Seeding Community Participation

About the Program

Category: Children and Youth (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

Henricus Historical Park, a 17th century Living History Museum located on the banks of the historic James River in Chester, Virginia, endeavors to make its educational programs available to a wide range of students of varying socio-economic and age levels. To do this, we provide an innovative and broad range of Standard of Learning (SOL) guidelines and Science/Technology/Engineering/Mathematics (STEM)-aligned hands-on and interactive programs for grades Pre-K – 12. To develop, produce and provide these programs, we charge a minimal fee that covers teaching gear, non-reusable supplies and teaching staff. These fees are necessary to maintain a quality standard of museum education in its partnership with classroom-style educational venues. While many school districts can afford these fees, some – both near and distant – need and request partial scholarships. While originally providing small discounts to two districts, we began a concerted drive in 2012 to build up a liquid fund through the Education Department; we now regularly offer partial scholarships/discounts for requesting schools in need. To ensure that the funds are used primarily for those with financial need, we offer partial discounts to officially designated Title I schools (schools with a large low-income student population), private and home school groups detailing need, and for gifted and talented, at risk and other enrichment programs. As we cannot lower the program fees without lowering the program quality, we have developed both traditional and innovative ways to acquire funds for these discounts: donor boxes, contract partnerships with specific school districts, grants for specific school districts, donations by service clubs and civic organizations, donations in exchange for providing offsite lectures and activities and the sale of Henricus-created items and craft activities. As this project progresses, it is making access to our programs available to a larger number of students.