When Nancy Brennan, Executive Director of Plimoth Plantation, spoke at the April 1999 meeting of our Connecticut society, she emphasized the initiatives being developed to bring history to life for children and young people. The staff at Plimoth Plantation is seeking to compensate for educational deficiencies in the schools. Today's textbooks on history are often outdated, boring, or distorted.

Realizing that "emotion is the glue that holds the drama" of history together, the staff seeks to create a sensory environment that engages "the mind, heart, and spirit" of young visitors. Children learn how to pulverize Indian corn. The animals the children see have been bred back to actual 17th century varieties.

Painting in St. Wilfred's Church, Scrooby, England

Our Connecticut Junior Enrollees

• We encourage our members to enroll their children and grandchildren as Juniors.
• Our Junior enrollment fee is only $5.
• We believe that families become more engaged in the Mayflower heritage when children are included in this way.
• Our Juniors Committee tries to keep in contact with these youngsters and our newsletter sometimes includes a special section for them.
• Between the ages of 18 to 25, our Juniors are "retired" as Junior enrollees and encouraged to join as regular members.
• For information about our Juniors program, contact Kenneth Adam by letter (PO Box 3511, Groton, CT 06340-8132) or e-mail: Kenne17254@aol.com.

Our Connecticut Scholarships

• Each year we award the Mrs. Henry G. Isham Scholarship.
• Just recently we have established a second scholarship: The Bernice A. Livingston Rieg Scholorship.
• Both scholarships adhere to the same guidelines and deadlines.
• Any graduating high school senior who is a resident in Connecticut is eligible for these scholorships.
• Academic achievement, extra-curricular involvement, community service and financial need are considered in the review of each application.
• Applicants must have confirmed plans to attend a college or university to be considered as a bona fide scholarship applicant and provide evidence of actual acceptance at a college or university prior to receiving this award.
• The completed application and all required documentation must be received by March 1st each year.
• Requests for applications should be sent to sent to Scholarship Chairman: Lois Johnson (10 Holly Lane, Wallingford, CT 06492).

• Our Education Committee distributes The Mayflower Compact to local schools and is currently initiating a pilot program to have selected schools use The Coming to America Education Kit developed through the initiative of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants. For more information about this kit or the children's videotape cited below, contact the General Society at http://www.mayflower.org/.
• A children's videotape, The Mayflower's Story, is available and can be borrowed by interested teachers. In this award-winning video sponsored by the General Society, the journey and early years of settlement are depicted through the eyes of young viewers.
• We are looking for volunteers to share the Mayflower story with school children, either by talking to them about its passengers or by making and/or wearing Pilgrim costumes. For more information about our educational initiatives, contact Nola Johannes, 144 Glenwood Street, Manchester, CT 06040.