Historic Richmond Town

2023

July 10-14 | July 17-21 | July 31-August 4 | August 7-11

Applications for the 2023 Apprentice Program are now closed.

Please visit this page in Spring 2024 to apply for the 2024 apprenitce program.

Anna Maj; Tinsmithing

"I don't know whether it was the joys of making something by hand and seeing the tangible fruits of my labor; whether it was singing hearty, happy songs with the tinsmiths as we banged away; or whether it was eating homemade ice cream and lemon chess pie on the 4th of July. Participating in the apprenticeship program has added so much color and so many friends to my life.” --Anna Maj

Maria Conte; Basketmaking

“While I don’t know what I was expecting when I first came to Historic Richmond Town in 2011, I do know that it ended up being a second home that far exceeded any expectation I could have had. Aside from learning how to avoid accidentally setting my petticoat on fire while cooking, I learned a lot about history, people, and love in general. It was a place where everyone was welcome and an environment that brought about meaningful relationships. Seven years later, I still talk to my mentor, who taught me a lot more about life than just basket making (although basket making is very important). And a casual friend from middle school who did the program with me ended up becoming my best friend and currently my college roommate. Even though I’ve long aged out of the program, my time as an apprentice continues to play a huge part in who I am as a person. Being there gave me a level of confidence and support that I hadn’t found anywhere else, and I am forever grateful for the memories that Richmond Town has given me.” —Maria Conte

Christopher Browne; Tinsmithing

“I took the apprenticeship course in tinsmithing, looking for a historical experience, and I found it! I started at the bottom, cutting circles, but worked my way to making objects like cups, trays and sconces using tools and techniques that, without historic villages like Richmond Town, may have disappeared entirely. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the master Tinsmith is always there to lend a helping hand so that you may succeed.” –Christopher Brown

“The summers I spent as an apprentice at Historic Richmond Town were some of the best summers I’ve ever had! Learning basket making, cooking in the Guyon Lake Tysen House, and dancing in the Town Hall were just part of what made the apprenticeship such a memorable experience. The people who work at Historic Richmond Town are so knowledgeable and fun and taught me so much during my time here. I made lifelong friends here and still love to come back to volunteer.”
--Lindsay Hyman

Historic Richmond Town’s rich array of apprenticeships build real-world skills based upon centuries of American ingenuity. The program is a wonderful alternative to the tried and true summer camp. Individualized sessions in the Historic Trades are conducted in small groups of less than five and accelerate learning as students work with an experienced Artisan to build their skills learning an historic trade against the backdrop of NYC’s most complete living history village, where the historic settings are fully furnished for an immersive and hands-on practice.

What is the Apprentice Program?

WHO?

The Apprentice Program is open to kids ages 12-15 with an interest in and appreciation for history and hands-on learning.

WHAT?

The Summer Apprentice Program is an intimate hands-on experience where students work with an experienced Artisan to build their skills at an historic trade to create one-of-a-kind, hand crafted items.
Instructors provide one-on-one support and attention to participants and apprentices will be led in historical, recreational activities in addition to their time in their historic trade shops.
During the program, participants will be outfitted in historical costumes for the duration of the program, which coincides with public visitation hours during the summer Open Village.
At the end of the Apprentice Program, participants will take home their finished product(s), one-of-a-kind memories, and new skills and knowledge.

2023 HISTORIC TRADES PROGRAMS

Open Hearth Cooking: The hearth is the center of the kitchen; apprentices learn to manage the fire to power a Dutch oven, griddle, and reflector oven with a variety of authentic recipes from the 18th and 19th centuries. Desserts, main dishes, berry jams and more will be added to the take-home recipe book and skill set.

Basket Making: Learn how early Americans made their own baskets from reed and other plant materials. Participants learn the basic concepts of weaving and create their own functional baskets to take home.

Blacksmithing: Wield hand-tools to shape red-hot iron and manage the fire in the forge. Apprentices create useful objects using the anvil, teaming with other blacksmith apprentices.

Tinsmithing: Cutting and piercing tin may look simple, but it requires a good deal of skill. Apprentices will learn to use tin snips, cut a clean edge and read patterns to fashion bright, reflective objects. With practice, apprentices may evolve to shaping tin pieces on stakes and soldering multi-piece items.

Broom Making: Get swept up in the history of besoms and brooms and learn how people kept a clean house before modern technology. Participants will learn to make functional brooms using reproduction machines based on 19th century examples.

WHEN?

Each apprenticeship is a 5-day session, Monday-Friday, from 9:30am-4:30pm.

SUMMER 2023 SCHEDULE

Week 1, July 10-14:

Week 2, July 17-21:

Week 3, July 31-August 4:

Week 4, August 7-11:

WHERE?

The programs at Historic Richmond Town are scaled to be small and intimate for the betterment of the experience and instruction, which is conducive for a safe environment.
Most activities will be held outdoors or in well ventilated buildings with low capacity, and additional handwashing & hand sanitizing will be a part of the daily regimen.
Participants are required to bring their own lunch.

Application Process

Applications are now closed for the 2023 Apprentice Program. Please visit this page in Spring 2024 to apply next year.
Space is very limited for this program, and it is imperative that applicants understand what they can expect while participating in this program day-to-day.
Parents and Guardians of applicants will submit an application via online form. Applications are accepted April 15-June 3, 2023.
Once applications are submitted, applicants will take part in an interview with Historic Richmond Town staff. This ensures that applicants and guardians have a better understanding of what the program entails, and the apprenticeship that best fits the applicant.
Following interviews, accepted applicants will be placed in the appropriate apprenticeship(s). Due to space limitations, applicants may be placed in the apprenticeship that is their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd choice.

Commitment to Equity & Inclusion

At Historic Richmond Town, everyone is welcome.

Historic Richmond Town believes in the dignity and the intrinsic worth of every human being. We welcome, affirm, and support young people and adults of all abilities and disabilities, experiences, races, ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, religion and non-religion, citizenship and immigration status, and any other category people use to define themselves or others.

Equity Statement

Historic Richmond Town strives to continuously provide diverse, inclusive, and equitable environments throughout our organizations and programs. We recognize that both access to and success in our programs requires intentional work, to cultivate respect, eliminate systemic barriers, and address injustice head-on. At Historic Richmond Town we believe that words must be followed by progress, action, and accountability. We recognize that our efforts will be ongoing and evolving as we continue to grow, learn, collaborate, and press for an equitable future.

Inclusion in Our Programs

Youth of all backgrounds and abilities are welcome in Historic Richmond Town programs. Our staff will work with parents to ensure a successful experience, whether it's in a school-year program, apprentice program, or workshop. We encourage parents to be open with us about your child’s needs, so that we can determine how best to support your child.

Code of Conduct

At Historic Richmond Town we are dedicated to providing an excellent experience for our participants. To accomplish this goal, apprentices are expected to behave appropriately and promote a safe, fun and healthy environment. Our goal is to promote character values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility in all aspects of our program.