Programs & Events

Summer Programs

History Alive!

History Alive Summer Programs are unique to the North Shore, giving children the opportunity to experience firsthand what it was like to live in early settlement, Revolutionary America, Victorian or Civil War era. Each week-long day program includes activities such as campfire cookouts, Native American storytelling, authentic period cooking, dog tent/long house building, colonial & Civil War costumes, songs and dances, crafts and games, and marching and drills. Register by phone or mail.

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

1. Liberty’s Children	ages 7-12	July 12-16
2. Kids Unplugged	ages 7-12	July 19-23
3. A Civil War Soldier’s Life	ages 8-13	July 26-30
4. Me and My Doll	ages 7-12	Aug9, 10 & 11 (3days)
5. Play & Learn: Lego® Robotics     (half day program)	ages 6-9     (AM) ages 8.5-13 (PM)	Aug 2-6

Liberty’s Children

July 12 -16                     Ages 7 – 12

 Learn what it takes to start a whole new country. From the colonist’s earliest experiences with the Native Americans to the fight for independence, walk in the footsteps of those who came before. Experience daily life as you go from farmhand to Minuteman. Discover why we wanted to break from Mother England, and choose whether to be a spy, a Patriot, or a Tory.

Kids Unplugged

July 19 – 23                   Ages 7 – 12

 Kids unleash the power of their minds, hands, and bodies in pursuit of FUN through the ages. This new offering introduces the history of New England childhood through the best games, crafts, and activities from the last three centuries. Science, cooking, creativity, and coordination skills are honed as kids whittle, tie-dye, make ice cream, paint, build boats, and much more.

Civil War Soldier’s Life

July 26 – 30                   Ages 8–13

 Children “enlist” as Union or Confederate soldiers or choose their own Civil War hero or heroine and spend the week experiencing encampment life. Combining the best from prior Civil War I and II programs, marches, drills, bartering for supplies, and historical reenactments are all part of this exciting and fun experience.

Me and My Doll

August 9, 10 & 11 (3 days)       Ages 7–12 Waiting List

 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!

Play & Learn: Lego® Robotics

August 2 – 6

9 am –Noon: Ages 6-8 Waiting List.

1 pm-4 pm: Ages 8.5-13

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 this half-day program, 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.

Fee per session:

Programs 1-3: Members $235, Non-members $250
Programs 4 & 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 Summer 2010 Program registration and information form.

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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 $6.00 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