Colonial Crafts

One of the many enjoyable aspects of my job is the chance I get to interact and engage with children interested in history. One of my favorite ways to do this is through our Colonial Crafts program that we have run on Saturdays the past few years. It provides kids with an opportunity to learn a little about life in the Colonial Period, but also to engage with this period of history by creating and crafting their own Colonial craft or object.

​Typically, the sessions last an hour with about 15-20 minutes of discussion of the week’s activity and then the remainder of the time devoted to competing the hands-on activity. Through these activities, kids feel a sense of pride and accomplishment when they see the how a handful of everyday supplies have become a useful tool or toy that would have been used by a Colonial child.

Unfortunately, like so many classes or programs this year, we were unable to hold these sessions in person as we typically do. However, as we have done all year in 2020, Lexington Historical Society is re-imagining a popular program and taking it virtual. While I know Zoom meetings and activities have become very common place and that Zoom fatigue is a very real occurrence, I’m hoping these virtual craft activity sessions might provide a brief break from meetings and class lessons and allow the entire family to experience Colonial life and create some fun memories.

The plan for the craft sessions is for kits of supplies to be created and picked up remotely at one of Lexington Historical Society’s historic properties. Each participant will be sent a Zoom link and at the determined time, would join the Zoom with a Lexington Historical Society staff member and work through the activity with them virtually.

The only decision that I need help with is when to hold them so that everyone has an opportunity to participate. I’m hoping to hold these sessions after the holidays, either weekly on a Saturday or a set of sessions during February Vacation Week. So, if you’re interested in the program, please complete the poll at the bottom of the blog and keep an eye out for more details to come!

-Chris Kauffman, Education and Interpretation Manager