Fort Vancouver National Historic Site - For Kids

We are pleased to offer archaeology digs for kids. Children ages 8-12 will be introduced to archaeology through a "dig", in which they excavate, screen, map, and record their artifact finds. National Park Service archaeologists will discuss how we learn from archaeology and why we should preserve pieces of the past.

In the newly reconstructed Counting House, children can explore what it was like to be an HBC clerk. The Counting House also has the site's first exhibit designed specifically for children, made possible through a generous grant from SWIFT. "Growing Up at Fort Vancouver" lets younger visitors (and their parents) explore the lives of their peers in the past through the lenses of history and archaeology. Three children, who were actually at Fort Vancouver in the 1840s, are presented: Cecilia Douglas, the daughter of one of the post's officers, Simon Guille, the son of a fur trapper and a Native American woman, and Rebecca Newell, who traveled over the Oregon Trail with her parents and married an American settler. Interactive and hands-on features make this exhibit especially appealing to children.

Junior Ranger Program

Young visitors have the opportunity to become Junior Rangers at Fort Vancouver. This program gives children a chance to actively explore and learn about the fort's history. After completing a series of activities, they earn a Junior Ranger badge and certificate. Pick up a free booklet at the Visitor Center.