UMaine Museum Offering ‘Pathways to the Past’ Day Camp June 23-27
Contact: Patty Henner, 581-1400
ORONO — The University of Maine’s Page Farm and Home Museum is offering a week-long “Pathways to the Past” day camp June 23-27 — an innovative, hands-on half day program that immerses children ages 6-12 in activities considered fundamental for survival in earlier times in Maine history.
“The Page Farm and Home Museum is the university’s window to the past,” says museum Director Patty Henner. “The Pathways to the Past program is one of the most effective ways we can teach children about what life was like in the old days, between 1865 and 1940. They always have lots of fun, whether they are spinning wool or making soap or candles.”
From 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., each day will offer novel hands-on exploration of what life was like before electricity came to rural Maine, Henner says.
Monday is folk art day. On Tuesday, children will learn about “tools of the trade” and the six simple machines — the lever, wheel, inclined plane, pulley, screw and wedge. On Wednesday, they’ll visit the animals at the university’s J.R Witter Teaching and Research Center off College Avenue. Thursday will be devoted to gardening, and on Friday, they will explore how children in earlier times spent leisure time.
Children also will participate in preparing their own healthy snacks each day.
To register, or to get more information about Pathways to the Past Day Camp, call the Page Farm and Home Museum at 581-4100.
“This is a unique and fun way to introduce your children to the past,” Henner says.
The Page Farm and Home Museum, located on the Orono campus, collects, documents preserves, interprets and disseminates knowledge of Maine history relating to farms and farming communities between 1865 and 1940, providing an educational and cultural experience for children and adults, and serving as a resource for researchers of the period.