Youth Education

Northfield Historical Society education programs link the enthusiasm of young minds with the experience of adults. More importantly, NHS’s commitment to education underscores the necessity and value of connecting the past with tomorrow.

NHS has worked with the Northfield school system to design a number of exciting learning opportunities that give students access to people, places, and materials beyond the traditional classroom setting. Each year — in four programs that make use of the many resources of the Northfield Historical Society — students are invited to enrich their knowledge of Northfield and to discover people past and present who have helped to shape the identity of their hometown.

In addition, students learn a wide range of valuable skills — such as how to conduct research using primary sources, how to give a scholarly public presentation, how to conduct tours, how to work with artifacts, and a host of other experiences designed to enhance their educational repertoire.

JUNIOR CURATORS:
A summer program for seventh graders allows them to learn cataloging, documentation, and preservation techniques in the NHS collections as well as gain retailing experience in the Museum Store. Past duties have included writing scripts for the annual Cemetery Tours in October, planning exhibits in the museum, and creating window displays in the store.

SCOPE:
This unique program for eighth graders enables them to spend two hours each weekday conducting research and developing museum materials relating to a chosen topic about Northfield history. It takes education beyond the classroom walls and gives students the opportunity to discover their heritage, explore local interests, probe into the past, and share their knowledge with others. Past accomplishments include the Northfield Education History Museum on permanent display in the Northfield Middle School. Currently students are researching and writing a field guide for the Outlaw Trail.

JUNIOR POSSE:
This program consists of a three-month training seminar where students learn of and discuss the exploits of the James-Younger Gang — particularly the events surrounding the Northfield Raid. Upon completion of the program, students are qualified to give tours and serve in our museum throughout the summer months as interpreters of our story.

SUMMER ASSISTANT:
A summer program gives eleventh and/or twelfth graders the chance to work more extensively in the museum as an aide to the Executive Director and as a supervisor to the Junior Curators, Junior Posse program.

Finally, as a culminating reward for dedicated participants, the Northfield Historical Society awards a scholarship of up to $500 to a qualified graduating senior who has made a significant contribution in these programs.