Eastern
States Exposition’s Storrowton Village Museum is truly a gift to Western, Mass.
The 19th century reconstructed village is a year round attraction
that offers incredible educational opportunities and other exciting events to
the community.
Every
summer my parents would sign me up for Early American Summer Days – a week-long
camp at Storrowton. It was always cool to come to Storrowton during The Big E’s
off-season and see a different side of the Fair.
The summer
camp was such a fun, unique experience. We
would partake in a number 19th century activities from basket
weaving to writing with a quill pen and churning milk into butter or cheese.
Campers had the opportunity explore the historic buildings, play games and
watch animal demonstrations on the Village Green.
To fit the
part, we would get dressed up in the century’s attire complete with an apron
and bonnet for the girls and a straw hat or cap for the boys. Some of the fun
was seeing what your outfit would be. Generally we would end up with a mishmash
of patterns and colors. I don’t think my costume ever matched.
Once we
were dressed, our journey to the past began. An activity I really looked
forward to was dipping candles. I guess I’ve always had a fascination with wax.
If there is a candle on a table, you bet I’d be playing with it.
I would
have made candles all day if they allowed me.
Each camper, equipped with a wick string, would take turns dipping their
wick into the bucket of hot wax. We were highly supervised and received strict
instructions not to hold the candle in the wax too long or else it would melt
off. After a few rounds, the candle would begin to form.
Playing
marbles was another one of my favorite activities. We would form a line and
roll our marbles into chalk drawn circle on the ground. Any marbles we knocked
out of the circle were ours to keep. My collection became seriously impressive
after a few years. I still have it too.
I also
loved to grow beans. On the first day of camp we would fill up a plastic cup
with dirt and plant a bean. It was fun to watch them sprout over the course of
the week. One year I forgot to bring home my bean plant on the last day of camp
and was seriously devastated.
Since the
program is only for kids ages 7-12, I always told myself I would volunteer at
Storrowton or work as a camp counselor when I was too old to be a camper. Unfortunately,
I never got around it out. Even after all these years, Early American Summer
Days still stands out in my memory as one of my favorite summer activities.
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There are
two, week-long sessions of Early American Summer Days offered each year in
August. The program takes children on an exciting journey into New England’s
bygone days where they will experience challenging and fun hands-on activities,
craft and games.
Campers
will have the opportunity to milk farm animals, work in the blacksmith’s forge,
mill corn into a meal for cooking, churn milk into butter and cheese, make a
woven basket, learn dances and songs, write with a quill pen, roll hoops, sack
race and play games, dip candles, tell stories and a variety of other 19th
century craft projects.
Apart from
Early American Summer Days, Storrowton offers many other educational programs.
Check them out on the Storrowton tab! Get more info on the summer camp at http://www.thebige.com/sv/schoolprogram/Vacation.asp.
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