago. It's neat to think that while some things have changed, many things have definitely stayed the same!

Don't forget to sign your children up for a week-long MSA Museum summer camp! Everyday is a super fun but still educational theme! The dates are: July 26-30, August 9-13 and August 23-27. The camps are for kids who are 6-10 years old. It is $75 for the week, and only $65 if you are signing up two or more kids!

Pam