Returning for its fifteenth summer, “Blast from the Past” will give kids ages 8-12 an opportunity to learn more about a wide variety of topics all tied to Marion history. Beginning on July 9, 2015 and continuing on each Thursday in July, a group of Marion County Historical Society volunteers work to make Heritage Hall and other area venues come alive with fun activities with an educational focus.
The theme of this year’s Blast is “What’s The Buzz About in Marion?”. On July 9th, participants will find out about “Buzzness and Industry in Marion” as they learn how business and industry transformed Marion in the late 1800s and go on a scavenger hunt in the new exhibit at Heritage Hall.
“Buzz and Blooms” is the theme for July 16th when Blast visits the OSUM Prairie and discover things that bloom and buzz in this prairie environment. Participants will also learn how the prairie came to be and how it influenced the settlement of Marion.
July 23rd will find Blast “Buzzing Around the Airport” on a tour of Marion’s Municipal Airport, checking out some airplanes and learning how they fly, and investigating the history of aviation in Marion and Ohio.
“Buzzards, Birds & Wildlife” will be the final session on July 30th at the Sandusky Plains Environmental Education Center. Among the topics will be birds and animals of Marion County in the past and present. Information on how to “beefriend” creatures and making a special craft to help do so will be part of the day. The final Blast session will also include a picnic snack.
Each session features a craft activity and a snack related to the topic of the day. In addition, this year’s participants will make an album filled with postcards, photographs, letters, and other neat items as they find out “What’s the Buzz About in Marion?”
“It’s all hands-on learning,” Blast coordinator Randy Winland said. “It gets the kids involved with finding out more about our past, not just sitting in a chair and listening to someone talk.”
Morning sessions will be held from 9:30-11:30 and afternoon sessions from 1:00-3:00. All programs are free thanks to generous support from the Junior Service Guild, but pre-registration is required. For more information, or to register, call Heritage Hall at 740-387-4255.
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