SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – As summer vacation draws to a close, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is throwing a “Back to School Bash” to help children get ready for the classroom and offer a helping hand to busy parents.
The free event on Aug. 7 offers educational fun and games for children. They can learn how telegraphs were used during the Civil War and send their own messages in Morse code. They’ll get to talk to Springfield firefighters and explore a fire truck. They can also answer trivia questions, go on a scavenger hunt, play street hockey and much more.
The bash is designed for parents, too! They can get important child-safety and money-management tips, find out about educational resources, get free haircuts for the kids and obtain COVID 19 vaccinations for themselves and their children. (Advance registration is suggested for vaccinations. Please visit bit.ly/ALPLMvaccine.)
The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Springfield’s Union Square Park (500 E. Madison Street, next to the Lincoln Presidential Museum). In case of rain, it will be held in the presidential library. Free parking is available in the ALPLM’s parking garage at Sixth and Madison.
“It can be hard for children to make the switch from vacation to the classroom. We think the Back to School Bash makes that a little easier by providing fun, hands-on ways for kids to begin focusing on learning,” said Christina Shutt, executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. “We also want it to help parents who always have so much to do during back-to-school season.”
Organizations planning to participate include the Springfield police and fire departments, Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, United Way, YMCA, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Springfield’s Lincoln Library, the University of Spa and Cosmetology Arts, the Illinois Department of Public Health and many more.
The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum uses a combination of rigorous scholarship and high-tech showmanship to immerse visitors in Lincoln’s life and times. The library holds an unparalleled collection of Lincoln books, documents, photographs, artifacts and art, as well as some 12 million items pertaining to all aspects of Illinois history.
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