Discover the 1840s at Garfield Farm Museum Camps
Children of all ages will have a chance to discover what
life was like in the 1840s at Garfield Farm during three camps held this
summer. The first session runs from July 10th thru July 12th. The
third session runs from July 24th thru 26th. Both sessions are for children
ages 8-11 years old. They start at 9am and end at noon each day. The second
session is for older children ages 12-15 years old and takes place on July
18th & 19th. It runs from 9am-4pm both days. The cost is $75 per
session. Reservations are required and can be made by contacting the museum
at (630) 584-8485 or info@garfieldfarm.org.
In the mid 1800s, most Americans lived on farms and
everyone was needed to help with the daily chores and farm operations.
Children were considered a valuable source of labor and would be expected to
help out whenever needed. Farming was hard work and families had to make do
without many of the simple things that we take for granted today, like
electricity and running water.
During the camps, children will experience farm life
through guided tours of the museum’s historic barns and 1846 brick inn. They
will begin each day by helping to feed the museum’s farm animals. These
include rare heritage breeds of chickens, turkeys, geese, sheep, hogs, and
oxen.
The children will also take part in hands-on activities
and witness demonstrations of everyday activities from the mid 19th century.
Possible demonstrations include; blacksmithing, butter churning,
candle dipping, carding wool, contra dancing, cooking demonstrations, corn
shelling, cutting hay, flailing wheat, vegetable gardening, gathering eggs,
old fashioned games, ox driving, scrubbing laundry, shelling beans, soap
making, and spinning wool.
The Session II Camp for older children is a brand new
addition this year. It will include additional activities and more
information on the history of the farm and tavern.
Garfield Farm Museum is a 370 acre historically intact
former 1840’s prairie farmstead and teamster inn that volunteers and donors
are preserving as an 1840’s living history museum. The museum is located 5
miles west of Geneva, Illinois off ILL Route 38 on Garfield Road.
For more information about Garfield Farm send an e-mail message to: info@garfieldfarm.org
or call 630/584-8485.
