Scout Activities
Old Sturbridge Village is an outdoor history museum presenting the story of everyday life in an early rural New England 19th-century setting. Historic homes, craft shops, mills, farms, and public buildings re-create community where authentically costumed Villagers demonstrate and discuss the daily life, work, and celebrations of early New Englanders.
Old Sturbridge Village offers a selection of themed activities that help Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts work toward the fulfillment of badge requirements. Each activity accommodates up to 10 Scouts and lasts approximately 50 minutes. Badge related themes include Life in Early America, Industry, Printing, Leisure Time, Museums, Citizenship, History, Patriotism, Art, Textiles, Woodworking, Crafts, Cooking, Food Preparation, Games, and Fashion. Consult your badge requirements for connections.
Scout group admission fees are: $30 per group of 10 or less per activity; $7 per Scout; $7 per chaperone adult (1 to 3 adults for every 10 Scouts); $20 per additional adult; free for Old Sturbridge Village Members and children under age 3. Admission is required to register for any scout activity. Cafeteria, picnic, and shopping facilities are available. Parking is free. Prices are subject to change.
To learn about the many other programs available to youth groups, please ask for our brochure regarding field studies at Old Sturbridge Village.
Woodworking
Use a variety of hand tools to reproduce a useful 19th-century wooden object. Discuss safe tool use.
Farm Work
Explore the seasonality of the Farmer's Year, gender roles, and family life on the farm. Hands-on farm-related activities may include corn processing, fence building, auguring, or cider making.
Cooking
Experience cooking 19th-century style, using common household tools and recipes. Cook over the open hearth, explore innovations, and compare family life then and now.
Home Remedies
Create a simple home remedy and explore herb use and patent medicines. Make comparisons to health practices today.
Decorative Arts
Examine objects for the home and learn a technique that was used to decorate 19th-century household goods. Discover the impact of the industrial revolution in home decorating through stenciling, reverse-glass painting, or wallpaper production.
Textile Production
Take part in the process of 19th-century textile production. Card and spin wool, weave cloth, and discuss fashion and the beginnings of the industrial revolution.
Leisure Time Activities
What did children do for fun? Participate in popular children's activities from the 19th century and create an 1830s game or toy to take home.
Printing
Be an apprentice and learn about the trades of printing, bookbinding, or paper marbling. Use tools and equipment common in a printing office and examine and create printed materials to take home.
School Lesson
Experience the one-room schoolhouse through role-playing, quill pen writing, and by using 19th-century schoolbooks.
Cooking a 19th-Century Meal$7 per person plus $30 per person activity fee ($300 minimum)
Grades 6 and up. Please allow 2-3 hours to visit the Village and 3 hours for the meal.
Explore the museum on your own and prepare a 19th-century meal at the Education Building. Scouts cook over a hearth fire using reproduction utensils and are introduced to 19th-century etiquette as they enjoy the meal they prepared. (Groups of over 40 individuals please call for special arrangements).
