What a joyful day for touring, the outdoors was very kind to us and gave us a cooler afternoon. Therefore, Janet and Emily’s group decided to explore the By Ward Market for a bit. They had an incredible time there, and they bought some interesting things. As they walked towards their next destination, there were many voices of students and teachers saying, “What’d you buy? What’d you get?” The bunch was certainly excited about their findings. Also, they found the Blog to be an extremely good idea, and they would very much like to see their own mugs being displayed here. So naturally, the students jumped at the chance to be in every picture.
After their relaxing walk, they arrived at The National Gallery of Canada. The large group separated into smaller groups, and a particular bunch of kids were checking out a unique painting known as “The Assumption of the Virgin.” This painting was done by Neri di Bicci, nearly 500 years ago. The next thing they examined was the artwork called “Composition No. 12 with Blue.” It seemed pretty basic because the artist only uses primary colours and black & white, but it wasn’t simple at all. These plain lines formed a cruciform, which created an optical illusion. I believe the kids really loved this kind of style of art, and they enjoyed the Gallery a lot.
Earlier today, Emmanuel’s tour group went to The National Gallery of Canada as well. I’m sure the kids liked it, and that they really appreciated the hard work put into those lovely paintings. Later on, they visited the Rideau Hall, which was a truly worthwhile visit. After that they flew all the way to the Aviation Museum…well…………they didn’t actually fly to the Museum, but they took the bus, which was just as fun. Inside the Museum, the students certainly had a great time learning the transformation of Canada’s aeronautical technology that the Museum reflects.
In a great turn of events, they were given some bonus time at the Rideau Centre to shop till they drop. The students were super happy to hang out with their friends at this mall. They not only get to buy things that they want, but it was also a good learning experience for them to be in a new place in a different city.
Whoa! Impact Twins? Bday Party? Hmm…maybe you should take a look at the video.
These kids got a well-deserved Impactlicious day with their tour guides Simone, Catherine and Marc-Andre. This large tour group received a trip loaded with the best food and coolest places to visit. In fact, I will just name a few places where they’ve visited today: Rideau Hall (home to every governor general since Confederation), Rockcliffe Park (where many ambassadors to Canada live near), Parliament Hill (with its prominent Peace Tower, a national symbol), The Currency Museum (where the kids got to explore the evolution of money around the world), and that’s only the tip of the iceberg.
It must have been a big day for the students, so what better way to fuel up than at Coaster’s in the By Ward Market in downtown Ottawa. The atmosphere in the restaurant allowed the group to relax and be themselves. They not only get to enjoy a good meal this evening, but they also get to go Bowling afterwards.
The people at home must be itching to know what Eli’s tour group have been up to. Well, you can loosen those crossed fingers because this reporter has been checking out the RA Centre. You know what that means……it means they were not far behind. As a matter of fact, they were getting a buffetlicious meal inside the building.
After the amazing dinner, they began tonight’s funlicious activities of bowling and volleyball. The students were trying out new strategies to overcome their opposing team. As the teams became stronger, the game seemed even more intense. It was SO intense that the group just had to joke around to get a few laughs. The students enjoyed each other’s comedic antics. Although I believe that I was the star of the show……….NOT!!! Sorry, that’s an inside joke that the students will understand unless you’re familiar with my older cousin Borat.
Check out the superlicious day, yes I like adding licious to every word LOL!
Hello world, we meet again. Today, Teddi and Andrew’s group went to a place where every governor general had been. It was the place known as Rideau Hall, a historic home and workplace. The kids were already impressed by the size of the building, and they were anxious to take a look inside. In their minds, they were prepared to see a classy interior, but what they didn’t know was that there were some very interesting facts for them to learn about. In the Reception Room, even the paintings were rich in stories which the students found out from their Guide. She explained about the painting of The Right Honourable Jules Léger who suffered a stroke six months after the beginning of his term. The painting of this Governor General depicts the fact that he was sick, and that his wife Gabrielle Léger, assisted him in his official duties. This painting along with some contemporary art like “Vivre aux depens d’autrui”, really captured the kids’ interests. Another interesting room was the Tent Room, which was also used as a tennis court by day until the 1960s. The students were amazed that this room could transform in the evenings from a court to a space for receptions and dinner parties using generous lengths of striped fabric.
Later in the evening, we meet up with The Fantastic Two the younger cousin of The Fantastic Four. They were a pair of superheroes, I mean super tour guides named Miles and Ruth, leading a group of kids in need. In need of what you ask? They needed a good helping of wholesome cosmic bowling. These kids loved it. They had a lot of fun dancing to the chic music, and they absolutely enjoyed the funky lights. They certainly deserved it after a long day of traveling and learning, this was a way to get themselves rolling for the next day. Let’s just hope that Ruth and Miles will stay off the salt and pepper when tomorrow comes.
