Five little Indians stand in a row. But, suddenly, they bolt down a hill, racing each other as they push hoops along the ground with sticks. Its a simple game, but the children are tickled by it and run around in headdresses they made earlier in the morning. Such is life at the New Canaan Historical Societys Colonial Summer Camp.
The program takes a small group of 6- to 11-year olds for three, one-week sessions each summer. With counselors Tori Ready and Caylin Careonell, camp director Christine Gandorf, a Yale University graduate and history teacher at Greenwich Academy, uses the Historical Societys well-preserved colonial buildings to teach kids about life in the 18th century.
One of the buildings they use is the Rock Schoolhouse. But Gandorf stresses that the camp is about fun first, and the kids natural curiosity brings the education part out naturally. I dont lecture or anything, Gandorf said. They learn more when they have questions, or during an activity. Were very hands-on.
Along with the schoolhouse, the camp spends the bulk of its time in the restored, 18th-century Hanford-Silliman house. It features a weaving room with a working colonial-style loom, and historically accurate and functional kitchen. Ganddorf said she tries to schedule one cooking activity a day, to teach kids life skills along with the arts and crafts and games.
Its just really neat for the kids to feel like theyve stepped back in time, and are living and breathing in the colonial era Gandorf said. In a classroom, you talk about it, you explain it, and you try to paint a picture. But to be able to see what it looked like, smell what it smelled like, touch what it felt like, get the atmosphere of it, is not something theyre really used to.
Spots are still open for the summers last two sessions, from August 9-13 and 16-20. Parents can download a registration form at the Historical Societys website.
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