PROGRAMS
Educational
Programs - Summer Programs
- Special Events
- Workshops |
Summer
Programs
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| Quiet Valley is open
to the general public for the summer season from June 20 to Labor
Day. It is a special time when the farm is alive with the sounds and
smells of the 1800s, providing a number of ways for you and your family
to experience life on a humble Pennsylvania German farm. Check out
our summer programs below. |
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| Admissions:
Adults $8.00
, Children
(3-12) $5.00 , Children Under
3 FREE!
Group Tours - Minimum of $100.00 with advance reservations
Hours: Tuesday thru Saturday 10
am-5 pm , Sunday 1 pm-5 pm
Closed Mondays
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JUMP
TO Farm
Tours - Summer Highlights - Apprentice
Groups - Farm Camp - Wagon
Rides |
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| Farm
Tours: |
| Tours of the barn and house are offered
all summer:
Summer at Quiet Valley is a special time when the farm is alive
with the sounds and smells of the 1800s. Visitors to the farm are
encouraged to speak with our costumed staff about what life was
like 150 years ago. Children especially enjoy meeting our farm animals
and discovering how a child's life would have been different if
they had been born almost two centuries ago!
The farm is an example of life on a self-sufficient homestead .
"Family" guides in period clothing share the daily routine
of a typical Pennsylvania German family and its descendants who
lived at this location from 1765 to 1913. There are fourteen buildings,
including original and reconstructed, on the farm. Our guides take
you back in time to relive and observe the activities typical of
nineteenth century farm life. The barnyard animals are here to watch,
listen and touch. Learn about the role animals played in the daily
life of the farm.
Download our Summer Vistor's
Guides to get an idea
of our daily tour areas and schedules and a map of the farm:
Daily
Visitor Guide
Sunday
Visitor Guide |
| Wagon
Rides : |
| Join our sure-footed team of
Belgian Draft Horses on a leisurely ride through
the woods around Quiet Valley. This approximately 20 minute
ride will take you from the farm to the pond where we harvest
ice each winter and back to the farm. So sit back and relax
and listen to the sounds of the 19th century!
Wagon Rides are weather
permitting only, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and
also subject to the availability of the horses. Additional
cost of $2.00 per person. |
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| Summer
Highlights: |
| Wednesdays are Quilting Day
and Saturdays we gather around the Bake Oven
for delicious freshly baked bread.
Quiet Valley offers glimpses at trades and skills of a bygone day
during our Highlight days. Our calendar
lists these Highlight days and other
special events held during the season. |
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| Summer
Youth Programs
2008
Apprentice Groups : |
| The Summer Apprentice programs are
open to boys and girls ages 10 through 14. The groups each meet
a different day of the week Tuesdays through Fridays. All groups
will meet from 9:30am until 1pm.
Participants can expect to enjoy a wide range of activities including
learning about an 1800s farm, old time crafts and games, farm animals,
gardening, nature, and more. There is always lots to learn, but
with plenty of time to relax and make friends.
Programs range from 5 to 8 weeks in length and range in cost, depending
on the program. Space is limited for apprentice groups so early
sign up is recommended. Call the Farm at 570-992-6161 or
E-mail us for further information or to register for any of
these summer programs. Registration and payment for each
program is due by June 6.
Apprentice Programs Offered: |
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Wednesday Apprentice Group: Down on the
Farm with Miss Deborah
8 sessions: July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Aug. 6, 13, 20
Time: 9:30am to 1pm
Boys & Girls: 10 to 14 yrs. old
Cost: $120.00 ea. or $108.00 for members
Leader: Debbie Seip
I am really excited about being at Quiet Valley
for the summer. Each day we will come to the farm dressed in period
costumes. I thought we would do a variety of activities and projects,
starting with making paper so we can make a journal to keep all
your memories in. You’ll need something to write with, so
we will learn how to make quill pens. I love to cook, so I see
us making yummy things in the Dutch oven and griddle. Is there
anything better than hand-cranked ice cream? And have you ever
tried to start a fire with flint and steel?
We have farm animals that need a lot of care to stay healthy and
happy. I would like everyone to learn more about these animals.
We have a large garden, so we will be able to help and watch the
garden grow. There is spinning, weaving, sewing, whittling, wood
carving, basketry, and maybe even pottery. I see everyone being
able to choose and complete one or two arts & crafts projects
during the 8 weeks. There will also be time to just have fun on
nature walks, play games, jump in the hay, and enjoy summer.
So plan now to come out on Wednesdays to make new friends with
Miss Deborah and the Wednesday Apprentice group.
