Education and Special Events

As an educational institution of the Haines Borough, learning is at the core of the Museum’s mission. The Haines Sheldon Museum offers a wide range of public educational programs throughout the year for children and adults. Public programming includes regular artist’s lectures; children’s camps and workshops; a fundraising run/walk of Haines’ totem poles; art-based fundraisers; the Brown Bag Lunch & Learn (winter lunch-time lectures) series; and participation in Haines’ First Friday, a monthly evening celebrating local art.

Upcoming Programs

Explore and experience upcoming learning opportunities at the Haines Sheldon Museum!

       

 

Photos from Past Programs

Artists’ Talks and Guest Lectures

About the Programs


Poster for the 2019 Artist Talk and Guest Lecture

These 1-2hr programs are frequently held in association with temporary exhibits in the HSM galleries. They range from spotlighted artists’ talking about their particular exhibit to guest historians presenting on specific topics or themes. Most recently, John Cloud from The Smithsonian Institution spoke about the Kohklux Map, George Davidson and the 1869 eclipse at Klukwan during a presentation in late October 2019.

Artist Talk Photos

 
Local artist Andrea Nelson’s slide-show presentation for the 2019 traveling exhibit  “Attu75: War Came to a Wilderness.” Ms. Nelson spoke about integrating archaeology, history, exhibit design and fieldwork into her art.
Artist Katie Craney with authors Heather Lende, Ernestine Hayes, and Krista Christensen. Photo taken at and Artist Talk and Author Reading event held in association with Craney’s Six-Week Spotlight exhibit “Landfalls: Dedications to Alaskan Women Writers & Storytellers.” October 2019.
 

Workshops & Artist Demonstrations

About the Programs


Studio Incamminati workshop

These events feature local artists giving a demonstration of their craft. They tie into other programming, such as First Friday and Fortnight of Learning. These demonstration and workshops range from 2-5hours; some are single sessions while others are multi-week classes.

Workshops & Artist Demonstration Photos

  
In July 2018, local master Tlingit Carver Wayne Price and his students gave a clan hat carving demonstration for a First Friday event. Wayne has also given talks on traditional carving practices for the museum’s Fortnight of Learning lecture series.
Local artist Donna Cattoti coordinates weekend workshops, Monday evening figure drawing, and a week long Studio Incamminati (from Philadelphia) summer workshop. In 2019 she also gave a painting demonstration in association with her Six-Week Spotlight exhibit.
 

Fortnight of Learning

About the Program

Each spring the Haines Sheldon Museum hosts Fortnight of Learning, a two week evening lecture series called.  Guest speakers are invited to speak about topics pertinate to Haines Histroy and which facilitate learning about the Chilkat Valley that visitors may be curious to know. This serires is geared towards the Haines guiding community, particularly new summer guides.

Program Photos

 
Guest speaker Joan Snyder presents on Fort William H. Seward. 2016 Fortnight of Learning

Guest speaker Sylvia Heinz presents on the lumber industry in the Chilkat Valley. 2018 Fortnight of Learning

History Day

About the Program


History Day 2020

Every other February the Haines middle schoolers participate in the Haines History Day Regional Competition, a precursor to National History Day (NHD). The museum hosts the regional competition, judging, and awards ceremony..

Program Photos

Winners of the 2020 Haines History Day Competition

Apple Programs

About the Program


Yellow translucent apples from the historic Anway Apple tree on the museum grounds

The historic apple tree on the museum grounds was dedicated to the children of Haines by local horticulturist Charles Anway. It produces an abundance of yellow transparent apples each year in the late summer. During this time, the museum hosts Apple Day programs for the elementary school children of Haines. The kids read apple stories, pick  apples from the tree, learn about Charles Anway, and even have  apple relay race

Program Photos

  
Kids bob for apples during Apple Days in 2015.
Haines kindergarteners pick apples from the Anway tree, with assistance from Museum Director Helen Alten. Apple Days 2019.

 

Field Trips

About the Program


Chilkat Blanket interactive at the Haines Sheldon Museum

An institutional goal is to have every Haines child visit the museum three times each year. One of the ways the museum attains this goal is through field trips for our temporary exhibits. Recent programming included Princess Sophia and Muybridge exhibits. Children do scavenger hunts, discuss what they see in photographs, and complete projects.

Field Trip Photos

  
Toddlers from the Chilkat Valley Preschool play in the fishing boat during a field trip in the Children’s Interactive Room.
6th grade students exmine original sterogram photos during a field trip to the 2019 exhibit 1868: Muybridge in Alaska.

Doll Fair

About the Program


HSM 2000.042.0023 Little girl with baby buggy and doll. Fort Seward docks, circa 1936

For over 40 years, the Haines Sheldon Museum has hosted an annual Doll Fair and tea for the children of Haines.

Program Photos

Doll Fair 1989

1989 Doll Fair at the Haines Sheldon Museum.

2013 Doll Fair display and historic photos.