Youth Summer Camp Offers Authentic Activities in Fallasburg

“The Lowell Area Historical Museum provides a hands-on camp during the summer to let youth experience history and learn more about the past,” Executive Director, Lisa Plank said.

By Emma Palova || Contributing writer

7/3/2024

 Come dressed as a Civil War soldier or lumberman, if you wish, for the Youth Summer Camp in Fallasburg Village, on July 16, from 9 am to 2:10 pm. You will be in for an adventure, as you can choose to do two different activities- a morning and an afternoon activity, as well as an interactive Civil War program at lunch.

Your first-choice activity can be schoolhouse art at the one-room schoolhouse, including creating paper chains, quill pen and kite. The school of the soldier teaches enlistment, drills and discharge. The campers learn the life of Civil War era soldiers. Other activities include lumberjacks and a scavenger hunt for history throughout the village.

“The Lowell Area Historical Museum provides a hands-on camp during the summer to let youth experience history and learn more about the past,” Executive Director, Lisa Plank said.

The participants ages eight to 14, meet at the one-room schoolhouse in the historic Fallasburg Village, located at 13944 Covered Bridge Rd. six miles north of Lowell, allowing the campers to feel like they are stepping back in time.

“Activities give students a chance to learn about the past and make items to bring home,” Plank said. “In addition, all campers will get to do an interactive program. Lunch will feature lumberjack favorites like flapjacks and bacon.”

The museum chooses a different theme or time period each year so that campers who want to come several years in a row get to experience new activities each year.  Past themes have included early settlers, native American history, Victorian life, Swiss settlers, crafts from around the world and more.  This year, the activities focus on the Civil War era and lumbering.

Lumberman’s lunch is served on a tin plate and the menu features flapjacks, bacon, cheese, watermelon, apple slice, doughnuts and water or you can bring your own lunch.

“The Lowell Area Historical Museum seeks to share local history with all ages,” Plank said. “During the school year we provide a number of programs to the local schools.” The museum started offering camps in 2002, right after the museum opened in the fall of 2001. The average participation, according to Plank, is 30 to 40 youth attending the camp.

“The camp is very well received,” Plank said. “We often have kids returning for several years. The camp is a great way to spend a day learning about the past in a fun way.”

The camp instructors are a combination of museum staff and volunteers. Education Director, Luanne Kaeb organizes and leads the camp each year.  “We hope that kids experience history in a fun way and come away with an interest in the past,” Plank said.

Registration fee is $20 or $16 for LAHM members; you need to register by July 8.