School and Group Tours 

All Group Tours must be Pre-Booked

The Claybank Brick Plant Historical Society offers tours of this National Historical Site. Frozen in time, this site gives an insight into early 20th century industrialism. The visitor experiences, first hand, a labour intensive operation just as it existed in 1912.

Regular Guided Tour -- $5.00 per person or $3 per student with a school group

May include main plant area, bunkhouse, offices, brick sheds, kilns and more. Operations are explained in an interesting and informative fashion.

Length: 1 hour plus

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Hands On Programming 2006:

SaskTel Hand Molders Program

Shumiatcher Prairie Pies Program

Eco-Educational Program

Ancient Pottery

Additional Resources

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School groups, Girl Guides, Boy Scouts or other groups of up to 30.

$5.00 per child for one hands-on program
or double up two programs for $8.50 per child and spend the rest of the day hiking in the Massold Clay Canyons! 

Teachers and chaperons must accompany and be responsible for groups at all times.

Please note Additional Resources etc. scroll down to the bottom of this page.

A truly unique hands-on heritage experience - Claybank is a fascinating time warp in a digital world. There is no better way to learn than by enjoying yourself.

Hands-on education - a child will retain more information if learning is fun

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Hand Molders Program 2007

Sponsored by SaskTel

Goal: The Claybank Brick Plant relied on intense physical labour in order to produce the high quality brick that it became known for. In addition to the brick making process we offer activity stops for a hands-on heritage experience. In our world of digital automation the Hand Mold shop experience reinforces the reality of the intense physical labour and quality workmanship required of the men at the Plant. The activities offered in this program will test the children's brick making abilities.

The men that worked in the Hand Mold shop worked for pennies a brick. They were paid in relationship to the amount of brick they produced. There was a quota of 8 units (a certain number of bricks) per day from each man but the men had the opportunity to make an additional 3 unit if they were quick enough. The added income realized by the production of these extra units was welcomed by the hand molders and their families.

The participant group sets out to retrace the brick making process from Clay to Kiln, arriving at the historic Hand Mold shop children will divide into groups and by utilizing ¼ size original hand mold replicas they will follow the same techniques used by the Hand molders for decades. They put themselves in the Hand molders 'shoes' - they are now the bread winner for a family in the early 1900's. They are warned that the brick must be perfect or it will be rejected by management via the 'broom stick test' and then they will not be paid for that brick. This activity, although very enjoyable, fosters a greater appreciation of the hardships our ancestors were faced with.

Program Cost: $5 per child and adequate teacher/parent supervision must accompany the groups (please ask for details).
Timelines: approximately 2 hours 
Special requests: will be entertained and every effort will be made to accommodate your needs or preferences
Theme: The men that worked in this area worked for pennies a brick. They were strong, fast and precise.

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Shumiatcher

Prairie Pies 2007

Making and Baking Program

Goal: to facilitate the retention of knowledge by using the comparison of two similar methods that results in two very different products. The program participants will always remember the ins and outs of 'Brick Making' and its process, the basics of scratch 'Baking' and its process, and the similarities of the two. The 'Prairie Pies' program also incorporates a tour of the Claybank Brick Plant.

Room and board was available for many years to some 40 men at the --historic Bunk house, the 2 cooks that fed the men prepared most meals -from scratch. Pies were on the menu for dessert everyday, all day, there was rarely any deviation - only all kinds of pie.

During this program the children will look into what it was like to be in those two cook's 'shoes' by taking them through the process of 'from scratch baking' of 4" Saskatoon pies.

We want to show them the old ways and the connection between baking foods and baking bricks. In both we mix, make sure everything is added in proper proportions, knead, shape and bake, making sure not to burn them. Even the end result is the same - golden brown wares - only one is a brick and one is delicious.

They can either eat the baked goods that they have prepared with their own hands as part of lunch or we will package them up to take home for show and share.

Program  Cost: $5 per child and adequate teacher/parent supervision must accompany the groups (please ask for details).
Timelines: approximately 2 - 3 hours, pies are 4+" diameter with prepared filling choices of Saskatoon berry, Apple or Cherry (subject to availability and limited to one variety per group) or sweet biscuits will be approximately 2" x 4" Special requests: will be entertained and every effort will be made to accommodate your needs or preferences.

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Eco-Education Program 2007

Sponsored by
(Would you like to sponsor this program??)

Goal: This thought provoking program allows children to look at their heritage and the environment in a different way and encourages them to think about their own accountability in those areas. The program strives to facilitate a greater appreciation of nature, help the children to improve their observation skills and give them the opportunity to learn from the natural world. By using this program the teacher can supplement and reinforce lessons in ecology, social studies, science, geology, technology, eco-systems, land use, mining, birding, native history, and local history.

