(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. For questions or to be added to our homeschool mailing list, email Education@HistoricNewEngland.org
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.
2026 Programs
Tuesday, April 14. Life in Revolutionary Times. Ages 5-12. Hands-on History. Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, Newbury, MA. Learn about life on the home front during the American Revolution through making butter, spinning wool, and milking a (model) cow – then discover what it took to raise the farm’s barn in 1775.
Wednesday, April 29. 1776: Celebrating America on Casey Farm. Ages 5-12. Hands-on History. Casey Farm, Saunderstown, RI. Casey Farm was the site of a British attack during the American Revolution, and the farmhouse still has a bullet hole to prove it! In this program, students learn about life on the farm during times of war and times of peace through a variety of hands-on activities.
Thursday, May 21* Watch Out for Washington: Exploring Beauport. Ages 8-14. History and Design. Beauport, Gloucester, MA. Henry Davis Sleeper was one of America’s first professional interior designers, and his summer home was his laboratory and showcase. He often looked to the past for inspiration, constructing rooms from reclaimed material and featuring a variety of tributes to early American history, including a dozen depictions of George Washington! In this program, we will find them all and then design our own dream room. *Rain date Friday, May 22
SOLD OUT
Tuesday, May 26. New Beginnings: Spring at Casey Farm. Ages 4-14. Agricultural and Animal Science. Casey Farm, Saunderstown, RI. Spring at Casey Farm means planting season and the sound of baby chicks filling the farmyard! Come meet our new ducks and turkeys, brush our friendly pigs, gather eggs from the hen houses, and hold our newly hatched chicks. Participants will identify and gather plants to feed the bunnies, then grind whole corn to feed the chickens. In addition, children will discover the importance of soil through a visit to the Education Garden to taste and water the herbs, plant a row of peas, see the crop fields, and plant their own seed in a compostable pot to take home. Make sure to dress to get dirty!
SOLD OUT
Thursday, June 11. Life of a Loyalist: Jonathan Sayward in York. Ages 8-14. History. Sayward-Wheeler House, York, ME. Participants will learn about the thorny history of Jonathan Sayward, who was both a prominent and respected member of the community, and loyal to Great Britain during the American Revolution. After examining the lives and choices of Sayward and others in his household, including Prince, an enslaved man who enlisted in the Continental Army, participants will be prompted to think about where their own loyalties may have lain and to create an artwork expressing their decision.
SOLD OUT
Monday, June 29. Myth and Memory: Stories of the American Revolution. Ages 7-14. History and Art. Eustis Estate, Milton, MA. Explore objects and archival materials from Historic New England’s vast collection and participate in hands-on activities to learn about the deeply personal experiences of individuals, families, and communities caught up in extraordinary circumstances. Participants will consider what it was like to live through these historic events and to contribute in small and not-so-small ways to the shaping of a new nation.
Note: This program will be repeated in October
Register for Myth and Memory: Stories of the American Revolution
Tuesday, September 15. Spirit of ’76. Ages 5-12. Hands-on History. Roseland Cottage, Woodstock, CT. Students engage in hands-on activities to explore the people and events of colonial and American Revolution era New England. They use their inquisitiveness and critical thinking skills to enter the past and gain a deeper understanding of this period in history. Students can learn codes and ciphers; build a pontoon bridge; design their own powder horn; investigate 18th century medicine; interview a militia man; write with quill pens; dip candles; trade and barter; debate a Loyalist; and more.
Wednesday, September 23. Quincy Revolution: A Family Divided. Ages 8-14. History. Quincy House, Quincy, MA. In 1770 Colonel Josiah Quincy I built the current Quincy House. Colonel Quincy and his son Josiah strongly supported independence, but his son Samuel was a Loyalist, and the American Revolution divided the family forever. Learn about their lives and their relationship, then re-enact the Boston Massacre trial, where Josiah Jr. defended the British soldiers while Samuel prosecuted them.
Register for Quincy Revolution: A Family Divided
Tuesday, October 20. Myth and Memory: Stories of the American Revolution. Ages 7-14. History and Art. Eustis Estate, Milton, MA. Explore objects and archival materials from Historic New England’s vast collection and participate in hands-on activities to learn about the deeply personal experiences of individuals, families, and communities caught up in extraordinary circumstances. Participants will consider what it was like to live through these historic events and to contribute in small and not-so-small ways to the shaping of a new nation.
Note: This program is also available in June
Register for Myth and Memory: Stories of the American Revolution
Monday, October 26. Dirt Detectives: Revolutionary Edition. Ages 5-14. Archaeology. Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, Newbury, MA. October is Massachusetts Archaeology Month! Participants become archaeologists as they excavate a mock pit with actual tools of the trade; process reproduction artifacts in a field lab; and analyze unfamiliar objects. This year, we will focus on how archaeology has enabled us to learn more about life on the farm during the American Revolution.
Register for Dirt Detectives: Revolutionary Edition
Tuesday, November 10. Shoe Stories: Past, Present, Future. Ages 7-12. Haverhill Welcome and Exhibition Center, Haverhill, MA. Join us in our brand-new space to explore more than four hundred years of shoemaking and design in New England! Learn about the people who worked in the shoe trade — some in this very building! — designing and manufacturing shoes to be sold all over the world. Each participant will design and decorate their own pair of canvas sneakers!
Note: When registering, please indicate your child’s shoe size in the notes field on the registration. This program is $40 members/ $50 nonmembers and includes a pair of shoes to take home.
Register for Shoe Stories: Past, Present, Future
Tuesday, December 15 and Wednesday, December 16*. Deck the Halls. Ages 5-14. Crafts and Celebration. Eustis Estate, Milton, MA. Get comfortable in the lavishly decorated mansion, create a variety of holiday crafts, and enjoy seasonal refreshments. Don’t forget to check under the tree for something to take home!
Note: This program runs for four sessions over two days. The cost is $35 members/$45 nonmembers due to the cost of materials.
Register for Deck the Halls, Tuesday, December 15, 10:00 am
Register for Deck the Halls, Tuesday, December 15, 1:00 pm
Register for Deck the Halls, Wednesday, December 16, 10:00 am
Register for Deck the Halls, Wednesday, December 16, 1:00 pm
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