Society to offer children’s summer program

The Pike County Historical Society is planning a “Little Red Schoolhouse Lessons” program for kids on Saturday mornings in July and August at at the Schocopee School House in Apple Valley Village.

The program was made possible by a grant from the Greater Pike Community Foundation’s Barbara J. Buchanan Mini Grant Fund. Barbara Buchanan was a past president and longtime member and supporter of PCHS.

The program will be orchestrated by PCHS intern Olivia Nobile, a freshman at East Stroudsburg University majoring in Early Childhood and Special Education. Nobile interprets the schoolhouse, in costume, each Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12-4 in July and August in addition to heading up this new program. Through this experience she hopes to “engage children in a fun and educational program that can inspire them to be creative, to love learning and to appreciate history.”

The program will run on the following days for the children ages 5-7: Saturdays, July 11, 18 and 25 from 11 a.m. until noon.

The program will run on the following days for the children ages 8-10: Saturdays, Aug. 1, 8, 15 and 22 from 11 a.m. until noon.

Each Saturday the children will complete hands on crafts and scientific based activities that go along with the theme of the old schoolhouse lifestyle.

The children will learn about how the activity of the day correlates with the lifestyles of the students from the middle 1800’s that would have attended that school.

On the last Saturday of the program, all children will receive a diploma that will signify their successful completion of all of the Little Red Schoolhouse lessons.

The program will be limited to 6 children per week so as to keep with social distancing guidelines, and you must sign up by calling 570-296-8126 or emailing pikemuse@ptd.net. Participation will be granted on a first come first serve basis.