The summer season is off to a great start at the Mennonite Heritage Village (MHV) in Steinbach.
As the first week of Pioneer Day Camps came to an end, Jaysa Thiessen, program coordinator at MHV, says it’s been a great start with a great group.
“(The kids) are just so excited to be at the museum doing all the activities,” says Thiessen.
The day camps encourage kids to learn pioneer skills, have fun, and make new friends.
This past week, MHV hosted five- to seven-year-olds, with activities like Mennonite charades, gardening, petting farm animals, and making Kuda-Puppe (Low German word for rag dolls).
Feathered and fuzzy friends
Alongside the camps, the museum houses animals throughout the warmer months.
“Having our farmyard full of these animals really makes the village come to life,” Thiessen says.
“You're walking around, and you can hear the donkey braying or the roosters crowing in the morning, it really makes the village feel as if it was a true to life Mennonite settlement.”
Thiessen says the animals are a bit shy at the beginning of the season but slowly become acclimated to the groups of people throughout the summer.
Stop, smell and taste the garden
The MHV gardens are blooming big this year and bursting with colour. Thanks to help from the Steinbach and Area Garden Club, the grounds are lush and thriving.
“They take wonderful care of our gardens and flowers on the grounds. They make the village a feast for the eyes,” says Thiessen.
The produce grown in the gardens is then used at the Livery Barn Restaurant.
“It’s a really great use of what we grow.”
Thiessen notes that anyone with membership can come to dine in the restaurant – and then explore the museum, admission-free.
“You can come to the Livery Barn to have some authentic food, and you don’t need to pay for (museum) admission, you just go,” Thiessen says.
Coming up soon
This week, July 14 to 18, the Pioneer Day Camps will host ages seven through eleven.
Thiessen says some activities will be a bit more advanced like butter churning and schnitzel baking.
“They’ll do some of the same activities (that the younger kids did) ... Maybe they can eat their churned butter on their homemade schnitzel,” Thiessen says.
Whether you come for a day camp or stay for a garden-fresh meal – there is something for everyone this summer at the Mennonite Heritage Village.
Click here to view all the events that MHV is offering this summer.
Written with files from Adi Loewen