By Ferrell Miller, JC Breakfast Optimist Club Secretary/Programs Chairperson
Historical Society’s Programs And Education Director Lisa Highsmith, Director of Programs and Education at the Geary County Historical Society (GCHS) was the guest speaker at the JC Breakfast Optimist Club’s June 14 Celebration of Optimism. Lisa is a doctoral candidate in the content area of history at Kansas State University.
She has worked at the Texas Tech University in the Entomology Department and the Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock, Texas and has worked at GCHS for nearly one year.
Lisa told the Optimists that she is “passionate about history” and has maintained some education programs previously established and added STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) Saturdays and other programs for youth and adults that focus on the history of Geary County. One example is the most recent was the time travel camp held at the Museum for nineteen young people ages 8-12 years old. “The camp lasted for four days from May 30 until June 2 between the hours of nine and noon. The JC Breakfast Optimist Club, Hildebrand Dairy and United Way helped sponsor the camp.
“Each day focused on the experiences pioneers may have had traveling west and ending up in Kansas. The first day centered around a theme titled Makers Day. Questions like: What could be done if there is no electricity? How did people see to do things at night? Campers learned that kerosene lanterns and pioneers made their own candles. An average family used 400 candles per year.” Campers made their own candles.
Ms. Highsmith explained that “on the second day, campers were exposed to making paper and water mills. The hand made water mills were created to help the young campers understand that mills were used for power to make flour for food.”
Day three was Packing Day. Lisa stated that campers were asked to make a paper trunk that would hold a certain number of identified items a family might need to go into the trunk. The trunk had to have handles and withstand being lifted for 30 seconds” to meet Lisa’s requirements for worthiness. There could only be one trunk per family because there was only so much room to use in a wagon. Pioneers needed to follow a topographical map in some cases and campers learned about elevation and markings on a map. Students also learned that although Kansas is referred to as being flatter than a pancake, Kansas is the seventh flattest state in the United States. Campers got to make and enjoy eating pancakes using the batter from IHOP.
Day four consisted of using a trail guide. “Cards were placed around the museum and inthe vacant field near the museum identifying casualties or mishaps that might have been experienced by the early pioneers and campers. Campers had to create ways to deal with the challenges along their imaginary journey. Having reached their goal of coming to Kansas,campers were treated to Hildebrand ice cream and a t-shirt”, she said.
Lisa also shared that the “GCHS STEAM Saturday June 17 from 1:00-3:30 PM at the Spring Valley Historic Site at 816 N. Spring Valley Road. Tomahawk throwing, an 1880s tipi, displays of hides from Kansas critters and museum-quality replicas will be on display. On June 24, a new exhibit will open from 1-4:00 PM at the Museum located at 530 N. Adams titledBusiness Through the Ages. The gallery will include Geary County businesses during the last 150 years.”