|
|
News from Garfield Farm |
Children ages eight to eleven years old will have a
chance to discover what life was like in the 1840’s at Garfield
Farm during two three-day camps this summer. The first session runs
from Tuesday, July 6th thru Thursday, July 8th and the second runs from
Tuesday, July 20th thru Thursday, July 22nd. Both sessions start at 9am
and end at noon each day.
In the mid 1800’s, 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 activities include; butter churning,
candle dipping, carding wool, cooking demonstrations, corn shelling,
cutting hay, flailing wheat, gardening, gathering eggs, old fashioned
games, ox driving, scrubbing laundry, shelling beans, soap making, and
spinning wool.
Camp registrations must be made in advance. For
registration information, contact the museum at (630) 584-8485 or
info@garfieldfarm.org. The cost is $75 per session. Profits from the
camp will go to further the museum’s educational programming.
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.