Celebrate Earth Day with us! Join us for this day of repurposing, recycling and reusing as our ancestors did naturally. Explore the famous saying -” Use it up, wear it out, make it do and do without”. Make junk art sculptures from our gathered and clean materials, explore natural dying with some egg decorating. Stay for lunch. Join us for a trash pick-up walk about the historic village. Learn a few tidbits of history about the historic buildings during the walk.        $12

Spring in historic homesteads was busy. We will grind flour, make crackers, churn butter, and more—just like our ancestors used to. Join us for a productive morning in the historic Hall House kitchen!        $12

Farm life in the early 1900’s kept children as well as adults busy as they scurried through the chores that needed to be done throughout the day. Join us for this active, fun relay that will re-enact the scurry of the community that lived in the village over 100 years ago.        $12

Join us to celebrate 100 years of Orleans county history with some fun activities.

Beekeeping—10:30am to 12pm

Learn fascinating and fun facts about some of the smallest and mightiest residents of our village grounds. Basics of the art of keeping bees will be shared by our resident beekeeper Garret Thibault. Learn about the equipment, try on a bee suit and meet some of our bees at our observation hive.        $12

Pond Dipping & Exploring at the Lawrence Barn—1pm to 2:30pm

Explore our pond habitat with nets, sketch books and binoculars. Use our field guides and gain some naturalist skills from our staff.        Drop-in by donation

Explore the pond behind the Lawrence Barn with nets, binoculars and field guides. Learn the basics of the pond ecosystem and learn who depends on who. Are you a part of that picture? Take a close look at the animals that live in and around the pond and how the health of this habitat is a measure of water quality and also a source of joy and artistic exploration.       $12

Join Hilary Rosa, Food Access Coordinator, from Green Mountain Farm to School for our rhubarb extravaganza class. Head over to the Eaton House to harvest rhubarb from our historic village patch. We will then go back to the Grammar School and make rhubarb pie and a freezer jam to take home. Learn about the work that Green Mountain School does in our area and opportunities to join in their offerings this summer.        $12

10:30am to 12pm – Ages 7 to 12yr        $12

1:00 to 3:30pm – Adults & Teens         $15

Join artist and illustrator Bill Tulp for lessons in drawing from observation. Flowers, trees, natural objects and historic buildings on the museum grounds will be our artistic subjects. We will start with simple sketches and progress to more elaborate drawings. In case of inclement weather we will draw inside with a collection of natural objects.

Participants are encouraged to bring a sketchbook to continue recording their observations (Approx. 9″ x12″ is ideal.) Paper and drawing materials will be provided. 

Join Tracy, our popular basketry teacher and make a basket for spring foraging, trinkets, or anything you can imagine. The class will provide all materials and instruction needed for a successful basket. Tracy’s motto is “No one leaves with an unfinished basket.” Bring a lunch!        $12

(+ $15 materials fee)

9 to 12+ year olds only 

Join this special program with Devin VanBockler from AshNBirch to learn firecraft from the Stone Age to the Space Age and Cordage making from natural materials, some that can be found on our grounds, producing a strong, flexible cordage by using a reverse twist two-ply technique. Discuss the 4 C’s (and go home with skills to carry through your summer adventures and further. Devin has trained with Primitive Skills Instructors all over the country and brings his rich skill base home to our area. Don’t miss this opportunity!        $12

Ages 9 to 13 

Historically, some of our common weeds were used as natural remedies and have useful qualities. Participants will go on a “weed walk” around the historic village and recreation trail and learn historical tidbits and a wide range of uses (dyes, medicine, food, pollution abatement) of the common plants that we see every day. A fun class to connect with the ordinary plants in our lives, learn a bit of botany and begin a habit of close nature observation. We will also do a hands-on project related to the plants we observe on the museum grounds.        $12