The Journey into History Camp is a three-day camp designed for children ages 7-10 to instill knowledge and appreciation for history through a variety of fun and educational experiences. Activities focused on games, crafts, music, and dancing of the Wilson era (1856-1924) and follow a different theme each year.  Each summer history camp opens a window into a different facet of life in the nineteenth and early twentieth-century and provides a rich historical experience for young campers. 

This year's camp, "As the Century Turned,” will, for the first time, have two sessions.  The first session will be from Tuesday, June 15, through Thursday, June 17, 2010, while the second session will be Tuesday, July 20, until Thursday, July 22, 2010.  Each three-day session runs Tuesday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the Presidential Library.  The cost is $60.00, which includes a camp shirt and snacks.

Due to a generous grant from the Reynolds Foundation of Richmond and the sponsorships of local businesses, the Presidential Library was able to double its capacity for camp and offer scholarships each session.  The foundation grant was matched in part by a corporate sponsor, Mathers Construction, and four small business sponsors, G&G Cleaning, Blue Mountain Coffees, the Split Banana, and Pufferbellies.  Pampered Palate is donating lunch for the final day of both sessions.  

During this year’s sessions, campers will enjoy hands-on, creative activities to enable them to explore major events that occurred between 1895 and 1905, including panning for gold as “Klondike Gold Rush” prospectors, travelling through Ellis Island, and enjoying a New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square.  Campers will enjoy foods and games from the era.  Bill Wellington will perform period music, Mac and Joan Swift will tell turn-of-the-century folk tales, Irene Sarnelle will teach contemporary dances, and the Shenandoah Masqueraders will perform.  

This is the 12th consecutive year the Presidential Library has hosted the camp.  Those interested in registering or obtaining more information about the Journey Into History camp should contact Ellen Abernethy, Museum Educator at the Presidential Library, at eabernethy@woodrowwilson.org, or at (540) 885-0897, ext. 110.

Previous years' camp sessions