(Press release) — The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center (NHTIC) and National Historic Trails Center Foundation (NHTCF) announce their first winter program series titled “Life Along the Oregon Trail.”

This program will take place on Saturday, Jan. 17, with the following activities:

— 9-11 a.m. History Club: Students in third through fifth grades will enjoy hands-on activities using rhymes and poems related to the origins of the English alphabet and use of language.

— 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The Science Zone Discovery Program’s Annie Wade will provide many different fun supplies for children and families depicting bridges, including bridge displacement, bridge supports and bridge designs.

— 11 a.m.-1 p.m. VIBES Music Studio will present sounds of the pioneers through local bands and the Kindermusik Program.

— 1-1:45 p.m. Tom Rea, local historian and author of several books, will present “Bridges, Tolls, and Ferries: Crossing the North Platte on the Oregon Trail.”

— 1:45-2:00 p.m. VIBES student Quinlan Valdez will perform Angel Band.

“The winter program series provides opportunities for families to get a glimpse of the past through guest speakers, hands-on activities and temporary exhibits,” said NHTIC Acting Director Rose Beardshear.

Additionally, the public may also visit the NHTCF bronze exhibit donation that will be on display through the month of February.

In support of the Wyoming Food for Thought Project, admission to the NHTIC is free Jan. 17 and the public is encouraged to bring child-friendly food donations. Currently there are over 400 children in the surrounding Casper community receiving food from the Wyoming Food for Thought Project each and every weekend with their Food for Thought Food Bags. Each bag is packed with child-friendly food so the child will have something to eat over the weekend.

Child-friendly foods include: fruit cups, peanut butter, soup, snacks, nuts, dried fruit, canned pasta and canned vegetables.

For more information, please contact Jason Vlcan at the NHTIC, (307) 261-7780.

Lorena Garcia is executive director of WyoFile

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