During its busiest time, the East Coulee School held 250 students on the main floor and at least 110 students in the basement classrooms.
    The school was originally built in 1930 to house grades one to five - 1934 addition relocated students who were being schooled in temporary classrooms in town.
    The school served a growing population through the 1930s and 1940s, and as coal mines  were closed and residents  moved away from East Coulee, the school was finally closed in the 1970s.
    Museum Executive Director Barb Steeves has been told the backhoes were almost at the front door to demolish the school when efforts to save the building were successful.
    In 1985 the school reopened its doors as the East Coulee School Museum.
    The museum helps visitors to remember and learn about the “men who mined the black” and their families, along with the contributions they made to the local community.
    Visitors can wander through the museum or they can take part in one of the guided tours available.
    Tours include a visit to the coal boiler room, where the hardworking boiler finally gave out in 2012 after a solid 78 years of service, and the last load of coal delivered in both the boiler and coal room still sit.
    There is a 1936 style classroom set up that is an interactive classroom for both school groups and visitors who take the self-guided tour at the museum.
    A room at the museum is dedicated to the miners who worked the area, and holds pieces from their working life that serve as a poignant reminder of the dangerous conditions in which these men were expected to work.
    The museum also has a fossil display on the main floor that’s now in its second year.
    This fossil exhibit was created from  the collection of East Coulee resident Wayne Marshall, from pieces that were retrieved from the area many years ago, some of which  have been  beautifully crystallized over time.
    The museum will next be working to set up a realistic exhibit in the school basement’s science laboratory, putting to good use the old school equipment presently stored away.
    The museum offers reasonably price drinks and meals in the lovely Willow Tea Room, and also has a gift shop holding a variety of items to appeal to a wide range of tastes.
    The East Coulee School Museum is open daily May 2 to September 2, 10:00 am to 5:00 p.m. 8 9 0

  The badlands are one of Alberta’s most striking landscapes. Erosion has sculpted the terrain over thousands of years and spending some time to hike in them can an adventure. In a short hike, you can see Alberta’s wildlife, amazing vistas, and fossils from the beasts who lived here millions of years ago.
    As beautiful as they are, hiking through the badlands, especially in more remote locations such as Midland or Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Parks, requires preparation and caution. Here are a few tips to ensure that your hike through this remarkable landscape is safe.

The badlands of Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park are remarkable and well worth the effort to see. However, if planning on hiking through any of Alberta’s badlands preparation is needed.

1.) Stay on established trails.    
    It is possible to get lost in the badlands, especially at the bottom of a coulee. In addition, the steep coulee walls can be difficult or even dangerous to climb. Established trails are generally easier to traverse.
    Staying on the trails makes it easier for rescue crews to locate you should you be injured.
   

2.) Hike with other people or tell someone where you are going.
    It’s not just for the company, hiking with a friend can be the difference between life and death.
    For example, if you are hurt, a fellow hiker can call for help or perform first aid. Conversation will also help warn animals of your presence.
    If you are set on going it alone, make sure to inform someone where you are headed and a time when you will return. Should something happen and you are overdue, search and rescue can be called in if you are in trouble.
   

3.) Bring a first aid kit.
    Band-aids and anti biotic ointments are useful for cuts and scrapes. Bring bug bite ointment if you react badly to bites.
    Bring any medication you are taking, even if you do not intend to be out long enough to need to take any. With the possibility of being injured or lost, a hike could become much longer than you anticipate.
    Bring a tenser bandage or two for sprains. Triangle bandages can be useful for stabilizing broken bones.
    Most importantly, however, know what’s in your kit and what each item in your first aid kit can be used for.
    
4.) Prepare for the weather.
    The sun beats down on the badlands pretty hard and the unwary can end up with some nasty burns. Bring a strong sun lotion for protection. Hats are also useful for keeping to sun off your head.
    Alternatively, a thunderstorm can happen quickly and soak the area within minutes. When wet, the badlands become dangerous to traverse.
    The badlands are filled with layers of a clay mineral call bentonite. When wet, bentonite becomes extremely slippery (it’s used as an industrial lubricant).
    If it has rained during the day or even a heavy rain the night before, it is best to avoid hiking until the area has dried out. 

5.) Bring plenty of water.
    The amount of water you should bring depends on the weather and how long you will be hiking. However, a good rule of thumb is to bring twice as much as you think you need.
    Temperatures in the area can rise above 30 degrees celsius, or even reach the low 40’s. At those temperatures it is easy to become dehydrated and be the victim of heat exhaustion, or worse, heat stroke.
    
6.) Bring mosquito repellent.
    Mosquitos are always a nuisance and there is the possibility that one may be carrying West Nile Virus. Protect yourself with mosquito repellent.

7.) Wear proper footwear.

     A good, sturdy shoe, should be worn when hiking. Shoes can protect your feet from cuts, scrapes, and bites. A shoe with ankle support can help reduce sprains.
    Bring shoes that have a lot of grip. Some areas can be steep and, even when dry, some rock layers, such as sandstone, can be slippery.
    Do not attempt the badlands in flip-flops, sandals, or casual footwear. Wear hiking shoes or at least a good pair of running shoes.

    A little preparation is needed, but truly worth it for hiking in the badlands is a breathtaking experience.