'Survivor' is theme of settlement's day camp
If the "Survivor" reality TV series ever got hold of a time machine, its intrepid contestants might experience something similar to what School's Out! participants will go through next week at Naper Settlement.
The newest addition to the School's Out! program, which provides activities for children during school-year breaks, is called "Survivor: Prairie." It will be offered Dec. 27-28 at the settlement, 523 S. Webster St., near downtown Naperville. It's the brainchild of Nancy Smith, the settlement's education manager.
"We're shaking things up a little bit with our School's Out! Program," Smith said.
In the past, she said, children in first through fifth grades who signed up for School's Out! were involved in a variety of activities from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
While activities will continue to be aimed at the same age group and will still stretch across the same 7½-hour day, they'll be tied together with a unifying premise.
"Now, we're switching to theme-oriented days," Smith said.
Like the TV contestants, Survivor: Prairie players will compete as teams to accomplish survival challenges. This time, they'll take on the hurdles that faced pioneers in the 19th century.
For example, players will be asked to pack a trunk of belongings to take with them on a trip inside a Conestoga wagon.
"They'll get points for making good choices," Smith said.
They'll also compete to quickly and efficiently grind corn.
"The first team to come up with a cupful of ground corn gets points," Smith said.
Then they'll sift the ground corn, bake cornbread with it and churn butter to spread on the cornbread.
Survivor participants also will play a charades game that revolves around "Ma and Pa's" chores. And they'll use flint and steel to ignite fire, Smith said.
Players will step back into the 21st century long enough to watch a documentary, "Surviving the Winter of 1830," where they'll learn about salting meat and preserving food for use in the winter months.
Survival challenges on Thursday will be different from those presented Friday, so players who come out both days will face fresh obstacles, she said.
The cost per day is $45 per child and includes a snack. Registration is required.
"This program is very much in line with the way we present materials at the settlement," Smith said.
Bringing history alive with hands-on activities makes it easier for children to engage the material and retain what they've learned, she said.
The next School's Out, scheduled for Jan. 2-4, is titled "Hidden Treasures" and involves treasure hunting with low-tech tools such as maps and compasses and high-tech gadgetry such as global positioning devices.
If you go
What: School's Out! "Survivor: Prairie"
Where: Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville
When: 8:30 to 4 p.m. Dec. 27-28
Who: Children in first through fifth grade
Cost: $45 per child; registration is required
Info: (630) 420-6010 or www.napersettlement.museum