Monthly Themes
Each month from April to October, we'll have special activities and programming around the outdoor grounds related to the theme of the month. Explore and learn the fun way all season long!
April
Animal Extravaganza
Sponsored by:
Spring has arrived and so have the baby animals! Come celebrate these feathered and furry friends including baby lambs, kids, calves and other little ones you can pet, hold and brush. Meet the oxen, horses, cattle, hogs and maybe even a baby pig or two. Visit often to see what surprises our animals have in store for you each afternoon! Speak with our livestock specialists to hear how Conner Prairie is committed to preserving and saving rare breeds of animals. We'll have special weekend animal-themed programming too!
May
Green Thumbs Up!
This month, participate in a variety of garden-related activities. Dig around and get dirty in the different gardens across the historic grounds. Grab a shovel and help finish the planting, or simply explore the various plants and flowers. Mark your calendars for May 5 & 6 for special presentations by Herb Society of Central Indiana members and May 26 & 27 for wildflower and plant walks across the prairie.
Sun Smarts
Supported by:
Shady Spot Educational Facts from:
May is National Skin Cancer and Melanoma Awareness Month. In recognition, Conner Prairie has partnered with Outrun the Sun, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting skin cancer education and melanoma research, to provide educational information while engaging visitors in sun safe activities. Skin cancer is the most prevalent cancer in America and research shows a link between sunburns in children and an increased risk of melanoma and skin cancer later in life. During your visit in May, discuss ways the residents of 1836 Prairietown protect their skin from the sun, participate in a craft that demonstrates the effects of UV rays, and take advantage of our shady spots located throughout the grounds. Be sure to wear your sunscreen, hats and sun glasses! If you forgot, no worries – we’ve got you covered with complimentary sunscreen.
Shady Spot Educational Facts
- Residents of 1836 Prairietown protect their skin from sunburns by wearing hats and clothing that covers their bodies. Follow their lead!
- The sun’s rays can travel through the clouds. Be sure to protect your skin even on cloudy days.
- The sun’s rays are strongest between 10 am and 4 pm. During that time, seek shade under the trees.
June
Buying & Bartering
This month is a chance to sharpen your haggling skills as we feature programs about money, trade and finance throughout history. Earn wages by helping with chores and other work in Prairietown, and then spend it at Mr. Whitaker's store or take it home as a souvenir. Take part in fur-trading activities at Lenape Indian Camp, but be aware - our fur trader has a reputation for driving a hard bargain. At Civil War Journey, see if you think it's fair to pay someone to serve in your place instead of being drafted.
July
History's Mysteries
Put your best sleuthing skills to work and join us for a new mystery each week. Supplies have gone missing in the field hospital. Can you help find them? Strange messages have been found around Prairietown. Who is leaving them? Solve the mysteries of history by looking for clues in copies of original documents to find out more about William Conner and his family. Pull out your best detective skills and help find answers, or stumble upon even more mysteries.
August
Taste the Past
We're expanding upon one of your favorite programs! Sample a variety of historic recipes throughout our five themed outdoor areas and discover how certain culinary creations shaped history. Each day will offer a fun food adventure including everything from helping knead yeast bread before it's placed in the brick oven to sampling a Civil War soldier's hardtack. If you find a taste of the past you like, take a copy of the recipe and prepare it at home for family and friends.
September
Health & Wellness
During the month of September, you will have opportunities to focus on your own health and wellbeing. Check into some unique perspectives on health and wellness such as tracking how far you walk during your visit, learning how many calories you could burn doing 19th-century chores, or learning about what past Hoosiers thought were healthy practices.
October
Survivor
People in 19th-century Indiana did not have things as easy as we do today. Come out and see how well you might have survived on the frontier, in an early town or during the Civil War.