Activity: Upon arrival at the Claybank Brick Plant Site the children are briefed on safety, equipment, and program orientation and divided into groups of 5 or 6. Each group may designate a Leader, a Digital photographer, a Data recorder, a Map reader and Scouts. During the program each child could retain one role or they may take their turn at the different jobs. Program topic will be chosen by the group or teacher be it a general overview of their adventure or a specific lesson topic for the entire class or for each group. They can use their map and compass to decide on a plan of action. Setting out on foot, with the discreet supervision of teachers or parents, the children's classroom of the day will be the beautiful 250 acre Massold Clay Canyons and Clay Pits area adjacent to the Site. With an objective to document as much of their project topic as possible; be it flora, fauna, geology, historic features etc.

The reporting notes, digital photos etc are brought back to the Visitor Centre where it is organized and the pictures are transferred to a Cd by our staff and given to the Teacher for future use.

Included with this program is the option of taking a 45 minute Brick Plant tour, either upon arrival or if time allows prior to departure. The tour of this National Historic Site and brick making process gives the children an insight into what it was like to live and work in the early 1900's and gives them interaction with our province's industrial heritage.

Note: A copy of the digital pictures taken by your group will become the property of, and for the use of, the Claybank Brick Plant National Historic Site.

Program  Cost: $5 per child with adequate teacher/parent supervision (please ask for details).
Timelines: approximately 2 -3 hours+
Special requests: will be entertained and every effort will be made to accommodate your needs or preferences.

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Ancient Pottery Program 2007

Goal: The Clay deposits located in the Massold Clay Canyons have a long history and we would like to let the children know that the clay was used far before the Brick Plant ever was thought of.

The Native Canadians that had access to the clay used it for many purposes; medicinally for casting sprains and as mud packs spread over sore muscles after a long day hunting. They also used it in rituals - they brought mineral water from the Moose Jaw area and mixed it in with the clay and this mixture held great healing and magical powers. They allowed their children to play in the puddles that formed in the clay deposits area, it is said that when the children played the clay captured their laughter (this only empowered the clay even more) and when one visited the clay deposits area you could and still can hear the children's laughter. They also used the clay to make small toys such as marbles and figures and to make crude clay pots by molding the clay around stones or doing coil works. They dried this crockery in or by a hot fire.

During this mainly indoor program the children will make their own clay pot, the old way, using round rocks or mortar and pestle type tools to grind the clay, then they mix the clay with water to the proper consistence. Finally they create their piece be it a crude pot, a figure or a toy. We will improvise a hot fire with a hot oven for the drying process. After their item has been sufficiently dried it will be packaged and taken back to the school for display and discussion. This program also includes a tour of the Brick Plant and the brick making process in order for the children to find similarities in use and process and appreciate both methods of production.

This program facilitates the appreciation and better understanding of two differing cultures and their methods in utilizing the same resource. By using comparisons of the clay use and legends of the native people that lived on the prairies so long ago with the duties of labourers in this Brick Plant and the brick making process in the early 19th century we show the progress of time and industry. Through this program we also hope to foster pride in the ownership of diverse cultures and the mutual ownership of our provincial history. The history of Saskatchewan should not be fragmented, our cultures may be diverse but our history belongs to all of us.

Program:  Adequate teacher/parent supervision must accompany the groups (please ask for details).
Timelines: approximately 2 - 3 hours
Special requests: will be entertained and every effort will be made to accommodate your needs or preferences.

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Additional Resources:

Included with group tours is access to the adjacent Massold Clay Canyons area. These 250+ acres include the historic Clay Pits, clay canyon bad lands, rolling hills of virgin prairie, wooded areas, and breathtaking vistas of the farm lands and villages below. Self-guided hiking is encouraged in this diverse landscape.

We are very excited about the addition of new programming at the Claybank Brick Plant National Historic Site and feel that the programs and access to the Massold Clay Canyons and Clay Pits area fall into the Kindergarten, elementary grades and high school curriculums in the following subjects and lesson units -- Science: earth, plants, matter, energy, fossils, rocks, resources, earthquakes, eco-systems, Saskatchewan, environment -- Social Studies: heritage, interdependence, identity, historical geology, resources, change, culture, earth's crust - ELA: historical, environmental, courageous spirits, change, social - Health: community and other relationships.

We encourage you to book your favorite tour early in order to avoid disappointment.

Due to the dry conditions that prevail in the area there is absolutely no open fires and no smoking allowed. At this time we offer, on the main site, outdoor toilets for that 'historic experience', potable water, a drink machine, bottled water at our Gift Shop, designated picnic areas and a phone if necessary. If you plan to hike for any length of time please encourage your group to dress properly!! You may encounter cactus, wood ticks, mosquitoes, mud etc.

Bring your camera, sunscreen, a hat and a water bottle. If it looks like rain we have garbage bags (these make good raincoats) available at our Gift Shop/Luncheonette for a minimal charge.

Feel free to browse our interesting Gift Shop at any time.