We provide a wide variety of educational options:
Trunk Tales: A traveling trunk system with three themed trunks that can be borrowed for free (s/h has to be paid for by the borrower). The three themes are: 1. A life with a Pioneer Family 2. Life in a One room School 3. Life on a Railroad. The trunks have outfits for adults and kids; artifacts; hands-on activities; and plans based on Nebraska 4th grade curriculum. This was paid for by the Kearney Area Community Foundation.
Wild Science Thursdays: Edgerton Explorit Center of Aurora comes to Kearney on Thursday mornings in the summer to have kids experience hands-on learning of science and BCHS ties it in with history.
Ghost Hunting with the Midwest Paranormal Investigators (MPI): Classes are usually held the last Friday of the month during the non-winter months. Classes are approximately two hours long, followed by investigating all six historic buildings on property. This reaches new markets of guests and people are eager to learn the history of the buildings to know what questions to ask during the investigations.
Wagons West Celebration honors the pioneers that came across the trails in this area. The fiddle contest has really blossomed with this event! BCHS is also blessed to have many cultural entities partner for Wagons West and provide hands-on family activities through out the day in all of the buildings.
Trails & Rails Museum offers FREE school group tours. Call ahead, as the dates fill up fast for these! The first two weeks in May are always reserved for the Kearney Public Schools and the Trails & Rails Museum shuts down those two weeks for the KPS.
The 1/2 Marathon is another educational event that gets people out in the community. The route takes people by many historic points in town and is a great fundraiser for the Society!