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Thursday Apprentice Group: Granddaddy
Cabin - PA German Traditions
8 Sessions: June 26, July 3, 10, 17, 26 (Sat. 9 to 1), 31, Aug. 7,
14
Time: 9:30am to 1PM
Boys & Girls: 10 to 14 yrs. old
Cost: $120.00 ea. or $108.00 for members
Leader: Deb DiPasquale (Aunt Eunice)
As usual for my group there will be a basic theme for the summer connected
to an important Quiet Valley topic along with an interesting amount
of material related to art and nature.
Our theme for Harvest Festival this year will be “Cultivating
Culture.” This means festival will be about exploring other
cultural groups who also immigrated to the United States just like
the Pennsylvania Germans. Everyone will learn about hex signs which
adorned the barns of our State’s countryside for many years.
Were these just decorative accent on the part of the Pennsylvania
Dutch or did they have greater significance? Each apprentice will
design a hex sign and paint one.
Our Apprentice Group will also explore other cultural influences
of the Pennsylvania Germans. One project that will come from this
exploration will be the construction of small, sturdy chests that
can be painted with patterns typical of that time period.
Each year I try to do at least an introduction to spinning and
weaving. We will card wool, try the dreaded drop spindle and our
weaving project will consist of making a woven bird house that may
be too nice to hang outside for the birds! We may also try a very
simple type of tapestry loom that early civilization would have
used.
We will do some linoleum block printing, and to tie in with printing
lessons we may do a simple Quiet Valley newspaper and share it with
the staff and visitors to the farm.
Since my group seems to enjoy cooking over the fire pit, one day
we will make our traditional potato pancakes and griddle cookies.
In addition to that, one of our Apprentice days will be held on
a Saturday so we can work at the Quiet Valley bake oven. The head
baker, “Luther”, will teach you how to knead the bread
dough and shape a loaf. You will then learn how an outdoor wood-fired
bake oven works and bake your loaf. We will discuss wheat, grind
some into flour and learn how settlers got yeast to make their bread
rise. Best of all we will get to eat our loaves of bread. Bread
wouldn’t be the same without homemade butter, so we will each
take a turn churning butter to put on our bread.
As a regular part of our summer we include some games (especially
Treasure Hunt & Corner Ball), but this year we may try a new
one, too. Hay jumping, animal petting and walks to the creek are
all part of our summer. At our last session, on Aug. 14 we will
have our homemade ice cream farewell party to which families are
invited. There’s always a lot to learn, but with plenty of
time to relax, have fun and make some new friends. So come on out
to the farm and join Aunt Eunice and the Thursday Apprentice Group
for a great summer!
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Friday Apprentice Group –
Fridays on the Farm 6 sessions: June 27, July
11, 18, 25, Aug. 1, 8 Time: 9:30am to 1pm
Boys & Girls: 10 to 14 yrs. Old Cost:
$80.00 or $72.00 for members Leader: Samantha
DiPasquale Fridays on the Farm will involve a nice variety
of activities this summer. We will do interesting things like learning
about bees and honey and make a bees-wax candle. We’ll study
useful plants like herbs and make chive blossom vinegar that we
can try on a salad made from nice fresh Quiet Valley garden greens.
Apprentices will get to explore the countryside and discover what
trees grow here and the many uses Early Americans had for them.
We will try a wood burning project and give you a chance to show
the artist in you. Perhaps we’ll use walnuts or onion skins
to dye wool and try a felt project. Paper Mache farm animals will
be a messy, but fun project. Apprentices are sure to enjoy playing
games like “Put and Take”, “Land, Sea or Air”
or “Run for Your Supper”. A nice way to finish your
Apprentice Program is with the traditional homemade ice cream party
at the last session and families are invited to attend. If all this
sounds like a good time, sign up for Fridays on the Farm and I’ll
see you this summer. Samantha DiPasquale
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| 2008
Farm Camp : |
| Three Sessions:
Session 1 - July 7-11
Session 2 - July 14-18
Session 3 - July 21-25
Time: 9:30am to 2:30pm
Minimum of 6campers, maximum of 12
Children who completed 3rd, 4th or 5th grade
Cost: $110.00 or Members: $100.00
Leader: Cheryl Statham
The same program will be run each week and involves a variety
of activities such as hiking on the farm, cooking, crafts, games
and visits with the animals. Your week at camp is sure to be fun
with lots to do and see. Please call Quiet Valley at 570-992-6161
or E-mail us for registration
information. Camp fills up quickly so sign up early. |
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(All prices and programs subject to change.) |
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