For Teachers - Program Philosophy

We now offer 18 living history workshop classes going on inside and around the 1798 Northwest Company Fur Post each May!

We believe strongly in smaller groups and plenty of chaperones who pay no fee! We appreciate them coming! The new coordinators these laast two years, and planning thier third White Oak School Days are "Mr. and Mrs. Atkins", who have both recently retired after 30 years of public school teaching in the state of Minnesota, with experience with many grades and ages.

Classes are offered usually four days only in May, and usually the first week Tuesday through Friday, however, due to state and other testing in state schools, we are offering Wednesday August 5,  Thursday August 6, Friday, Augsut 7, and the following Monday, May 9, 2005. At this time Thursday is almost full, and Friday is filled. Wednesday is the best  opportunity for larger groups and Monday has openings for two more classes. We require pre-registration. Groups scedules are prepared ahead of time as soon as you choose your classes, so they are ready for you upon arrival!

Join our unique "Living History" opportunities we have to offer at our permanent site in Deer River,. Minnesota! 

Call for inquiries or visitations to your school! We can arrange almost anything with all the expertise we have available in many fur trade era. Our number is 218-246-9393.

We focus on developing a sense of self-reliance based on enhanced self-esteem and self-confidence. We will spark an interest in learning that realizes education is a life-long activity not just confined to formal educational settings.

North America's early history centered around the meeting of two cultures-Native American and European. The fur trade era, a fusion of European exploration and multicultural trade, provides an exceptional backdrop against which learning activities of many types can occur.

Course Content

Here at The White Oak Learning Centre historic skills are the starting points for multiple-disciplinary learning adventures. Wrapped around each skill is a diverse set of potential activities allowing teachers and students to customize their learning experience.

For example, a lesson in starting fire with flint and steel may lead to a discussion of Jack London's "To Build A Fire", a review of technological changes that shape how we live, an examination of the science of fire making, or an evening of story telling around the crackling fire.

Daily Schedule

White Oak offers a three day/two night residential program. The schedule has up to seven major activity sessions and six meals along with snacks. Arrival is noon of Day 1 and departure is after brunch on Day 3.

Students and teachers to be housed in historical surroundings.

Meals are served family style. Students will assume responsibilities for dining room patrol duties.

Program Cost

Our annual capacity is limited because of White Oak's unique feature of small enrollments which guarantee an unsurpassed learning experience.
White Oak programs are based on not more than sixty students. Teachers are free. Additional chaperones will cost two-thirds of the student rate. These rates include all meals, courses, and usual classroom supplies.
The cost per student for the three day residential program is $125.00. Special course expenses, if any, will be itemized at the time of enrollment.

Don't be one of the schools left standing on the riverbank as our Canoes pull away.>

Please contact us for detailed, up-to-date information on costs. We welcome your inquiries. Click here for Residential Program Registration

White Oak Facilities

The White Oak Learning Centre:   A new teaching facility, has been built at the White Oak site. This is a one story building including two dormitory areas for students, two rooms for teachers, a full kitchen, a large (30x30) Great Room for meetings, office space, library and restroom facilities.

The White Oak Fur Post consists of an 80 acre site. All buildings are handicap accessible.

• Blacksmith Shop: A copy of a 1700's shop from an archaeological dig in northern Wisconsin.
• Voyageurs' Quarters: Winter quarters consisting of a sod roof, dirt floor and clay adobe fireplace.
• Root Cellar, Garden and Smokehouse: Functional areas to show how food was preserved in 1798.
• Clerks' Quarters and Company Store: Hewed log structure with two fireplaces and sleeping quarters plus fur trade period merchandise reproductions for sale or trade.
• Bourgeois' Quarters: A log structure with fireplace and even a window (only one at the post as glass was so expensive), where the "boss" of the post lived and worked.
• Baking Oven: Functional clay oven based on the style of oven found at fur post of this era.
• Canoe Building Shed: Building with thatched roof where we teach the art of building a birch bark canoe.
• Gil Quaal Nature Trail: A mile long trail with plants labeled in French, English and Ojibwe telling how plants were used for medicine, food, shelter and other survival purposes during the fur trade period.
• Blackpowder Range: Large area where we can showcase the development of the blackpowder weapon and demonstrate the skills of marksmanship and firearms safety.
• Stockade, Bastions, Fur Press, and the Ersatz River: All areas created to help complete the entirety of the NW Company Post.

The Learning Centre is scheduled for opening around the first of March,1998.

White Oak Spring and Fall School Day Programs

There are many types of workshops we can offer in the 1 day school visit for the cost of $6.00 per student. The following list is provided as examples. Please contact us to discuss other possibilities.

• Visit with the Company Clerk
• Women's role in the fur trade and its great importance
• Voyageur's life and how they were the backbone and the muscle of the fur trade
• Cat and Mouse and other games children played in 1798
• Lifestyle of the Bourgeois and how he "managed" the fur trade
• Blacksmithing
• Birch bark canoe building and the significance of the canoe
• Under a watchful eye, learn how to throw a tomahawk

Space provided courtesy of Paulbunyan Net

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