A Successful School Year

Our education department has had a busy school year and is now looking toward our summer camp, "Somewhere in Time".   Our school and community partnerships provided us with excellent opportunities to educate local school children.  Field trips for school groups have taken on ever more interesting angles as we work directly with individual groups to customize their experiences.

We've never wanted our house museums to be stuffy places where children cannot be curious.  Depending on what the children are studying, we provide artifacts that they can see, touch and use.  Museum studies objects such as parasols, stereoscopes, and marbles continually amaze and engage our visiting students.  The hoop skirt is probably everyone's favorite.  All the children love trying it on, even the boys!

Our signature programs continue to be successful and unique to every group who experiences them.  Archaeological digging has been part of our programming for many years now with all ages enjoying and learning about the past through hands-on mock digs at Gallier House.  Every step of the archaeological process is outlined and executed by the children.  We introduce them to the topic during classroom visits and encourage them to do research on their own before participating.  It's always a lively day when we're digging.  Often the children find things that we didn't even know where there!

Another stellar event is our cast of characters.  Over the course of several month a group of school children learn about life in the 19th century.  They visit and study the museum as well as the people who lived and worked on the property.  During a school visit the education staff gives them further information on 19th century lifestyle and more details on their "characters".  Then it is their turn to bring them to life.  The children prepare speeches, don clothing, and take on the roles of one of the Hermann-Grima family members, friends, or enslaved people.  The poise and knowledge the children bring to the museum on the day they conduct their tours is amazing!

As ever, our cooking program provides authentic experiences for children and adults alike.  School groups and Scouts have enjoyed using the open-hearth kitchen with our experienced staff.  They have learned fire safety, learned how to use 19th century cooking implements and successfully prepare dishes such as pain perdu.  Out 1830s kitchen continues to be a valuable source of hands-on history.

The education department is using the summer hours to enhance all of these experiences for the next school year.  We welcome comments, suggestions, and inquiries.  Visit us at www.hgghh.org.