Brownies:
Art Abounds!
The historic portraits of the residents of Liberty Hall hold many secrets! We’ll discuss how each portrait tells us something about its subject. Scouts will use origami techniques to create a one-of-a-kind sketch book that will be used as we find inspiration for sketches on the grounds of Liberty Hall. Scouts will create and personalize a self-portrait of their own to take home. This program fulfills several requirements for the Brownie Painting Badge.
Fun and Games in Colonial America
Scouts will learn about the types of toys, games and activities that entertained early American children and have the opportunity to play with reproductions of the very same games and toys. Scouts will learn about the many different types of marble games dreamed up over the centuries and the unique vocabulary that “mibsters” (marble-players!) use. The event culminates in a marathon of marble playing with scouts devising their own original marble game. Each participant will make their own set of clay marbles with a burlap carry bag to take home. This program fulfills requirements for the Fair Play Brownie badge.
Honoring Our Heritage
Scouts will discover how the American flag evolved and learn about the various flags and symbols that have represented our country, state and county. Scouts will explore Liberty Hall Museum and learn how historic sites become landmarks. Finally, scouts will create a banner representing the qualities of their own troop. This program fulfills several requirements for the Brownie Celebrating Community Badge.
Juniors:
Art Abounds!
The historic portraits of the residents of Liberty Hall hold many secrets! We’ll discuss how each portrait tells us something about its subject. Scouts will use origami techniques to create a one-of-a-kind sketch book that will be used as we find inspiration for sketches on the grounds of Liberty Hall. Scouts will create and personalize a self-portrait of their own to take home. This program fulfills several requirements for the Junior Drawing Badge.
Green Thumbs
The gardens that surround Liberty Hall provide the perfect setting for scouts to learn about the types of plants that thrive in New Jersey’s temperate climate. Scouts will learn how to identify some of the plants growing in beds throughout the gardens and discuss the wonderful array of herbs that are grown on the property and how they have been used over the centuries. Highlights include a visit to our two greenhouses and a hands on seed planting activity that scouts will take home to be cared for and later planted. This program meets many of the requirements of the Junior Gardener badge
The Language of Flowers
The gardens of Liberty Hall hold a treasure trove of blooms, each with its own story. Scouts will use magnifying glasses to study flowers up close. We’ll discuss the traditional meanings that flowers have carried for centuries and learn how a basic flower arrangement is constructed. Flowers have been used to beautify, send a message and sometimes even to heal, learn about the traditional uses for flowers and herbs as remedies for various ills. Finally, scouts will plant a flower seed to take home and tend. This program fulfills several requirements for the Flowers badge for Junior scouts.
The Heroines of Liberty Hall
Liberty Hall was home to many generations of accomplished women. Learn the stories of the women who called Liberty Hall home and how life changed for women from the 1780s through the 1940s. Using artifacts, reproductions and hands-on activities, Museum educators in period clothing will guide scouts through a time travel adventure that focuses on how technology evolved and women’s roles changed. This program fulfills several requirements for the Playing the Past badge for Junior Scouts.
Cadettes:
The Forest Around Us
The grounds of Liberty Hall contain many unusual specimens of trees. We’ll learn how to identify different types of trees and learn the important roles trees play in daily life from Early American times to present day. We’ll study the growth rings of a massive tree felled by Hurricane Sandy and learn what those rings can tell us about the life of a tree. In addition, scouts will learn how to identify four common plants from Liberty Hall’s herb garden. Scouts will make a booklet of bark rubbings to take home that will aid in identification of their own neighborhood trees. Meets the requirements of the Cadette Tree Badge.
Book ‘em
Liberty Hall’s book collection will inspire the artist in every scout! Learn the history of book making and then create your own handmade books. Using origami techniques, participants will create four different types of books. The books provide an ideal platform for poetry, journaling, art, recipes and countless other uses. This program fulfills requirements for the Cadette Book Artist badge.
Seniors and Ambassadors:
Stitches in Time
Learn about all the various types of textiles on display at Liberty Hall Museum. Identify how textiles played a “social role” during the Victorian Era and how the Kean family used them in their daily lives. Get inspired by Liberty Hall’s textile collection and create your own quilt square. This program fulfills several requirements for the Senior Textile Artist Badge.
Other Girl Scout Programs:
The Architecture of Liberty Hall
Explore Liberty Hall’s various architectural styles that span over three different centuries. Learn about the variety of styles and building materials used to design and construct these buildings. Examine floor plans and create your own scale drawing of a Liberty Hall room! Can be completed in conjunction with the Cadette Woodworker Badge.
Scouts, Spies and Soldiers: A Revolutionary Adventure
Learn how Revolutionary era spies used codes, dead drops and ciphers to convey military intelligence. Follow clues to find a secret message hidden on the trails of Liberty Hall! Create your own secret codebook to take home. Can be completed in conjunction with the Brownie Letterboxer Badge.
Special Programming:
Girl Scout Day: Juliette Gordon Low’s Birthday Celebration!
This event runs in early November. See event calendar for details. See event calendar for details.
Virtual Scout Programs Available!
Our ever popular scout programs are now available as virtual programs! Explore our selection of virtual scout programs (include link)! Each program is approximately 90 minutes in length and includes a lively presentation by one of our museum educators along with artifacts from the museum’s collection. Programs are designed to assist scouts in completing the requirements of merit badges, elective adventures., etc. – depending on your scout level. To book a program, please contact Hannah Gaston, the Coordinator of School Programs at hgaston@kean.edu or call 908-527-0400. See virtual program page for details.