A Week at the Crossroads

By: John Buchinger, Associate Director of Education Next week marks our second annual Week at the Crossroads Program here at The Farmers’ Museum. This week-long day program is designed to give kids ages 9-12 a chance to try their hands at the trades, arts, and chores that can be found at The Village Crossroads and Lippitt Farmstead. We will even take a short trek up the hill and look for signs of our natural neighbors and at some of the indigenous plants that surround the museum. We are really hopping that this year we will also get in a game of Town Ball (the precursor to baseball). Last year, we slotted it for a particular day and of course it rained! So this year we are keeping our activities such as basket weaving, nature walks, country fair games- and yes –Town Ball on a flexible schedule so we can get it all in rain or shine. This program was so successful last year we have since added two other week-long experiences (what we call WLEs) to the line up. There were many calls for opportunities for younger kids so we have scheduled The Animals around Us for the week of July 27-31st. Everyday, children between the age of 5 and 7 will explore a different animal featured in the exhibit Wild Times! A New York Animal Road Trip and The Empire State Carousel. The days will feature crafts, snacks, stories, and live animals too! Across the street at The Fenimore Art Museum, the summer will be rounded out with Art Around the World August 8-12. In this program our education staff will lead students through the new exhibit America’s Rome, and use it as the introduction for exploring art and cultural traditions throughout the world. Games, food, and even music from countries all over the world will fill the week. So, this summer will be full of opportunities for your children to join us in learning about history, art and culture. For any information on these programs please call Deborah Brundage at (607) 547-1484 or email us at schoolprograms@nysha.org.