Latest News Blog

January 2014


PACT Pay A Visit

Wednesday, 15th January 2014

PACT Pay A Visit

Gold panning at the Arrow River  

  • PACT Pay A VisitGold panning at the Arrow River
  • PACT Pay A VisitTrying out different techniques for gold panning!
  • PACT Pay A VisitThe chilly Arrow river was refreshingly cold on such a sunny day!

We had 8 kids come to visit through a PACT Holiday Programme today. It was so much fun, and great to have kids using the HandsonHistory programme again after the long Christmas break!

Handling artefacts was the first activity we all did together - it was fantastic to see everyone so curious and interested in all of our old objects. We handled a Moa bone, a Pounamu Mere, a Poha, and lots of very old farming and mining tools.

We then explored the museum together. Some of the favourite spots included the man sitting on the toilet, the 1800's school room,and the musical instruments!

We finished off the visit with gold panning at the Arrow river. The sun was shining and it was a very hot day, but most of the kids were still able to find some gold which was AWESOME!

What did you most enjoy about your visit to the museum?

What are some new or interesting facts you learned during your visit?

Answer my questions and comment about your visit below!

Enjoy the rest of your holidays!!


Celebrate Chinese New Year with a Museum Fun Day!

Tuesday, 14th January 2014

Celebrate Chinese New Year with a Museum Fun Day!

Gold panning will be one of the activities offered on the Museum Fun Day!  

  • Celebrate Chinese New Year with a Museum Fun Day!Gold panning will be one of the activities offered on the Museum Fun Day!
  • Celebrate Chinese New Year with a Museum Fun Day!Exploring the Huts at the Chinese Settlement is another activity offered during the Museum Fun Day

Local Otago Daily Times reporter James Beech, has written a piece about the Museum Fun Day celebrating Chinese New Year on the 31st January.

Click this link to read about it here!

It's going to be a jam packed day full of activities to welcome in the Year of the Horse, it will be so fun! Send me an email [email protected] or call 442 0317 for more information or to make a booking.


Happy New Year!!

Monday, 6th January 2014

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!  

  • Happy New Year!!Happy New Year!
  • Happy New Year!!Celebrate Chinese New Year with a Museum Fun Day, or book your students in to ignite a learning experience about other cultures.
  • Happy New Year!!Art by Jenny Longstaff will be on display from the 28th February until early April.
  • Happy New Year!!Create Camouflage Art in a Mixed Schools Art workshop on the 4th April 2014.
  • Happy New Year!!Shadows of Shoah will be on display from the 8th August until the 13th October.
  • Happy New Year!!an exhibition to demonstrate the effects of WWI on the Wakatipu region will be on display from 11th November until the 25th April.

Happy New Year everybody! It is great to be back! I am looking forward to all the exciting things we have planned for 2014... I have listed them down below so you can know what we have in store for you!

  • A Museum Fun Day on the 31st January to celebrate Chinese New Year! At $30 per child, the day will be jam packed with educational and celebratory activities to welcome in the year of the horse.
  • Celebrating Chinese new year will also be offered as an educational programme for schools. This session will include a tour of the Chinese Settlement, gold panning, and creating art inspired by Chinese New Year welcoming in the Year of the Horse! This will be available as morning (9am – 12pm) or afternoon (12pm -3pm) sessions which will take 3 hours. $3.00 per student (parents and caregivers free of charge).
  • In our Gallery we will have artwork displayed by Dunedin artist Jenny Longstaff from the 28th February - early April 2014. Book a visit to this exhibition to inspire your students for their next art unit.
  • Discover the Art of Camouflage! A Mixed Schools Art workshop for your year 5 & 6 students – Friday 4th April. Students will create their own camouflage inspired masterpiece through exploring different art mediums, whilst focusing on contemporary artists.This is an opportunity to enrich the skills of students who show talent. This session will be run on Friday 4th April from 9.30am until 1pm. $3.50 per student (parents and caregivers free of charge).
  • Shadows of Shoah will be on display in our gallery from the 8th August - 13th October. This is an artistic educational project, communicating the gravity and significance of the Holocaust in a unique way. Using photography and original music, and selected episodes from survivors' experiences. Book a visit to this exhibition NOW so your students do not miss out on this valuable learning experience!
  • The Lakes District Museum & Gallery will also be hosting an exhibit on WWI (11th November - 25th April) to demonstrate the effects of WWI on the Wakatipu region using primary resources such as photographs, diaries, telegrams, oral histories, and newspapers. Bookings to visit this exhibition can be made NOW by contacting our Education Officer.

These are just some of the exciting things we have already planned for 2014, but there is plenty more where that came from! So make sure you keep checking this blog so that you and your students do not miss out.


Another Mention in the Education Gazette!

Sunday, 5th January 2014

Another Mention in the Education Gazette!

Rich Learning Experiences  

  • Another Mention in the Education Gazette!Rich Learning Experiences
  • Another Mention in the Education Gazette!
  • Another Mention in the Education Gazette!The Benefits of LEOTC

Earlier in 2013 we had a lovely write up by James Hargest students about their visit to the Lakes District Museum which was published in the Education Gazette.

Then in November 2013, an article I wrote about the benefits of LEOTC learning was also published in the Education Gazette!

It's really fantastic to see how popular LEOTC providers are becoming with students and teachers alike!

Bring on 2014 and all of the fantastic students who will learn through the Lakes District Museum & Gallery Education Programmes!