Remember the time when your parents talked to you about the wars they had to struggle with? No? Then, maybe a trip to the War Museum would be a good idea. However, if you DO remember the stories that your parents talked to you about, then still you should go because there is so much to see at the museum. And that was exactly what these sharp students did. Erica’s group of kids were amazingly fun to talk to. They were such a delightful group and they were trigger-happy with their cameras, which was a good thing especially on tours like this where every moment must be captured. It was such a joy to see the students discovering new things, and just watching them being so eager to explore the fascinating museum.
It was a pretty good surprise to see Justin and Marissa’s tour group appear in the same museum. I believe they were just as surprised as me, and the students welcomed me into their cool crew. Justin and Marissa guided the kids to the Memorial Hall, and they had a strong sense of awe because this place meant so much to them. Another amazing thing about it was its architecture, there was a window specifically built so that every year on November 11, at 11 a.m., the sun will shine right on The Headstone of the Unknown Soldier. This was only one of the special things to see inside the museum, the next thing that they carefully examined was the Regeneration Hall. At first, the students only saw a fairly normal room until the guides explained that there’s more than meets the eye. In Morse Code, spots of light spelled out “lest we forget,” and “n’oublions jamais,” were displayed on the north wall. That was a visit that they will remember in years to come.
Whoa, we had eight tour guides, seven schools, and one evening of dancing, which roughly translated to awesometabulous. For those who are new to this word, it’s actually a blend of the words awesome fantastic and fabulous, for an in-depth definition and origin of this word check the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Nah, I just made that word up no need to whip out those fancy thesauruses and extensive book of words. It all began with a trip to Camp Fortune located at a place called Chelsea in Quebec. The kids quickly settled themselves comfortably at their dinner tables inside the Camp Fortune building. Before I even introduce myself, some of the students already knew about the blog and they were more than ready to present their smiles for the camera.
The dinner was great, and the kids were so well-behaved during their meal. They all had lovely chats with their friends at their table and maybe with some new friends from other schools as well. Some of the groups showed their pride by singing unique songs and proud cheers. The tour guide Alice and her group received so much attention that the other tour guide, Eli and his group had to reveal their team spirit as well.
A few moments later, the dance started and the house was rocking like it never rocked before. Everybody was dancing to the smooth grooves with the party clown, DJ Pancake. He was showing his stuff with his own personal groovy spatula. Can you smelllllllllllllll what the Pancake is cookin’? The students really loved the DJ and the energy in the room. Some of them were truly dressed for the occasion and really danced their heart out. In fact, I believe you can hear the whole earth quaking. The atmosphere and the excitement was off the Richter.
Rise and shine, these kids were up early to get to The Canada Aviation Museum. The tour guides for this group were Caylie and Jason. They both knew that this was The Museum to get the students’ spirits soaring. Their eyes glowed when they took a look at the huge variety of Canadian Aircrafts, U.S. Jets and German War Planes. They were so amazed and so willing to learn more about these majestic machines. Every inch of the museum was covered, including the gift shop, which the kids were very fond of. The shop was packed with mementos and a great selection of things for the children to buy. They rejoiced in the fact that they got a piece of The Aviation Museum to take home.
The Bank of Canada Currency Museum was where Emmanuel’s group visited in the afternoon. Inside, they began their workshop called Money Matters. It was such a fun and interactive activity for the kids, and I’m sure they learned a thing or two. The Museum’s guide told us about the five security features on dollar bills. During their lesson, they had time to have a closer look on their bills and they were a bit surprised to see things they would have never noticed. The next time these students see a counterfeit bill, they will be able to identify it.
Guillaume and Marc were so fortunate to have such a pumped up group this evening. At this time, they went to The RA Centre, a perfect spot for dinner and exercise. The dinner certainly boosted their energy levels, which was good because it would prepare them for some volleyball and bowling. They had their game faces on and had enough energy to power up an entire city during their mini-volleyball tournament. It was very entertaining to see them soooo happy and enjoying the great outdoors. However, inside the building, the other students were showing off their professional bowling skills. Some of them even had a couple of Strikes, wow! By the time they come home, I assure the parents that the kids will be athletes.
We began today’s journey at The Museum of Civilization with Caroline’s group. These bilingual students were very fun to talk to, and possessed a very keen sense of exploration. Caroline directed the group into the museum and showed them how to do the rally. There was not a single word to fully describe the great time that they had at the museum because there was just wayyyyy too much to say about both the museum and the wondrous adventures that they had inside the History Hall. All of them were so excited at the activity, and one of the reactions included a student yelling happily, “I found it!” This student successfully answered one of the questions on their cool rally.
Quelle surprise! I found Ruth’s tour group at the same museum! Nah, I actually planned on seeing her group today, but it was nice to see her and her photogenic group of kids. Man! Did we have a fantabulous tour of the museum or what? Of course we did, and the students loved how there were people dressed up in costume at this place. One of the lucky students was able to hold a harpoon, and pose for a photo with one of the awesome characters inside the History Hall. This place never ceases to amaze me.
