Official Kids Mag

Off icialKidsMag.com • MAY & JUNE 2018 • 7 dance around and learn new dances. I probably most like Soldier's Joy or The Gay Gordon. I do both. It's good to know where you came from." Kyla Cross, a 12-year-old homeschool student, comes to Shiloh Museum fairly often. "I like coming here to teach people history," she said. "We can learn from our history. Mostly how time fits together. We learn about different events separately, but it's interesting to see how things have changed over the years and how it's so seamless." Kyla particularly enjoys learning about local history. "Ozark history is so interesting," she explained. "There is such a mixture of different cultures and people. It's interesting to find out how people got here, all of their traditions and the culture they have." Moms thankful for Shiloh as an educational resource A ll three kids' moms are happy their families found the Shiloh Museum. They regularly take advantage of the museum's free programs and family friendly activities. Keukeu Abdullah, Yahya's mom, has been a U.S. resident for 17 years. She wants her son to know as much about local history as possible. "He is very busy with Boy Scouts, Four-H and sports," she said. "One time we came here because he was interested in insects and they had an event for families. My son loved it. Every month we check their calendar for family friendly events. If we don't have conflicts, we come. I think he needs to learn about the history of the area." Henry's mom, Abigail Freeman, enjoys homeschooling her kids. She is thankful for the resources Shiloh provides. "Miss Judy is in charge of the education department," she said. "There are so many educational activities. That's how Henry got started volunteering. We came to some programs and he saw what it was all about. He learned so much that he wanted to show other kids the programs." Getting to interact with other Shiloh kids has been great for Henry, but he's learned a lot of practical skills too. "He volunteers and he demonstrates pioneer chores," Abigail said. "He'll show people how to use a spinning wheel and how to wash clothes before there was electricity. If we ever lose electricity, we will be good. Henry can just do everything." Rebecca Cross, Kyla's mom, likes Shiloh because of the hands- on activities and exhibits. "We love coming to the different programs they offer," she said. "The dressing up and interactive exhibits are cool. It's a great place to come and learn about the history of our area. The staff is kid friendly and they encouraged kids to touch things." Rebecca, a Northwest Arkansas native, thinks the museum is great for adults who may not be as familiar with the area. "A lot of people in Northwest Arkansas are not from here," she said. "Even the ones that are may not realize the history of the area. I didn't know about all of the orchards here. I knew about Tyson and the chickens, but I didn't know about the orchards and fruit the area produced. I learned that here." About Shiloh Museum The Shiloh Museum of Ozark History is a regional history museum focusing on the Northwest Arkansas Ozarks. The museum takes its name from the pioneer community of Shiloh, which became Springdale in the 1870s. Go to shilohmuseum.org to learn more about the programs offered, to sign up for newsletters and to plan your visit. Judy Costello If you thought texting was relatively new technology, think again! In 1831 the telegraph became the first electronic, long-distance communication device. Today everyone carries a phone in their pocket and can send a text to anyone in the world!

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