Family & Children's Programs
 
Martin Luther King Day
Monday January 19, 10 AM - 3 PM
Grades 1-4
 
This program is geared to boys and girls, first through fourth grade, and will include a variety of crafts, games and cooking fun. Children will celebrate the ideals of Martin Luther King and create their own dream catchers, "hero" puppets and clay fortune cookies. Additional activities to include a Time Traveling scavenger hunt through the historic rooms and preparing their own scrumptious snack. 
 
Fee: $50 , $45 for WHS members

All materials and snacks are included. Children bring their own bag lunch. Reservations are required. For information and to reserve a spot, call 222-1424 or email hgibson@westporthistory.org.

 
 
February Fun Days
Mon. February16, Tues. February 17, Wed. Feb. 18
10 AM - 3 PM
Grades 1-4
 
Activities will center on winter themes, and children will make snow cones and soup, and create snow flakes, puppets, winter shadow boxes, winter collages, among other crafts, in addition to enjoying yoga and dramatic play. Then, each day will have a “seasonal OPPOSITE” activity, allowing the children to engage in a fun summer activity!!!
 
Fee: $50 per day WHS members, $55 per day non-members.
Each day is different, register for one or all!

  

Education Program Offerings

The educational programming at WHS is designed to encourage youth and adults alike to discover and appreciate the rich heritage of Westport. We strive to offer a variety of activities to entertain and stimulate interest in learning more about Westport's history, specifically, and history, in general.

Holiday theme-based programs, including both educational, arts, drama and other creative components
Daisy, Brownie, Girl Scout and Cub Scout badge programs - call for offerings
Junior Ambassador program for kids ages 11 - 15 to become WHS assistants at family events and programs, and to participate in monthly educational programs and share skills with other children
Service Learning Club - Middle school students perform volunteer work by assisting staff with projects and activities (Run by Westport Schools' Positive Youth Development program)
Guided Tours for small groups, families, and organizations of Wheeler House and Main Street, as well as cemetery tours (by appointment)
Special educational programs and teas for groups by request
Parties for birthday celebrations
Hands-on art activities for preschool groups
Programs for the private and public schools, preschool to high school,  to augment subjects taught in the curriculum
Adult programs related to crafts and activities of the Victorian Period

Contact Hilary Gibson, Education Director, to schedule a program for your group or to register for any of our events.  If you would like to get involved in educational activities at WHS, your expertise and talent would be welcome.  Call 222-1424, x108, or email hgibson@westporthistory.org.

Service Learning Club

The Service Learning Club students are an enthusiastic and talented group of young students from the Westport Middle Schools who come to the Westport Historical Society on Monday afternoons to help us in our mission of presenting and celebrating Westport history. Their tasks are multi-faceted. Eight students joined us in the fall 2007 program, and supported our educational and scout programs for young children. They also assisted with some of the administrative activities at the WHS. Our staff and volunteers also taught them the old-fashioned art of making paper, and the group build wooden and screen frames which we now can use with other groups who participate in this activity.

In early February 2008 we welcomed a wonderful new group of 4 middle school students. They added value immediately to our educational programs. During their first week, they completed much of the preparation for our February Fun Days program, preparing many crafts activities and setting up the room for the 40 children who would join us the following week. Then they each helped to create several different ""EYE SPY" games based on our new exhibit, "Westport Lost, Westport Preserved." These EYE SPY riddles and games were already used during our February Fun Days program, and were enjoyed immensely by children 5-10 years old. Scout groups coming to the WHS during the winter and spring of 2008 will also use these games. How exciting to have a "BY KIDS, FOR KIDS" game.

Here are samples:

* I spy an object in a glass case, With 2 legs, 2 arms, and a face. As green as a clover it is 2 inches tall And was found during restoration inside a wall.

* I spy something as blue as the sky, As blue as a raindrop, as blue as an eye. Very valuable, and if you win a race, You get one as proof that you are in first place.

* I spy the rod "Heritage".

* I spy a replica of the Westport Historical Society - a bit smaller than the real building!

* Find the pictures of the houses with a red background behind them. Why do you think they won the Preservation Award? Which house would be best for your family, and why?

* Look at the old map at the far end of the room. Can you find where your house would be?

We are so grateful to have these great students as part of the WHS team and we look forward to their ongoing contributions. Likewise, we hope they are having fun, and enjoying making a tremendous impact on the WHS and the community we serve. The staff is very grateful for their participation in this wonderful school program.