Aili McGill - Assistant General Manager for Guest Experience

This winter, we have been hard at working tweaking our daily programs and designing new ones in preparation for the 2011 season. With April first less than 3 weeks away, we have shifted into top gear to get all of our programs, buildings, and staff ready to engage the tens of thousands of guests who will visit Conner Prairie this year.

Opening Weekend is sure to be a smorgasbord of experiences, both new and old. If you’ve never been to Conner Prairie before, April 1st, 2nd, and 3rd will be a great time to come to get a sense of all we have to offer. If you know and love Conner Prairie, the first three days of April will be a great chance to get your ‘fix’ of all the great experiences that have lay dormant all winter, as well as a taste (literally and figuratively) of what is to come.

Some of 2011’s new experiences that you can try out on Opening Weekend include:
-    The Campbell Family Party, where Dr. and Mrs. Campbell welcome all new and potential neighbors to come and enjoy singing, dancing, games and more.
-    A new pottery shop is going to be built in Prairietown, and construction has already begun! You may be able to help out with the timber frame construction across from the Cabin for Sale. Never fear, though, pottery demonstrations will continue in the former shop until the new site is ready!
-    A horse packing activity will be ready and waiting for folks in the Lenape Camp – you’ll have the chance to see how much a horse could carry, and what might have to be left behind!

Of course, there are a lot of ‘favorite’ programs that will be back for 2011, including:
-    Taste the Past: This year, Mrs. Curtis is sharing her collection of recipes with the world.  During Opening Weekend, you’ll have the chance to nibble on her home-made maple gingerbread.
-    Animal Encounters: As always, Kevyn and his staff will have the barn stocked with cute & fuzzy barnyard creatures for you to meet and learn all about.
-    Science Lab: There will be even more new and fun ways to explore the science of the past this year.  Come to the Science Lab to find out more!

Of course, there are lots of other new and interesting nuances to the 2011 season that you’ll only be able to experience if you come back throughout the year. For example, we will be trying out new and fun ways to help you explore Prairietown – everything from uncovering the latest gossip to allowing you to build your skills in certain areas of expertise.  And, of course, there’s always 1863 Civil War Journey, which is set to open on June 4th – anyone who loves Conner Prairie and/or the Civil War will definitely want to come back for that experience once it opens!

It’s sure to be another fun and exciting year here – we can’t wait to share it with you!

Dave Allison - General Manager for Experience Delivery

Have you ever dreamed of flying a balloon? Do you wonder how Conner Prairie's giant helium tethered balloon works? If so, we have just the experience for you...
 
If you elect to join us for our Junior Aeronaut Premium Experience, you’ll learn to read the instruments, determine weather conditions and control the balloon. Then you’ll take a flight and help to fly the balloon! This experience is weather dependent. Price includes flight training experience and a Junior Aeronaut Certificate with wings. 1859 Balloon Voyage ticket sold separately.

Schedule: Available every flight, 1-2 Jr. Aeronauts per flight. Offered daily, 10-4:30 (Tues – Sat) and 11-4:30 (Sun). Excludes all special events.

Length of experience: 10-15 minutes

Instructor: One pilot will “instruct” 1-2 “aeronauts”

Availability: Open to anyone ages 3 and older

Cost: $10.00 per individual (1859 Balloon Voyage ticket sold separately)
 
Our trained pilots will walk you through weather basics and provide exciting information about balloon pilots (known as aeronauts in the 19^th-century) and the science and history of gas balloons.
Come fly with us!