By Dr. Ferrell Miller
JC Breakfast Optimist
Geary County Historical Society’s Programs and Education Director, Kim Neptune, was the guest speaker at the December 13 Celebration of Optimism gathering at the Hampton Inn in Junction City.
Kim is originally from Southern California and later moved to San Antonio, Texas. After studying American History and Art Management in undergraduate school, she did a one-year internship at the Estes Park YMCA. Then she asked herself “Now what?”
Kim applied to graduate school at Colorado State University and enrolled in public history and museum studies to learn more about how to share history with the public. Upon graduation, “COVID hit and I applied for 180 different jobs”, she said. An opening came at a contemporary art museum in Texas, which was where she worked for two years until she found an advertisement for the Director of Programs and Education at the Geary County Historical Society in Junction City, Kansas.
Miss Neptune was hired and began her work here in September of 20223. She told the Optimist Club members that she wanted to be in a smaller town with a museum” where she could develop programs for both youth and adults.
Kim is responsible for several programs, which include STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Saturdays, Hands-On- History and a new program being developed titled Homesteading 101.
STEAM Saturdays are intended to help young people find out that learning about history can be fun. Sessions are held on the third Saturday of the month and are theme centered. The next STEAM Saturday will be on December 16 from 1 until 3:30 PM will have as its theme “Pioneer Christmas” Reservations are not needed and youth and their families may come and go.
Hands-On-History is designed for home schoolers to learn about Geary County history and participate in a make it and take it activity. These sessions are held once a month from 10:00 until 11:00 AM. Those who attended the most recent gathering learned about the history of Christmas cards. Youth made their own Christmas cards for their family’s and residents at Brookdale Senior Living in Junction City. Reservations are needed for Hands-On-History. The JC Breakfast Optimist Club donated $200.00 to help with the cost of supplies and other things needed for Hands-On-History program.
Still being developed for 2024, is an adult workshop titled Homesteading 101. This will be a quarterly workshop for adults to learn about weaving, beekeeping, canning, making cheese and more.
For more information, contact Kim Neptune at 785-238-1666.