KIDS’ WORKSHOPS & 2023 Summer S.T.E.A.M. History Day Camp
Summer Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics History Day Camp
This runs two consecutive weeks. Choose your week. Week 1: Monday, July 17- Friday, July 21, 9AM-3PM and Monday, July 24 – Friday, July 28, 9AM-3PM each day. Ages 7-14. Cost; $375, bring bag lunch; we supply snacks.
- Ceramics: slab building, coil building, and pot throwing
- telegraph making
- crystal radio set or morse code sender
- photography
- shadow puppets
- archaeology
- letterpress printing
- woodworking: make a stack of drawers
- outdoor cooking
- pickling
- sewing/knitting
- sculpture
- jewelry
- Native American arts & crafts
- silk screening
- Each day includes a carousel ride or a Model T Ford ride
We like groups, Call us and make arrangements for one of these workshops.
Ask about workshops the museum has done in the past but is not scheduled to do; we can try to tailor something for you.
A carousel ride with every workshop in spring, summer and fall. Too cold for the machine in the wintertime. Get a coupon instead to ride in the warm weather.
Call: (207) 205-4849 to Register
February & March 2023
Saturday, February 18, 9AM-12Noon, Dowel Handle Toolbox Making
This involves measuring, drilling, fastening screws, cutting with a handsaw, using a bit and brace, and sanding, Cost; $25
Saturday, February 18, 12:30PM-3:30PM, Catapult Making Workshop.
Learn post and beam construction with this working scale model of Leonardo da Vinci’s war machine. You assemble using wooden pegs and glue. Follow instructions and use a hand crank drill press and other tools. Cost: $35
Friday, February 24, 9AM-12Noon, Catapult Making Workshop ( See details above),
Saturday, March 4, 9AM-3PM, TEEN WOODWORKING: PINE WALL BOX (Ages 11-17)
Use hand tools, Measure, cut and fasten together a traditional pine wall box. Cost: $25
Saturday, March 11, 9AM-3PM, TEEN WOODWORKING; PINE WALL BOX WITH 2 SHELVES (Ages 12-17).
Using hand tools this is a slightly more challenging project, and we may go into overtime. Using hand tools measure, cut and fasten together a wall box with two shelves. Cost: $35
Friday, March 24 or Saturday, March 25, 9AM-12Noon, Crystal Radio Set Building.
Make a working AM radio. Begin with a wooden base and fasten components with screws on as well as attach components through soldering (we’ll teach you). This was the first radio receiver; it uses the power of the received radio signals to produce audible sound needing no external power. We may add a tiny amplifier to this build for the first time in order to boost the sound output. The quartz crystal functions as a detector rectifying the alternating current radio signal to a pulsing direct current. This a a memorable learning experience especially when you pick up a radio signal on the radio you just built! Cost: $50
Photo Gallery of February and March Workshops
January 2023
Friday, January 13, 9AM-12PM, KIDS’ WORKSHOP: MAKE A COAT RACK
Using woodworking techniques, split rough cut wood with a froe. Remove bark and shape with a draw knife and shaving horse. Drill holes with a bit & brace. Measure, cut, and hammer in wooden dowels. Make two lengths or more of pegged coat rack for your family’s mud room or entryway. Snack provided. Cost: $25. Safety eyewear with side shields are recommended. To register, call: (207) 205-4849. Class size is limited.
Friday, January 13, 12:30-2PM, ERECTOR SET FUN!
If you take the morning workshop, this is free otherwise $15. One of the most popular learning toys of the 1930s – 1960s involves a screwdriver, screw bolts and nuts. Several projects planned or leave it up to your imagination. See and experience some of our collection of vintage erector sets. Call to register: (207) 205-4849.
Saturday, January 21, 2023, 9AM-1PM, KIDS’ WORKSHOP: Make a Catapult
Learn post and beam construction with this working scale model construction of Leonardo Da Vinci’s war machine. Assemble the museum’s kit using wooden peg fasteners and glue. An exercise in following written instructions. Use various hand tools including an antique hand crank drill press. Cost: $35 Call to register: (207) 205-4849.
Saturday, January 21, 2023, 12:30-3PM, KIDS’ WORKSHOP: Make a Dowel Handle Toolbox
Another good beginner’s woodworking experience. This involves measuring, cutting, drilling, and fastening screws. Walk away with this heirloom construction suitable for collecting tools or other things. Cost:$35 Call to register: (207) 205-4849.
INQUIRE ABOUT A DATE FOR YOU AND/OR YOUR GROUP. ONE DAY KIDS’ BLACKMITHING
Need 5 to conduct class. Learn to make a forge fire, heat, cut, bend, and drift metal. Make a series of hooks, “J” and “S” type. Cost: $75. We like groups; we can negotiate a group rate. You need natural fiber clothing, good fitting work gloves, safety eyewear with side shields, ear plugs (optional), and leather shoes.
Kids’ Blacksmithing Workshops (Ages 11-15)
By Arrangement, One Day, Weekend Day , 9AM-4PM,
Adult/Child BEGINNING BLACKSMITHING with Dwight King.
Kids aged 11-15 with an adult. Two for the price of one. This is a great start to blacksmithing. Learn safety and use a propane burning forge due to the accelerated time. Forge a series of “j” hooks with drifted holes. Create rivets to fasten hooks. Create ornamental details making this a potential heirloom. Heat, hammer, cut, bend, and drift. Cost: $130 Call to register. We like groups; we can negotiate a group rate.
By Arrangement, Parent/Two Day Weekend ( Sat. & Sun., 9AM-4PM)
Adult/Child Knife Making Workshop.
