Victorian Vanities, Inc.

Description

This project is an interactive traveling show during the summer camp season. There are six workshops, on the American Victorian period. All workshops start with an introductory lesson on the Victorian Era and then each one focuses on some aspect of the period. All workshops allow campers to get involved either through discussion, or hands-on interaction. In one workshop, a collection box is made out of popsicle sticks, in another workshop, campers learn to weave, because weaving was the occupation of over one third of Philadelphians in the late 19 th century. It takes place at campsites in Philadelphia, Chester, Montgomery, Delaware and Bucks Counties, Camden, Burlington, Gloucester, Salem, and Mercer Counties in New Jersey, and Newcastle County in Delaware. Two teachers or students who are using the curriculum that Rochelle Christopher, founder of Victorian Vanities, Inc. has developed perform the workshop. Each teacher wears an authentically correct costume and has been trained in nineteenth century teaching methods. In addition, camps are advised that we need at least one aide or counselor in training with the group in order for us to perform this workshop. In practice, there are several counselors available to help campers wherever it may be needed. Counselors are also asked to keep order in the group and to keep campers on their "field trip" behavior.