Step away from your screens and step into history for a hands-on pioneer adventure!
The McHenry County Historical Society & Museum is offering free activity kits for third- through fifth-graders.
1. Pioneer Activity Kit – Children learn how to plan their pioneer adventure, pack a pioneer wagon, imagine and draw a new area to settle, grow a garden and even create pioneer toy! It includes an activity script and all materials needed for fun away from a laptop or video game.
2. Quilt Activity Kit – Learn about quilt history and how they are made. Practice making quilt block designs with various colors and shapes. Make your own paper quilt. It includes an activity script, handouts, construction paper and a glue stick.
June 21
• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Father’s Day Fishing. Celebrate Father’s Day fishing with dad at the historical Hatchery Park, 2314 Hatchery Road in Spring Grove. Learn why Spring Grove was chosen as the location for the state’s first fish hatchery in 1913 while you tour the visitor’s center and view photos and artifacts from those early days along with the history of how millions of fish were raised each year and transferred to lakes and ponds all over Illinois. Hike the walking paths with historical markers. Remember your fishing poles, lures and worms. (No other live bait allowed). Fishing licenses are required for those 16 and older. Catch and release only. Parking fee of $5 for non-Spring Grove residents. (Hatchery Park is open from 7 a.m. to dusk)
June 28
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Day at Petersen Farm. McHenry’s Landmark Commission and the McHenry County Farm Bureau collaborate on this year’s “country fair” theme. The eighth annual festival, at 4112 McCullom Lake Road in McHenry, features music, a magician, cow milking, a coloring contest, petting zoo, hayride, farm gardens with master gardeners, children’s activities, food vendors and the opening of the 1860 Colby-Petersen farmhouse and barn.
