The Sundre Museum has become a sleepover destination for Scouts Canada groups across Central Alberta. It started two years ago when a Cub leader from Caroline asked museum manager Darlene Smee about having a Cub group sleepover at the museum.
The Sundre Museum has become a sleepover destination for Scouts Canada groups across Central Alberta.
It started two years ago when a Cub leader from Caroline asked museum manager Darlene Smee about having a Cub group sleepover at the museum.
It went over well, said Smee, and groups have been doing it ever since. The Sundre Cubs had a sleepover at the museum earlier this year.
A Cub leader from Airdrie visited the museum as a tourist during the summer and heard of the possibility, so a sleepover was arranged for Nov. 7.
There were 16 Cubs and 14 adults, all boys with their fathers, who slept in the wildlife exhibit.
"They get ready for bed, they get their sleeping bags all set up and their pyjamas on and everything else, and then they have hot chocolate and cookies," said Smee.
The Cubs watched Night at the Museum before going to bed. In the morning they had a light breakfast and participated in a scavenger hunt.
The group was the largest group that has slept over at the museum so far, but Smee says a Calgary group leader has also expressed interest in the idea.
"It doesn't just have to be Cub groups. There's other groups out there too if they want to do it," she said.
She is offering sleepovers at the museum because it's something unique and different that will attract people to it, she said. She also charges them to use the facility, so it's another source of income for the museum, she added.
"I love it when people from someplace else come, just to hear their comments, because they can't believe that a little town of Sundre has what we have."
The Sundre & District Historical Society is working on other initiatives as well, including having another 90 feet of fence built on the grounds, like the one that was built earlier this year.
People are asked to sponsor a panel on the fence, and then they would have input into what images are welded into that panel.
As well, the society is working on an estimated $200,000 expansion. It includes another building for travelling exhibits, a common area for educational classes, a meeting room and more storage space.
The society has spent $50,000 to purchase two lots on the west side of the reception centre, where it would like to build.
The museum will also host its third annual Cookie Walk during Sundown in Sundre, and officials are looking for people to donate cookies for the event.
