Greene County Kids
I want to start my column by talking about something that I wanted to bring to the museum ever since starting here in March of 2010. I noticed pretty quickly that we were lacking a very important key element in the success of the future of our beloved museum, kids. We currently have History Days two days a year for the third-graders of local schools, but what about the other days? What about the entire summer when no one was coming in to visit? If there wasn’t anything for the kids to do, why not create something for them to do?
So, when I became the administrator of the museum in February of 2011, the first order of business was to create a kid-friendly environment for the children to enjoy while they are learning! I spoke with the recreation division of Greene County and told them about what I had in mind to begin this goal. I wanted kids to participate in the legacy of the museum and if they can’t come here, then I will go to them!
We created a schedule for us to present items to the kids of Camp Challenge throughout Greene County starting on Monday, July 18 and finish Friday, July 22. The idea would culminate with a giant celebration of different camps on Tuesday, July 26. We showed up on July 18 and presented some items in a guessing game style presentation that showed the kids early forms of items that we use today, including a 1800s style book carrier, a vegetable chopping tool, and an early form of vaporizer for the sick. After the game, Eben Williams, the administrative assistant, presented a short retelling of the Spicer Massacre including artifacts like the original iron that Betsy Spicer carried with her as she ran from the Indians.
The final day we traveled to Mon-View Park in Greensboro to present a day in the life of a Civil War soldier. Museum volunteer Alex Campbell showed the campers how a rustic tent had to shelter people from the elements and how primitive weapons were used. Some of the boy campers were asked to participate to see how cramped the tent got when many soldiers had stay in it together.
On July 26, when the two yellow buses full of kids arrived on the museum grounds, I smiled broadly. “This is what a museum should be,” I thought. The campers buzzed with excitement as they caught a glimpse of the Lippencott Alpacas, the animal balloon maker, representatives from Our Glass and Uncle Dave’s Books, and the returning Civil War re-enactor. I also gave a brief tour of the museum and some of the cool artifacts here, including the 100-year-old pickle. The event lasted for about four hours and was catered by Hot Rods House of Barbecue.
I want to thank my crew, Myra Bernhart from Washington Greene County Job Training Agency for helping put everything together with assistance from Pam Blaker of Greene County Parks and Recreation Department, all of the presenters, the camp volunteers and the kids for being so fun to have visit the museum and show all the awesome artifacts that we have to enjoy with others. Most kids really liked the skeleton in the doctor’s office and the Victrola that I cranked up and played at the beginning of the tour.
In the coming year, I would love to have more child-friendly events available to the kids in Greene and the surrounding areas. If you have any ideas, please call the museum at 724-627-3204. and ask for Larry or Eben.