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    Children ages eight to eleven years old will have a chance to discover life in the 1840’s at Garfield Farm during two three-day camps this summer. The first session runs from Tuesday, July 7th thru Thursday, July 9th and the second runs from Tuesday, July 21st thru Thursday, July 23rd. Both sessions start at 9am and end at noon each day. 

    In the mid 1800’s, most Americans lived on farms and everyone was needed to help with the daily chores and farm operations. Children were considered a valuable source of labor and would be expected to help out whenever needed. Farming was hard work and families had to make do without many of the simple things that we take for granted today, like electricity and running water.

    During the camps, children will experience farm life through guided tours of the museum’s historic barns, 1846 brick inn, and restored prairie. They will begin each day by feeding the museum’s farm animals. These include rare heritage breeds of chickens, turkeys, geese, sheep, hogs, and oxen.

    The children will also take part in hands-on activities and witness demonstrations of everyday activities from the mid 19th century. Possible activities include; butter churning,  candle dipping, carding wool, corn shelling, cutting hay, flailing wheat, old fashioned games, ox driving, scrubbing laundry , and spinning wool.

    Camp registrations must be made in advance. For registration information, contact the museum at (630) 584-8485 or info@garfieldfarm.org. The cost is $75 per session. Profits from the camp will go to further the museum’s educational programming.

    Garfield Farm Museum is a 370 acre historically intact former 1840’s prairie farmstead and teamster inn that volunteers and donors are preserving as an 1840’s living history museum. The museum is located 5 miles west of Geneva, Illinois off ILL Route 38 on Garfield Road.