Ages 11-15 can take our regular knifemaking workshop accompanied by an adult. You will forging a knife blade and handle tang using a propane burning forge. You will file, grind and hand and belt sand your blade to perfection. You will anneal your blade with an oil quench as part of the tempering process. You will drill holes and fit brass rod for rivets and hardwood scales for a handle; this will be epoxied together. The blade will oxen tempered overnight, and you will complete the knife during day two. Cost: $285
FRI. OR SAT., BY ARRANGEMENT, 9AM-2PM.
ONE DAY KIDS’ BLACKSMITHING, AGES 11-15 with Robert Schmick.
Need 5 to conduct class. Learn to make a forge fire, heat, cut, bend, and drift metal. Make a series of hooks, “J” and “S” type. Cost: $75
Knife Making Workshops with an Accompanying Adult
A museum village of more than two dozen structures. Come and visit us during our October 8 – 9, 2022 Harvest Festival Event.
Paper Making
Electric Lamp Making Workshop
Cooking, Baking & Pickling
Games
| We would like a group(s) to join us for our September 30th Kids’ Night; we want you to use us as a family learning resource. |
Friday, September 30, 2022, 6-7:30 PM,
Kids’ Night at the Curran Farmhouse (Ages 7-12).
Parents welcome. Vintage Games, Punch, Shirley Temples* & Hors d’oeuvres** Play Board Games from History, including Round the World with Nellie Bly (1890), Monopoly (1935), Parcheesi, Sorry (1939) and the Checkered Game of Life (1861) to name a few. See some of our original games from our collection. Play on reproductions of these games and have a refreshment and snack. * A non-alcoholic, kids’ cocktail named after the 1930s child actor; it consists of grenadine syrup and ginger ale. ** Includes family snacks popular in the 19th century and the first half of the 2oth century. For members free or ten dollars a person.
Crystal Radio Making Workshops
Fri., Oct.7, 2022, 9AM-12PM or Sat., Oct. 8, 9AM-12PM,
Kids’ Workshop: Crystal Radio Set Building Workshop, Ages 8 and above.
This workshop is 3 hours in duration. Make a working AM crystal radio set. Begin with a wooden base and fasten components with screws as well as do some minor soldering (we show you how). The crystal radio was the first radio receiver; it uses the power of the received radio signals to produce sound, needing no external power. The quartz crystal functions as a detector rectifying the alternating current radio signal to a pulsing direct current. We will make this from a series of components including a diode that has the crystal encased. Cost: $45 Includes all materials. To register, call: (207) 205-4849.
FRI., October 14, 2022, 9:00AM-12:00PM,
KIDS’ WORKSHOP: Woodworking, Make a Coat Rack (Ages 7-12).
Using woodworking techniques, split rough cut wood, remove bark and shape with draw knife and shaving horse, drill holes with bit & brace, measure, cut, and hammer wooden dowels. Make two lengths or more of a pegged coat rack for your family’s mud room or entryway. Cost: $20 Snack provided. Parents welcome.
Erector Set Workshops
FRI., October 14, 2022, 12:30-2:00 (Includes a Break)
ERECTOR SET FUN! AGES 7-12.
Parents welcome. One of the most popular learning toys of the 1930s…involves a screwdriver, small wrench, screw bolts and nuts. Several projects planned. See our erector set collection. Cost: $15
Catapult Building Workshops
Fri., Nov. 4 or Sat., Nov. 5, 2022, 9AM-12:00PM, KIDS’ WORKSHOP, AGES 7-14:
CATAPULT MAKING WORKSHOP
Learn post and beam construction with this working scale model of Leonardo da Vinci’s war machine. Assemble the museum’s kit using wooden pegs and glue. An exercise in following illustrated instructions. Use a hand-crank drill press and other hand tools to fit pieces, if necessary. Cost: $35 Call to register: (207) 205-4849.
Fri., Nov. 4 or Sat., Nov. 5, 2022, 12:30-3PM,
KIDS’ WORKSHOP: MAKE A DOWEL HANDLE TOOLBOX
Another good beginner’s woodworking experience. This involves measuring, fastening screws, cutting with a handsaw, using a bit and brace, and sanding. Cost: $25
Dowel Handle Tool Box Making Workshops
FRI., Nov. 18, 2022, 9AM-12:00PM, KIDS’ WORKSHOP, AGES 7-14:
BAKING & PICKLING Workshop
In the Curran family’s kitchen stove bake some Irish soda bread in a cast iron pan. Make butter, butter your bread, and eat it all. This involves reading directions, measuring, and mixing. In addition, traditional food stored in the cellar included pickled cabbage, or “sauerkraut”. Learn the art of pickling. Prepare a Mason jar of pickled cabbage or refrigerator pickles to bring home. Parents are welcome. Cost: $35
Letterpress Printing Workshops
To Be Announced Online (November date):
LETTERPRESS PRINTING. Yes, this can be for your kids’ group. The one day ( 4 hours with snack) ages 7-14 version can be arranged for your group. We’re looking for apprentices( $45)!
Adult Version: This two-day workshop in our new letterpress office is introductory. It has a syllabus and students learn the language of printing. Students will also learn about materials, equipment, and techniques. You work with real lead and wood type as well as our collection of wingdings, borders, ornaments, and cuts. There will be an opportunity to take your learning process beyond this two-day workshop with offered apprenticeships. Cost: $225. On Fri., Sat., & Sun. Oct. 29-30 there will be an opportunity to meet and discuss the workshop with instructor/printer Mark Matteau of Dunstan Press in Scarborough, a working letterpress business. Contact us if you are interested: (207) 205-4849.
OUR RECENT SUMMER S.T.E.A.M. HISTORY CAMP IN REVIEW
