Vesterheim Pioneer Immersion Program

 

 

Vesterheim’s Pioneer Immersion Program will be held throughout the year for area schools. The exhibition for the student's projects will be May 17-21, 2010 in the museum's Hauge Gallery, Westby-Torgerson Education Center, open 1:00-5:00 p.m. daily. There will be an Open House on May 20 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Featherlite, Inc., of Cresco, Iowa (a national leader in designing, manufacturing, and marketing specialty trailers, custom mobile marketing trailers, and luxury motor coaches) is the primary corporate sponsor of the Pioneer Immersion Program.

The company agreed to contribute $16,000 annually for five years, for a total of $80,000. This gift allows Vesterheim to offer the Pioneer Immersion Program to several school districts in Northeast Iowa.

 

Donors Keith and Amy Bruening of Decorah, are supporting parochial schools in Northeast Iowa by providing funds for students from Trinity Catholic School in Protivin, St. Benedict School in Decorah, and Notre Dame Catholic School in Cresco to participate in the program.

Other school districts participating in the program include fourth grade classes at Decorah Community Schools and North Winneshiek School.

During the pioneer program, Vesterheim educational staff visits the schools, and in lessons that illustrate what it is like to immigrate to a new country, they share readings from immigrant’s journals and explain pioneer artifacts from the Vesterheim collection. Next, in a series of museum visits, the students tour the museum and participate in programs that explore aspects of pioneer life, like doing chores, building a log home, and learning in a one-room school.

As a part of their experience, students are directed by their classroom teachers in creating their own pioneer journal and creating a pioneer project. The pioneer projects form a special exhibition so that parents, friends, relatives, and the community can view the student’s work.

For more information about the Vesterheim Pioneer Immersion Program, please contact Vesterheim at 563-382-9681 or info@vesterheim.org.