71°
CROTON-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. A Native American crafts expert will build a wigwam and live in The Croton Arboretum for half a week in October. The event was specially designed for fourth grade students from Carrie E. Tompkins Elementary as part of the social studies curriculum.
Basically, its a perfect fit for the fourth graders that study the New York state Native Americans, said Maria Slippen, the Parent Teacher Association co-president for Carrie E. Tompkins.
Slippen is also a member of the arboretums Board of Directors. Each year the districts elementary school PTA donates about $30,000 toward enrichment programs.
Barry Keegan, the Native American crafts expert and museum consultant, will provide instruction. According to Keegan, students will be walking on the same land that was formerly inhabited by Native Americans.
Theyre going to be there touching and feeling, and its an opportunity for them to be part of history, Slippen said about fourth grade Carrie E. Tompkins students. To really feel and touch and see things, just the same things the Native Americans did. Walking in the same places that they did, its a hands-on experience that they could never get out of a book.
Students will visit the structure from Wednesday, Oct. 12, to Friday, Oct. 15. The dwelling will be open to the public on Saturday, Oct. 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Arboretum advises that parking will be limited and visitors must park off of Fox Road and take a shuttle to the dwelling, which will be a short walk from the drop-off point. Visit the arboretums website for more information.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Cortlandt and receive free news updates.
