Programs & Events

Summer Programs

History Alive!

History Alive Summer programs are unique to the North Shore, giving children the opportunity to step back and experience life, learning, and play during different periods in history.

Children will have fun pitching a Civil War dog tent, cooking authentic foods, reenacting historic events, or playing games of the period. Whether delving into Colonial history or more recent times, each day is packed with activities that help children learn while having loads of fun.

Program hours are 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM daily(unless otherwise noted). Snacks and drinks are provided and children should bring lunch. Register by phone or mail.

1. Historic Kids	ages 7-12	July 9-13
2. A Civil War Soldier’s Life	ages 8-13	July 16-20
3. Fashion Desgin Workshop	ages 9-16	July 23-25
4. Lego® Engineering (9am-12pm)	ages 5-7	July 30 - August 3
4. Lego® Engineering (9am-12pm)	ages 5-7	August 6-10
5. Lego® Robotics          (1-4pm)	ages 8-13	July 30-August 3
5. Lego® Robotics          (1-4pm)	ages 8-13	August 6-10
6. Me and My Doll	ages 7-12	August 13-17

Historical Kids

July 9-13                      Ages 7 – 12

Step back in time—from the recent past to long ago. Explore life in the Colonies, Pioneer times, and the Baby-boom era, enjoying a fun-filled week of history. Take on the persona of a Wenham resident from years past to live and play as they did.  Candle making, cooking, exploring, launching rockets, and, of course, chores will all be a part of this exciting week.

Civil War Soldier’s Life

July 16 – 20                   Ages 8–13

Children “enlist” as Union or Confederate soldiers and spend the week experiencing encampment life. Combining the best from prior Civil War I and II programs, marches, drills, paddlewheel boat races, and historical reenactments are all part of this exciting and fun experience.

Fashion Design Workshop

Instructor Elizabeth Saitta

July 23-25                 Ages 9-16

Junior fashion designers will use the museum fashion exhibit as inspiration to create their own designs.  Students will learn how to illustrate, flat sketch and put together a design presentation.

No prior art experience necessary…just a love of fashion!

About the Instructor:

Elizabeth Saitta studied fashion design at Syracuse University, graduating with honors and receiving the Liz Claiborne for Men Design Award her senior year.  She worked in the fashion industry for many years in New York City.  Most recently she was a designer for Talbots.  She holds a masters degree in art education from Mass College of Art and Design and is currently teaching art at her alma mater, Masconomet Regional High School. 

Play & Learn LEGO® Summer Programs

Toy maker Ole Christiansen of Denmark began producing interlocking plastic blocks in 1949 at his company named for the Danish words leg and godt, meaning “play well.” Children continue to play well with Lego® bricks today, learning basic elements in art, design, and engineering while stretching their imaginations and having fun.

In these half-day programs, beginners and experts alike design and build their own motorized remote-controlled robots, using Lego® Mindstorms. In teams of two, they incorporate physics, mechanical engineering, and programming concepts while building the fastest, strongest, smallest, and largest robots to compete in a variety of challenges. Teacher Jo-Ann Gorrell, a mother of five sons, is a mechanical engineer, founder of Engineering Action, and a Lego-maniac.

About the Instructor:

Jo-Ann Gorrell, mother of five sons, is a mechanical engineer, founder of Engineering Action, and a Lego-maniac.

Play & Learn: LEGO® Engineering

July 30 - August 3, 9 am –Noon (Ages 5-7)

or

August 6-10, 9am-Noon (Ages 5-7)

Beginners learn the basics of design and engineering while creating awesome LEGO® structures to share with one another.

Play & Learn: LEGO® Robotics

July 30 - August 3, 1-4 pm Ages (8 -13)

or

August 6-10, 1-4pm Ages (8 -13)

Junior engineers design and build their own motorized remote-controlled robots, using Lego® Mindstorms. In teams of two, they utilize physics, mechanical engineering, and programming concepts while building the fastest, strongest, smallest, and largest robots to compete.  

Me and My Doll

August 15-17  (3 days)      Ages 7–12

Bring your favorite historical American Girl®-type, doll and explore the era in which she lived. Dress up in the clothing of the period and enjoy tea parties, household activities, games, and crafts of the day, from the Colonial era to the twentieth century. Let us know who you are bringing so the program can be personalized for you and your doll.

Fee per session:

Programs 1, 2 ,6: Members $235, Non-members $250
Programs 3-5: Members-$145.00 and Non-members $155.00
10% discount on siblings

$25 non-refundable registration fee per child

Scholarships are available through the

Alice H. & Joseph P. Halter Scholarship Fund

Contact the museum for more information

Prepayment is required.  75% refunds will be given for cancellations made up to 3 weeks before a session begins.  Additional information will be sent two weeks prior to program date. Children must have a MA Summer Camp medical form from their doctor.

For more information about these week long programs, please call our Education Director for availability and pricing. You may also Click here for History Alive 2012 Summer Program

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Fun ’n’ Games Through the Ages

Appropriate for summer camp or group visits
Play games from Colonial times to the 1960s and enjoy making your own ice cream. Children also visit the museum’s exhibits including the new Family Discovery and Bennett E. Merry Train Galleries. (1.5 hr)
Ages: 4-12 $7.00 per student.

Hamilton Teacher- “I’ve been teaching for over 13 years and the Museum has been a great resource.”

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Visit pre-school and family program pages of our website for more summer programming