Provincial Hertiage Badge at Edinburgh Square

This week we visited Edinburgh Square Heritage & Cultural Centre to finish up the Provincial Heritage badge. Earning this badge also forms part of our Canada 150 activities. A big THANK YOU to the staff and volunteers who created and put on the program for us!

The girls were divided into three groups and took part in a variety of activities to learn about our local history and also what goes on behind the scenes at a museum.

Activity #1 - Exhibit Gallery
Here the girls visited the current exhibit - "Grand Design: Architectural Treasures Along the Grand" and learned a bit about different landmarks and buildings that existed in Haldimand County in the past - and those that are still present today! They then worked on a wordsearch and explored terminology that is used by curators and museum staff.

Activity #2 - Artifacts
Back upstairs, the girls learned about what happens when an item is donated to a museum. They were able to see and touch artifacts while filling out Condition Reports for an Army Beret (1945) and a Clothing Booklet (1853). In order to fill out the report, the girls examined artifacts to determine their general condition, identify the materials used to make the item, and make detailed notes on the condition and any flaws or damage.


Activity #3 - Tour
In addition to the exhibits and gallery, we also toured the lower level of the museum and learned more about how the building was used in the past. The building was erected as a Town Hall in 1856, and Council meetings were held on the main floor. We went down to the basement and saw where different types or artifacts are stored and looked at different items, including a butter press and ledgers containing hand-written deeds (the girls were amazed at how neat the writing was - and that it was all in cursive!). This part of the building was originally a Meat Market - 6 butchers would set up stalls and sell their wares from January 1st to December 30th. On December 30th, they had to pack up everything and move out. On December 31st, 6 names would be pulled out of a hat, and those 6 butchers would then set up for the following year. Further along in the basement, we visited the restored jail cell. The Town Constable and his family would life on the upper level of the building, and his wife would be responsible for feeding anyone unlucky enough to be arrested. Before heading back upstairs, we got to see and handle keys and a pair of handcuffs, and look at a display of different artifacts, including a Bible, gum machine and telephone switchboard!

Activity #4 - Scavenger Hunt 
For the final activity, everyone gathered back together to head out on a scavenger hunt through the upper and main levels. Some of the questions they had to answer were:

• How much money did Eva Marlene Heddle win as Canada's Loveliest Child? ($250)
• Who is the founder of Caledonia? (Ranald McKinnon)
• When was Haldimand County founded? (1850)
• The 114th Haldimand Rifles are also known as ...? (Brock's Rangers)
• What year was the Plank Road finished? (1843
• What is the brand name on the peanut butter can in the upstairs gallery? (Jack & Jill)

We finished by sharing the answers to the scavenger hunt questions, thanking our hosts, and reminders for next week.

Heritage Hike & Scavenger Hunt

Tonight was our annual Urban Hike and this year's theme was "Caledonia's Past" (aka "The Heritage Hike"). We met at the church as usual and as the girls arrived they were asked to share their ideas for working on different badges - Science, Outdoor Cooking, Heritage, Plants & Animals, Performing Arts, and Career Awareness.

The Guides split themselves up into groups and each group was given a clipboard, a pen and a scavenger hunt sheet. Before heading outside, each group had to create a Be Prepared Plan explaining what they should take with them on a hike, how they make sure no one got lost, what to do if someone did get lost and what to do if someone needed first aid.

Before leaving, we quickly reviewed appropriate behavior on public and private property and explained how the scavenger hunt would work. As we walked, we would be stopping at different places in town to learn something about their history. In some places there would be a question for the girls to answer based on what they could see. Midway through our outing, we planned to stop in the park where the girls could answer some nature questions and find traditional scavenger hunt items - as well as play on the play structures, before heading back to the Church.

Time was against us and we had to cut out certain parts of the walk, and only had about 15 minutes in the park instead of the planned half-hour.

So, where did we go?



The girls had to find answers specific to different locations (such as the original address of Jones Baker (26 Old Plank Road), the year the Toll House was built (1875), the temperature on the sign outside the Credit Union). A number of the questions in the scavenger hunt could be used anywhere:

• Where is the nearest mailbox to the Church?
• What do you see that is made of wood? List as many items as you can.
• Do you see any living creatures? Note any birds, insects, reptiles or mammals that you see.
• What are people doing? How many different things do you see people doing outdoors? Are these jobs or fun activities?
• Where would be a good place to sell cookies? Find 3 places that would be good cookie selling locations and explain why you chose them.
• Explore the Park and find out what lives here (remember: living things include plants, animals, birds, insects, etc.)
• As a group, choose 5 things in nature that you find interesting and explain why you chose each thing.
• Find 3 different flowers. What do they look like? Where are they found?
• Find each of the following in nature:
• Something soft
• Something smooth
• Something rough
• Something circular
• Something square
• Something triangular
• Something red
• Something brown
• Something yellow

We arrived back at the church just after 8.30 and everyone headed home after turning in their scavenger hunt sheets.