Swannanoa Valley Museum to host 'History Explorer' series

Beginning Aug. 22, the Swannanoa Valley Museum and History Center is hosting hour-long activities for children every other Saturday morning.

The museum's "History Explorer" series focuses on topics of the ecology and history of the Swannanoa Valley and the Appalachian Mountains.

The remaining three events offered through the series:

• Sept. 5: Butterflies & Pollination: An event aimed at preschool through second grade, children will learn about the life cycle of the butterfly while using crafts to make representations of each stage of the butterfly life cycle.
• Sept. 19: Quilts: Colors, Patterns and Symbols:  An event aimed at kindergarten through second grade, children will view historic, handmade quilts and learn quilt patterns. Children will finish by coloring their own quilt patterns.
• Oct. 3:History's Mysteries: Life on a Farmstead: An event aimed at kindergarten through fourth grade, children will learn about life in the Swannanoa Valley 200 years ago and then guess the uses of several artifacts.

Each event will begin at 10 a.m. in the lot behind the Black Mountain United Methodist Church and is limited to 20 attendees. Attendance is $5.

"We are very excited to be able to share these fun activities to kids in an open-air environment so that parents will have some options for in-person learning as the school year progresses this fall," said museum director LeAnne Johnson.

Water will be available for $1, with masks being required for all attendees over 11 years old. Any cancellation announcements because of weather will be announced by 5 p.m. the day before the program.

Tickets and additional information can be found on the museum's website.