Secret maps. Buried treasure. Adventure.
These were just a few of the things a group of kids got to experience this month at the Scarborough Museum’s Pirate School 101.
“(It) is a really important thing for pirates to learn how to ‘Arrr!’ and how to make treasure maps and how to hunt for buried treasure,” said Devon Muhic, youth resource lead for the museum.
Pirate School 101 took place on three consecutive Saturdays from Sept. 7 to 21.
The Scarborough Museum’s Pirate School 101 took place on three consecutive Saturdays from Sept. 7 to 21.
“Museums are more than just about early settlers,” museum coordinator Elaine Savva said. “It’s a place to have fun while at the same time learning something new.”
The kids created their own maps and baked cookies on an open hearth. Among the pirate-themed treats the children cooked up were decoder cookies, which were then used to decode their treasure maps.
According to Savva, the museum always tries to include baking in its programs because the kids really love it.
The event wrapped up with a scavenger hunt throughout the museum and some buried treasure at the end.
“We want our visitors, especially our youngest visitors, to look at coming here in a positive light,” Savva said.
Kids enrolled in Pirate School 101 created their own maps, baked cookies and went on a scavenger hunt throughout the Scarborough Museum. They also came away with buckets of ‘treasure’, including stickers and toys.
Pirate School 101 — which is based on the Scarborough Museum’s themed birthday parties — was a success, museum organizers said. Seventeen kids registered, two more than the planned maximum of 15.
Getting these kids involved at the museum early and in fun ways is a step in the right direction, Muhic said.
“We believe if the person comes to the museum just once they become a visitor for life,” Muhic said. “That’s what our goal is.”