Tours & Programs
Visit The Reach
Group Tours (Ages 16+)
Groups of all ages and abilities are invited to schedule an outing to The Reach! Learn about current exhibitions from a skilled docent, participate in a hands-on art activity, or both!Tour & Try: Guided tour of our current art or history exhibitions followed by a hands-on, facilitated engagement or art activity. (60-90 minutes total) $10/person. Minimum 10 participants.
Tour: Guided tour of our current art or history exhibitions (30-45 mins). $7/person.
Groups over 15 will be split into smaller groups and rotate between the tour and activity station. Please register below at least 2 weeks in advance of your visit.
School Visits
Visiting The Reach is a great way to engage students with art, history & culture in a fun and accessible environment! Through inquiry-based tours and hands-on explorations, students will make connections to exhibition content and themes as they relate to their own lives. School visits are open to groups of children outside of traditional schooling- Camps, clubs, youth groups, day cares, homeschoolers, and agencies serving children with diverse abilities are welcome to access our program!School visits are available Tuesday – Friday.
Tour & Try: Guided tour of our current exhibitions followed by a hands-on, facilitated engagement or art activity. (60-90 minutes total) $10/person. Minimum 10 participants.
Tour: Guided tour of our current exhibitions (30-45 mins). $7/person.
Groups over 15 will be split into smaller groups and rotate between the tour and activity stations. We require at least one adult chaperone present for every 10 students. There is no charge for chaperones. Maximum group size: 72.
To request a school visit, please register below at least two weeks prior to your visit.
History Presentations
Our Curator of Historical Collections, Kris Foulds, can deliver any of the programs below as part of a Voices of the Valley tour at The Reach, or as an in-class presentation.Request a history presentation
Land Beneath The Lake (Presentation/Workshop)
Land Beneath the Lake explores the Sema:th peoples’ connection to Sumas Lake, early exploration and settlement of Sumas Prairie and discusses the lasting outcomes of drainage of the lake during the 1920s.
Activity Ideas:
-Following the presentation students debate whether To Drain or Not to Drain? Students are asked to research then defend one of the multiple perspectives that relate to the Sumas Drainage Project: Indigenous rights; settler interests; economic value; environmental concerns.
What’s In A Name? (Presentation)
If John Maclure subdivided the Village of Abbotsford, why don’t we call it “Maclureberg”? What’s in a Name traces contemporary place names back to explore the history of local places, people and events.
Activity Ideas:
-Research the name originally given to an Abbotsford location by the Stó:lō people and add the name to a contemporary map of Abbotsford.
-Draw a map of your neighbourhood and assign new street or park names that have significant meaning to you. Share your history stories with the class.
-Research new street names for areas under development and submit them to the City of Abbotsford
River’s Fury (Presentation)
In May 1948 the Fraser River burrowed through its dyke and onto Matsqui and Sumas Prairies. River’s Fury tells the stories of how the community prepared for the worst, responded when it came and united to recover from it.
Activity Ideas:
-Do students live on one of Abbotsford’s flood plains? What should you know in the event of a flood? See the City of Abbotsford flood preparation website
-Invite someone who lived through the 1948 flood to the classroom to share their stories.
Resources for Educators
Download the Student Package or the Teacher Package that complement our Voices of the Valley exhibition.