Our 2022 Education Program takes you deeper into the traditional knowledge of the Blackfoot people. Learn what it was like to be one with the buffalo. This year, we offer a 2-part program, that includes a "Full Building Tour" plus "Living Off The Land", a sit-down session with your Blackfoot Guide. You will be able to touch, hold and learn about the traditional tools of daily life. There are lots of opportunities in this session to ask questions and listen to stories. Your Blackfoot Guide will be with you throughout your experience.
Guided School Programs
Our site is very busy during the spring field trip season of May-June. Weekday mornings can be crowded, with schools taking our pre-booked, guided school program. Schools who plan to visit on their own, without any pre-booking of an education program, are advised to visit in the afternoons. Home School groups, who plan to visit without any pre-booking of an education program, are advised to visit on Fridays, when we have fewer bookings from public schools, separate schools and private charter schools. Tap/click on the headings below, for details.
Our 2022 Guided School Program (All Grades)
Part 1: "Living Off The Land", a one-hour "sit-down session" with your Blackfoot Guide. Learn how First Nations people lived in harmony with nature, by harvesting all that they needed, taking advantage of our abundant natural resources, without any lasting impact on the earth. Find out about the tools and technologies that evolved with the buffalo culture, in this hands-on program.
Part 2: "Full Building Tour" This 1.5 hour tour of the Interpretive Centre will include the history and mechanics of the buffalo jump. You will visit the cliff-top viewpoint and make your way back through the seven levels of building exhibits. Your Blackfoot Guide will be with you all the way, as you learn more about The Jump. You will have a chance to view our engaging theatre presentations and be guided through our artifact-rich exhibits.
- Minimum 16 students per program group
- Maximum 25 to 30 per program group (including chaperones), depending on program location (due to Fire Code Regulations)
- Grades: All grades
- Dates available: May-June and September-October
- Morning Arrivals Only: ideally arriving by 10:00 am
- Total time: 2.5 hours for the full 2-part program
- All our programs complement the Alberta Education Curriculum.
Program Fees = $6/student, for this 2.5 hour, 2-part program
- Chaperone ratio is 1:8 including teachers. Admission for chaperones within the required ratio is complimentary (additional chaperones must pay the group rate admission fee of $12/adult).
- Students pay only the Program Fee. Students do not pay Admission Fees.
- Programs are booked on a first come, first serve basis — book early to ensure program availability!
- This program is offered for morning arrivals only, ideally arriving no later than 10:00 am. The total program time is 2.5 hours. If you arrive by 10:00 am the full program will end by 12:30 pm
- When planning your visit, don’t forget to leave time to visit the Head-Smashed-In Gift Shop. Student access may be restricted to a few at a time.
- Backpacks should be left on the bus, as we do not have any secure storage on site. Money and valuables should be kept in your pockets or waist packs.
- There is no cafe on site this year, as we transition out of the covid era
- Lunches should be eaten on the buses, before or after your visit, as we have no lunch rooms available in the building. Fire safety codes do not allow us to obstruct high congestion areas of the building, with students eating their bag lunches. Our fire code capacity is also strictly limited.
- Lunches may also be eaten on the bleachers in the plaza, if weather permits, but please be responsible for your garbage. There is also a small picnic area near the overflow parking lot, next to the Lower Trail access gate.
Education Program Bookings
- email education.bookings@gov.ab.ca.
Video Conference: Living Off The Land (All Grades)
Your class will speak directly with a Blackfoot Guide, located in The Lodge, at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. Each program will introduce the plains buffalo hunting culture and artifacts from everyday life. Your students will get to see and learn about each item, plus they have a chance to ask questions. This program can be adapted to suit each grade and age group.
Program Fee = $100 per Videoconference program
- Maximum 1 class per program
- We offer "Zoom" connections only, through our secure, web-based "Zoom Business Pro Account". We cannot connect to "Google Classroom".
- Connecting HSIBJ Lodge to School Class only - no multiple connections
- Grades: All Grades
- Dates available: November thru March
- Total time: 1 hour
- Programs are booked on a first come, first serve basis — book early to ensure program availability!
- All our programs complement the Alberta Education Curriculum
- To book programs and for more details, email education.bookings@gov.ab.ca
Guided Youth Group Programs
Youth Groups include Cubs, Scouts, Brownies, Guides and other special groups travelling outside of any formal school program.
We recommend that you book your youth group programs outside of the busiest school program season, which is most weekdays, mid-May thru June.
Please note that we do not have a cafe on site this year and we do not have any lunch rooms available for your group. We recommend you eat your lunches on the bus, before or after your visit. Lunches may be eaten on the bleachers in the Plaza, if weather permits. We also have a small picnic area near the overflow parking lot, next to the Lower Trail access gate. Tap/Clik on the heading below, for details.
Guided Youth Group Program
Part 1: "Living Off The Land", a one-hour "sit-down session" with your Blackfoot Guide. Learn how First Nations people lived in harmony with nature, by harvesting all that they needed, taking advantage of our abundant natural resources, without any lasting impact on the earth. Find out about the tools and technologies that evolved with the buffalo culture, in this hands-on program.
Part 2: "Full Building Tour": This 1.5 hour tour of the Interpretive Centre will include the history and mechanics of the buffalo jump. You will visit the cliff-top viewpoint and make your way back through the seven levels of building exhibits. Your Blackfoot Guide will be with you all the way, as you learn more about The Jump. You will have a chance to view our engaging theatre presentations and be guided through our artifact-rich exhibits.
- Maximum 25 - 30 participants/program group (including chaperones), depending on room location (due to Fire Codes)
- Ages: 9 years and up
- Programs are booked on a first come, first serve basis – book early to ensure program availability! Weekend bookings are best for Youth Groups.
- When planning your visit, don’t forget to leave time to visit the Head-Smashed-In Gift Shop. Group access may be restricted to a few at a time.
- Backpacks should be left on the bus, as we do not have any secure storage on site. Money and valuables should be kept in your pockets or waist packs.
- There is no cafe on site this year, as we transition out of the covid era.
- Bag Lunches should be eaten on the buses, before or after your visit, as we have no lunch rooms available in the building. Fire safety codes do not allow us to obstruct high congestion areas of the building, with groups eating their bag lunches. Our fire code capacity is also strictly limited.
- Bag Lunches may also be eaten on the bleachers in the plaza, if weather permits, but please be responsible for your garbage. There is also a small picnic area near the overflow parking lot, next to the Lower Trail access gate.
Admission Fees
- Pre-booked admission to the Centre is $10/youth for groups of under 15 people or $8/youth for groups of more than 15 people
- Chaperones (ratio 1:8) are allowed to accompany the group for free, if taking a youth group program. Additional chaperones will be charged admission to the Centre, at the group rate of $12/adult, if group size is 15 or greater ($15/adult if group size < 15)
Program Fee in addition to Admission Fee
- There is also a Guided Program Fee of $100 for this double sized program
To Book Your Program
- Email: education.bookings@gov.ab.ca