History Explorers Summer Camp
*The event has already taken place on this date: Sat, 07/25/2026
Please help us keep this calendar up to date! If this activity is sold out, canceled, or otherwise needs alteration, email mindy@kidsoutandabout.com so we can update it immediately. If you have a question about the activity itself, please contact the organization administrator listed below.
Event Details
Wed–Sat, June 24–June 27, 2026 | 10 AM–3 PM
Wed–Sat, July 22–July 25, 2026 | 10 AM–3 PM
Learn to Blacksmith, Cook, Leatherwork and More as an 1800s Apprentice
Calling all history-loving teens: step into the shoes of a 19th-century trades apprentice during this immersive four-day experience designed just for you. Enter the Old World Wisconsin grounds and get an up-close behind-the-scenes tour of private spaces—such as the Old World Wisconsin Collections Building, Period Clothing room, and Animal Barn—while learning how to blacksmith, cook, process textiles, leatherwork and help staff carry out important tasks. Dress in period garb and learn the ropes as you not only visit—but live—the Old World experience.
What You’ll Experience
- The chance to dress, learn and live as an 1800s apprentice alongside talented staff as you discover the blacksmithing, cooking, textile and leatherworking trades
- Special access to off-limits Old World areas, such as the Old World Wisconsin Collections Building, Period Clothing room, and Animal Barn
- Opportunities to meet likeminded campers during a unique and fun 4-day camp experience
Cost
$250/camper (Ages 13-18)
Advance registration is required.
Society members receive a 10% discount, please verify your membership where prompted to receive discount at check out.
About the Location
Old World Wisconsin includes 60 authentically restored historic homes, farms, stores and workshops—and a fully operational 1930s tavern. Each region features a distinct set of stories that invite you to experience the hopes and dreams of those who came before us. From the 1840s to the 1940s, you’ll find a true panorama of early Wisconsin history, covering more than 70 years and many cultures, including African American, Danish, Finnish, Hessian, Irish, Norwegian, Polish, Pomeranian and Yankee.
Old World Wisconsin first opened in 1976. Researchers traveled throughout Wisconsin in search of historic buildings crafted by the first generation of Wisconsin immigrants and migrants. From Lake Superior to the Illinois border, and from the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan, historians documented countless historic farmhouses, outbuildings and small-town structures. Once research was complete, the meticulous construction of Old World Wisconsin began. Piece by piece, workers carefully dismantled historic structures from around the state and reconstructed them in their new home.
Old World Wisconsin
W372 S9727 Hwy 67
Eagle, WI 53119
Know Before You Go
- Campers are fitted for period clothing on the first day of History Explorers Summer Camp and will wear period outfits throughout days 2-4.
- Campers will receive an email with more information about camp, and how to submit measurements for period clothing, 2 weeks before camp starts.
- Campers must be a minimum of 13 years old to participate.
- Campers must provide their own lunch while attending camp.
Have Questions?
For more information, please contact the box office at 608-264-4848 or boxoffice@wisconsinhistory.org.
*Times, dates, and prices of any activity posted to our calendars are subject to change. Please be sure to click through directly to the organization’s website to verify.