In the Education Building. Advance registration is required. Participants learn about everyday life in 1830s New England through a variety of interactive experiences in the Village and in the Education Building. Children dress in 1830s costumes and spend a portion of each day assuming the role of an actual historical character. Other activities, such as learning early New England crafts, school lessons at the District School, and enjoying picnics and games on the Common, enrich the experience.
Children record their thoughts during the week in journals they make themselves.
For kids ages 8-10, these Summershops sessions offer a playful approach to learning about early American family life. Children learn about popular 19th-century herbs, make some simple home remedies, and bake caraway cakes at a fireplace, along with decorating such early American toys as shadow puppets and flying hoops to take home. Picnics, games, and a school lesson round out the adventure. Each child spends at least one hour working with costumed staff in an exhibit. Group activities include picnics, games, and a school lesson.