(De)Light and Surprise
Explore Beauport, discovering Henry Davis Sleeper's use of light and incorporation of whimsy.
For each program:
There must be a minimum of 5 children registered for programs to run. Programs are limited to 24 people. Full payment is due at the time of registration and is non-refundable (unless program is cancelled by us due to under-enrollment). No registrations will be accepted on the day of the program.
Questions? Email [email protected]
Explore Beauport, discovering Henry Davis Sleeper's use of light and incorporation of whimsy.
Explore Beauport, discovering Henry Davis Sleeper's use of light and incorporation of whimsy.
Become an archaeologist at Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm!
Harvest and taste herbs while exploring the wide variety of plants at Casey Farm.
Tuesday, March 19
Oceania in Salem: Art and Culture of the Pacific Islands – Ages 5-12
History and Culture. Phillips House, Salem, Mass.
Disney’s Moana introduces viewers to many aspects of ancient life in the Pacific Islands, from the demigod Maui and the many uses of coconuts to tapa (bark-cloth) and outrigger canoes. While living in Hawaii in the 1800s, the Phillips family developed a passion for Oceanic culture. During this program, explore items from their collection, listen to legends of Maui, and create a tapa stamp design.
Monday, April 29
Patios, Pools, & the Invention of the American Backyard – Ages 5-12
Art and Design. Eustis Estate, Milton, Mass.
In the 1950s, Americans started viewing their backyards in a new way, seeing them more as an extension of their home – a place for relaxing, cooking, entertaining, and play. Visit the Eustis Estate and take a landscape tour of the property to see how the Eustis family used their land in a variety of ways. In the galleries, participants explore the exhibition, Patios, Pools, & the Invention of the American Backyard. Taking inspiration from the photographs, advertisements, gardens, and landscape designs in the exhibition, participants design and create their own dream backyard plans.
Monday, May 6
Happy Birthday, Bauhaus! – Ages 6-15
Art and Architecture. Gropius House, Lincoln, Mass.
Celebrate the founder of the Bauhaus movement, Walter Gropius, and learn about this special 100th anniversary. Students explore the principals of Bauhaus architecture as the become guests of Walter Gropius and create Bauhaus-inspired crafts at a Bauhaus-inspired birthday party on the Gropius screened porch.
Please note: This program will be repeated on Tuesday, September 24
Tuesday, June 4
Backyard Medicine: Herbs at Casey Farm – Ages 5-12
Agriculture and History. Casey Farm, Saunderstown, R.I.
Participants create nature journals and use them to record observations while exploring the wide variety of cultivated and wild plants growing at Casey Farm. Learn mindful harvesting and medicine-making techniques as we harvest and taste herbs, and make herbal tea to drink.
Thursday, June 20
Art and Landscape at Coolidge Point – Ages 7-14
Art and History. Coolidge Point, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass.
Explore the first floor of the Brick House, learning how the Coolidge family helped shape the area. Pay special attention to the painting collection, with such highlights as family portraits and local landscape paintings. The head outside, where each student will be given strategies and tools to create a plein-air watercolor painting from the vantage point of their choosing
Wednesday, August 7
Artists and Historical Views – Ages 5-12
Art and History. Governor John Langdon House, Portsmouth, N.H.
Discover the world of history through the eyes of contemporary artists. Exploring both inside and outside the house, practice the artists’ skill of observation to imagine the life of Governor John Langdon and his family in eighteenth-century Portsmouth. Participants create their own work of art, drawing inspiration from paintings on view made by members of the New England Watercolor Society.
Monday, September 9
(De)light and Surprise: Designing Wonder at Beauport – Ages 5-14
Art and Design. Beauport, the Sleeper-McCann House, Gloucester, Mass.
Henry Davis Sleeper was one of America’s first professional interior designers, and his summer home was his laboratory and showcase. Participants explore Sleeper’s use of light and the ways he incorporated elements of surprise throughout the house as inspiration for their own works of art. Art and Design. All Ages
Tuesday, September 24
Happy Birthday, Bauhaus! – Ages 6-15
Art and Architecture. Gropius House, Lincoln, Mass.
Celebrate the founder of the Bauhaus movement, Walter Gropius, and learn about this special 100th anniversary. Students explore the principals of Bauhaus architecture as the become guests of Walter Gropius and create Bauhaus-inspired crafts at a Bauhaus-inspired birthday party on the Gropius screened porch.
Please note: This program is also offered on Monday, May 6
Friday, October 4
Spirit of ’76: Life on the Homefront – Ages 8-14
History. Barrett House, New Ipswich, N.H.
Participants use their inquisitiveness and historical thinking skills to enter the past and gain a deeper understanding of life on the homefront in New England during the Revolutionary War through a series of interactive hands-on activities.
Monday, October 21
Dirt Detectives – Ages 5-14
Archaeology. Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, Newbury, Mass.
October is Massachusetts Archaeology Month! Participants become archaeologists as they excavate a mock pit with actual tools of the trade and process reproduction artifacts in a field lab. Inside the museum, they explore building archaeology via trap doors. They analyze objects to learn about daily life at the farm over the last 300 years.
Wednesday, December 11
Deck the Halls: A Celebration of Christmas – Ages 5-14
Art and Celebration. Eustis Estate, Milton, Mass.
Many of the Christmas customs we take for granted today were invented or popularized during Victorian times and were flourishing when the Eustis Estate was built in 1878. We invite you to learn the history of Christmas while exploring the lavishly decorated mansion. Participants will create a variet of holiday crafts, enjoy seasonal refreshments, and receive a small wrapped gift.
Please note: Due to the cost of materials, this program is $25/$20 Historic New England members.
