When I tell folks that I work at Conner Prairie, many of them ask me what I do in the winter. The general perception seems to be that there isn't much going on here. However, I find that for managers, winter can be the most productive time of all! So, I thought I would share a little of my winter here at Conner Prairie.

First of all, it's important to picture the major shift that takes place in the Experience Division offices. From April-October, those of us responsible for delivering the experiences on the grounds are usually heavily engaged in on-the-spot decision making. If we're lucky enough to be in our offices at all, it's usually because we're working on producing something for next week's program, or next month's schedule of interpreters, or tomorrow's big event.

However, in the winter, all that changes. The stress level morphs from "How am I going to fix this one big problem right now" to "What is the best way to tackle all of these issues before April?" We are usually in or around our offices, and our work turns more towards brainstorming new ideas, sculpting new experiences, and long-term problem solving. We tend to be more mischievous and brimming with phrases like, "Wouldn't it be great if we..." and "I wonder if there's a way that we could..." and so on. We barge into each other's meetings just to share funny anecdotes or to tease someone affectionately. It's really a fun environment in which to work.

This winter, my teammates and I have decided that we have some key areas where we should focus our attention to make our old experiences even better, and we've been challenged to create a couple of new experiences. Here are my sneak-preview tips on some of the things you will want to check out during the next season:

• Jenny's Party: a daily opportunity to party-down 1836-style
• Taste the Past: your once-a-week chance to nibble on some tasty and interesting recipes from Indiana's history
• A triumphant return of several Museum Theater pieces from 2008, including pieces about women's suffrage and labor rights

And, of course, the winter is full of opportunities to learn new and inspiring things. Here are a few interesting tidbits I've learned in the past three weeks, which I hope you will find equally fascinating:

• Our cattle, especially the oxen, much prefer cold winter weather over hot summer weather.
• One mark of a truly refined woman in 1836 was posture so good that her back never touched the back of her chair.
• The harness used for climbing the balloon is incredibly uncomfortable.

Please stay tuned to the Conner Prairie staff blog to get more sneak-peeks of the 2010 season. I can't wait to tell you more about the fun and exciting details we develop!

As I stood on the edge of the cliff, breathtaking mountains before me and ice-cold glacial runoff serenely waiting in the lake below me, I almost backed out. We had hiked for hours to get to this cliff, to jump off and let the bone-chilling Alaskan water take our breaths away. But I was so scared-for the long fall to the water, the climbing back up, the exceedingly low water temperature-until one of my leaders told me something I'll never forget. "When you're old like me," he said, "and you look back on your best moments in life, you'll find that so many of them took place outdoors. Just jump-this could be one of them." So I did. And he was right.

For years before and years after my high school cliff-jumping adventure, I either went to, worked at or volunteered at summer camps, where being outdoors is the inspiration and lifeblood of your experience. The open air, I believe, releases in kids and adults a sense of adventure, imagination and exploration like nothing else can.

I may spend much of my time in a cubicle these days, but I'm also lucky enough to work at a place where the outdoors is a critical part of what we do-and where summer camp is, too! Our summer day camps run weekly from June 7 through July 30 and let kids get outside, where they can start making those "best moments in life" right now. Choose Art Camp or Adventure Camp -in either case, Conner Prairie's 800 acres of outdoor area will challenge and inspire your kids, and they'll experience new adventures every day, just like I did during all those years of summer camp fun.

Whether at Art Camp or Adventure Camp, and whether it's learning pinch pottery, taking on our challenge course, drawing with cold coals from a fire pit or sliding full-speed down our new Water Whoosh (you can bet I'll find a reason to test that one out before the summer is over), kids can be themselves and let the great outdoors be their muse.

Registration isn't open yet, but keep these dates on your calendar: plus-level Conner Prairie members can begin registering on February 26, then open registration for the general public begins March 5. Find details and register online, and check out some Adventure Camp and Art Camp fun on our Flickr site.