Family History Day-“Let’s Play Village”

          Remember when you were young… how much fun it was to play dress-up? To play house? To play school? This Saturday, October 6 from 1:30-3:30, Friends of Crossroads in collaboration with the Door County Historical Society will offer Family History Day 2012:”Let’s Play Village.”
          To those who believe “play” is a waste of time…who believe Crossroads should be about education, we are quick to point out that play is one of the most important components of childhood education.
          On Family History Day, members of Friends of Crossroads and the Door County Historical Society will provide gentle supervision, but the children will be in charge.  Using their own creativity and imaginations, they will have the opportunity to explore what life was like in Door County around 1900.  And, we hope, in doing so, they will have fun and develop an interest in local history.
          Kids are welcome to come in pioneer costumes, or to dress-up using our period clothing collection. (Parents, don’t forget the cameras.) They can play house in the Warren House, School in the Vignes School, or keep store in the Greene General Store.
          At Crossroads, play is not limited to human youngsters. We were able to observe this several years ago when a fox made her den beside Big Creek .  Each evening at dusk, the vixen and her three kits would play. The mother would catch a critter, usually a rodent, and carry it carefully in her mouth to the play spot. There, surrounded by her little family, she tossed the mouse or vole into the air, and the three kits practiced attacking the hapless creature with that stiff-legged fox pounce.
          The three fox pounce  frequently  disolved into a friendly tussle, but that was part of the experience. Through play, the youngsters began establishing dominance and communication skills, in addition to developing the gross motor skills needed to hunt.
          Human youngsters will also have a chance to challenge their coordination and motor skills as they try cutting a log with a cross-cut saw, beating the rugs, playing the pump organ, and harvesting  vegetables. And we hope, they will form mental images that will be meaningful to them as they read about pioneer life.
          Sunday afternoon, The Historical Village will again be open between 1:30 and 3:30. The 2:00 program which will be held in the Warren House is called “Till Johnny Came Marching Home.” This first person interpretation will recount the tribulations of the women who remained in Door County when their menfolk went off to fight the Civil War.
          Monday and Tuesday mornings, at 8:30, volunteers will be fighting a different war, one against invasive species. The enemy this session will be buckthorn.  We will happily train beginning. Wear long sleeves and pants that can get stained and work gloves if you have them.
Saturday, October 6, 1:30-3:30 Family History Day: “Let’s Play Village!”
Families are invited to an afternoon of make-believe during which kids can dress up and try their hands at pioneer chores, play house, school and store. Parents-don’t forget the camers.  Free and open to learners of all ages.
Sunday, October 7. 1:30-3:30  Sunday at The Village
Costumed guides will offer tours of the historical village.The 2:00 program which will be held in the Warren House is called “Till Johnny Came Marching Home.” This first person interpretation will recount the tribulations of the women who remained in Door County when their menfolk went off to fight the Civil War.
Free and open to the public.
Monday, October 1  8:30 Buckthorn Party 
Volunteers are invited to help with buckthorn removal in the preserve. Please wear long pants, long sleeves and work gloves if you have have them.

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