Hands-On History: Red, White & Ready Summer Camp at Augusta Museum

At the Augusta Museum of History in downtown Augusta, Georgia, Red, White & Ready For Adventure History Summer Camp turns the museum into a classroom for rising 1st through 6th graders. This half-day program (9:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.) runs July 13–17 and uses the Museum galleries, the rotunda, and the nearby Ezekiel Harris House to stage a week of games, crafts, colonial food lessons, and living-history lessons that trace local time from the Savannah River tribes through the Revolutionary era and into the early Federal period. Each day focuses on a different chapter—indigenous life on the river, Noble Jones and colonial settlement, Revolutionary activity in Augusta, postwar transition, and life at the Ezekiel Harris House—so kids leave with a patchwork of short, memorable experiences rather than a single long lecture. The program stands out because it pairs hands-on activities with real places and artifacts. Children read in the gallery, make period-style crafts, practice simple food prep inspired by colonial recipes, and run games that echo historic pastimes. Small groups (capped at 25) mean staff can rotate supervised stations—so one moment is a story circle in the rotunda, the next is a tactile craft table, and then a supervised visit to the Ezekiel Harris House grounds. The camp is wheelchair accessible and designed to balance movement with guided reflection, which keeps restless learners engaged. Practical details are straightforward: check-in in the Museum rotunda at 9:30 a.m., pick-up at noon. Registration opens May 1 for Museum members and May 4 for the public; spaces are limited. The schedule—lesson and reading, craft, snack and short film, games, then food-prep instruction—helps parents plan school-day errands or work hours around a consistent half-day rhythm. Why book this for visiting families? For travelers with young kids who want active learning without a long drive, this program converts a museum visit into a lived-in week of local history. It’s especially valuable for families interested in early American history, regional Native histories along the Savannah River, and Revolutionary-era stories tied to Augusta—plus it offers an easy, supervised morning that leaves afternoons free for parks, river walks, or museum hopping. The camp meets at the Augusta Museum of History 560 Reynolds Street Augusta, GA. 30901, making it easy for families staying downtown to drop off and return. The program’s short format complements afternoon visits to the Savannah River Greenway, parks, or the nearby historic district, turning a morning of discovery into an afternoon of outdoor play. Staff speak English and the experience accommodates mobility needs, offering an inclusive, low-barrier way for kids to touch local history. This camp blends place-based education with playful energy, giving children tangible connections to Augusta’s past while parents get a safe, structured morning of discovery.