Crossing the Pont Alexandra Bridge and a few blocks down, we meet up with Andrew’s tour group. They patiently waited outside to enter the grand-looking Supreme Court of Canada. It was a worthwhile wait because this was THE best place to tour if you wanted a face-to-face look at our legal system. The kids were absolutely stunned by this famous place, and they looked from high to low and even slowly spun around staring at the magnificent ceiling. They just couldn’t stop taking pictures, it was just that remarkable. All in all, they truly enjoyed the Supreme Court and received a great educational value as well.
Let’s check out the great tours in the video above.
Earlier today, Amanda’s group visited Fort Henry and wow, do they ever like it there. However, they certainly wanted to run down to Ottawa where many exciting activities await. One of the activities included going to the Canadian War Museum. They were ready for an all-out war experience at the amazing place. You should see their responses to all the nifty little things that they were able to see. They really appreciated the fact that you can go up-close to see the wicked vehicles and cool weaponry.
The parents out there must be worried about what kind of food their kids were eating. Well, worry no more because I’m telling you there was absolutely nothing to worry about. Catherine and David’s group had dinner at Oregano’s, a very fine buffet indeed. The food was not only great tasting, but it was healthy, plus there was a great selection and plenty of grub to satisfy any group. All the kids were filled to the brim with content faces.
The Haunted Walk and Jail Tour were pretty freaky. Miles was leading this group, but even our brave tour guide was a tad nervous about going into The Carleton County Jail. Why was he nervous? There was plenty of reason. First of all, a lot of weird occurrences happened at this place. For example, some unexplained instances where beds inside the jail cells were relocated even though they were locked, and nobody could get in. In addition, we learned about the friends of the departed and many other things that you definitely don’t want to know. The students had a mix of reactions; some of them were frightened, others smiled and laughed perhaps to hide their fear, while the rest were silent as to not disturb the deceased.
What you’re about to see was a visit with the ghosts, take a look at the video above.
Yup, you heard right! You’re going to court, The Supreme Court of Canada! Well……at least that’s where THIS tour group was going to visit anyway. Today’s fine and dandy tour was lead by Caylie. During the tour, I was told by some of the students that they had a blast at last night’s dance. However, it was finally time to come back to Earth and rediscover the reason for the trip, with a tour to Parliament Hill. All the excitement began at the Parliament Hill Centre Block Building. The kids got to see some cool things at Parliament, where many great decisions were made right here. The Centre Block isn’t the only thing to check out, they were able to see the amazing statues right on the grounds. One student was quite attracted to the Sir George-Étienne Cartier (1814-1873) monument. It was with good reason because it was the first monument erected on Parliament Hill.
After a few photos, they headed towards The Supreme Court. From the look on their faces, you can tell that they adore going to fancy places like this. The Supreme Court’s tour guide directed us to one of the rooms. He taught the group many captivating facts about the Federal Court. Some students were surprised to learn that the gavel was used only in the United States and not in Canada. This brought about some more questions, and the students wanted to know more about the court room. One of the students asked, “What are the TVs in the room for?” The guide told us that since the lawyers cannot turn their backs to the judge, the TVs help to show a close-up view of the Lawyer’s and et cetera. The most entertaining thing for the students was to have a little role-play of a mock trial. It was absolutely hilarious to see their own friends dress in the costumes and talk about a bizarre trial that wouldn’t exactly make it to the Supreme Court of Canada. All-in-all, they rediscovered the true meaning of educational touring.
Let’s have a little chat with our teachers in the above video.
Wow, how do I even begin? This was one amazing journey for everyone on today’s tour group. Our tour guides, Justin and Dan, were psyched up to meet the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper. The kids already liked the look of Parliament Hill as soon as they stepped on the grounds. They gathered into a lobby area near the entrance, and you can instantly see that they were super happy to get an opportunity like this. As a matter of face, they couldn’t stop talking about their adventures on tour and about today’s special event.
After a few minutes, we were heading towards room 237C, The Reading Room. The room was absolutely stunning, and the kids were so overwhelmed by how gorgeous it was. We had to wait awhile for the PM to greet the group, but it was definitely worth the wait. You can actually feel the scent of magic as Stephen Harper walked into the room full of fortunate students. Some of the kids and teachers were lucky enough to get to chat with him and to shake hands. One student was still shaking from the excitement of being face-to-face with the PM. A few people from our group were saying, “I can’t believe we met Stephen Harper!” The entire group even had the chance to take a group photo with The Right Honourable Stephen Joseph Harper. Now, how cool is that? Something like this doesn’t come around everyday, so it was a proud moment for this group.
This is a must-see video, OUR students with the Prime Minister.
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