The York County Heritage Trust provides a series of summer history camps to children ages 8-12. In alternating years we offer Pennsylvania Pioneers, a Colonial-themed experience and Hoopskirts and Hardtack, a camp highlighting the Civil War.

Pennsylvania Pioneers takes place at the Colonial Complex and surrounds campers in York’s rich history with the Golden Plough Tavern, the Gates House, the Bobb Log House, and the Colonial Courthouse.  Campers are able to participate in various activities that are educational, fun and interactive, helping them to imagine what their lives would have been like if they had been part of the families that settled and lived in York during the 1700s.  Some of the activities include touring our sites, acting out a colonial York trial, wearing colonial clothing, doing chores that children their age would have done, and making crafts of the period.

Hoopskirts and Hardtack takes place on the grounds of the Bonham House. Campers learn about civilian life and activities during the Civil War. They also participate in military marching drill and join a small military camp, where they will experience a cooking demonstration and firing drill. Crafts include making items related to the period. The camp will also pay a visit to the Gettysburg Battlefield.

For more information, please contact the Coordinator of Educational Programming at 717-845-2951.  

Archaeology Week

Each summer the York County Heritage Trust partners with the York County Department of Parks and Recreation to offer two sessions of Archaeology Week.  Students ages 9-12 are exposed to the basics of archeology, first hand as they participate in actual excavations at real archeaological sites. Campers also learn about how artifacts are preserved and interpreted in a museum setting with visits to York County Heritage Trust sites and museums.

 New for 2010, the camps will take place at Codorus State Park, the former location of Mary Anne Furnace that operated during the 1700s and 1800s, and is known to have produced ammunition during the American Revolutionary War. 

The Week long camps will run July 5-9 and August 9-13. For more information and registration materials please contact the York County Department of Parks and Recreation at www.yorkcountyparks.org or 717-428-1961. Space is limited!