Posts by AJ Fecher
The Impact of the Conner Prairie Alliance
I joined the Conner Prairie Alliance in 2009. At the time, my daughter Katy was a new youth interpreter, and I wanted to support the museum’s mission, particularly its outreach…
Read MoreThe Influence of the White River for a Better Tomorrow
It starts with a trickle and ends with a roar. The Upper White River Watershed starts its 2,752 square mile journey in Harrisville, traversing sixteen counties and flowing through the…
Read MoreTop 5: Strange Brews
Americans annually drink, on average, around 30 gallons of beer. That average isn’t much different from 19th century consumption, but the beer being drunk is definitely in a different class.…
Read MoreWhy Livestock Conservancy is an important leader for heritage breeds
Have you ever wondered why Conner Prairie has heritage breeds? Rare breeds of livestock and poultry are part of our national and cultural heritage. Sure, we want to exhibit animals that…
Read MoreHeritage Breeds: Why Should We Care?
Conner Prairie’s Heritage Breeds program is an essential part of the work that we do with preservation and education within our Agriculture department. We not only serve and protect these…
Read MoreMemory Cafés: A Place of Belonging
When you think of the word “dementia,” what comes to mind? Most likely, you didn’t think of many positive words associated with the condition. There is a stigma attached to…
Read MoreMore Than Just a Cute Face: The Impact of Arapawa Goats
Conner Prairie has a long history with agriculture and caring for heritage breed livestock. Currently we are the home of 5 heritage breed breeding herds: American rabbits, Arapawa Island Goats,…
Read MoreConner Prairie Reimagines the Future During 2021 Annual Meeting
How the pandemic has reshaped how the world views and uses museums FISHERS, Ind. — (April 5, 2022) – The past two years have highlighted Conner Prairie’s adaptability to meet…
Read MoreAutism Acceptance: Where We Have Been To Where We Are Now
History, as a whole, is simply a series of relationships. These range from the personal, to the local, to the national, and span from friendships to economic relationships to political…
Read MorePhilanthropy is Personal
But humility can hold us back, it can keep us from making human connections and telling the stories others need to hear to be inspired by the mission of our community agencies. Now is the time to reshape our humility and to talk about our passions.
Read MoreFamily Staff Connections Important to Conner Prairie
Scientists have debated for years whether we each have seven doppelgangers in the world, or only one. If you visited Conner Prairie any time in 2021, the idea of look-alikes…
Read MoreNew Hires to Help Conner Prairie Transform its Role in the Community
Strategic Leadership Additions Will Advance Guest Experience; Interpretation; Development; And Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, And Inclusion INDIANAPOLIS — Over the past year, Conner Prairie has expanded its teams with several key…
Read MoreBuilding Community Connections through American Sign Language Programs
Conner Prairie is a special place — a portal to a time very different to our own. When a visitor arrives, they are confronted with the physical reality of another…
Read MoreMoscow Mule
Moscow Mule Recipe What you’ll need: Instructions:
Read MoreThe Will To Plan
The term “family” means different things to different people, and I fully understand and appreciate that. Regardless of your definition, I imagine your family is the most important thing to…
Read MoreThe Journey of Belonging
“In its silent way, belonging is the central conversation of our times.” – Toko-pa Turner The Process of Unlearning The Student Experience Research Network defines belonging as “the sense that…
Read MoreHasselback Apples
Hasselback Apples Recipe What You’ll Need: Instructions:
Read MoreNew Adult Volunteers Encouraged to Join the Conner Prairie Alliance!
The Conner Prairie Alliance is excited to re-open its annual Apple Store at Conner Prairie on September 15th and is accepting new adult members into the Conner Prairie Alliance! As…
Read MoreEndless Exploration: Your Conner Prairie Membership
“Hey, Conner Prairie, when can we come back?” This is a question asked by many intrepid explorers at the end of busy days spent at Conner Prairie. Frankly, they make…
Read MoreSpending the Day at Conner Prairie (An Itinerary for Adults)
As a 20-year-old, working at Conner Prairie this summer as an intern has truly been a blast. I ventured to the museum often as a child for school field trips,…
Read MoreWE ARE storytellers: A look at Planting and Growing and Fonseca’s Role in Amplifying Voices
Understanding the Importance of History Martin Luther King Jr. once said that, “We are not makers of history. We are made by history.” Not all History is told accurately or…
Read MoreWhat Food Reveals About Ourselves
Whether you are indoors or outdoors, resting on cushions on the floor or sitting in front of TV trays on living room couches; every day, in every home, a table…
Read MoreThe Third Teacher
Wherever you are right now, stop, look up, and then scan the space you are in. How would you describe it? Use your senses to notice what your space looks…
Read MoreWedding Traditions Throughout History
When we think of weddings, we first think of three words: money, money, and money. An elaborate white dress, DJ’s lighting up the dance floor, and a feast fit for…
Read MoreLearning History, Culture, and Inclusivity Through Youth Theatre
Through the Academy Summer Intensive produced in partnership with Asante Children’s Theatre and Conner Prairie, Indianapolis children are able to learn both the art of theatre and American history along…
Read MoreHow Do You Play?
In 1994, at 25 years of age, I penned, produced, and performed my first one-man show, He Can Amuse Himself for Hours. Chicago Reader critic, Justin Hayford, viewed the work…
Read MoreHistoric Baseball in Indiana
Baseball is a sport rooted within American culture. While the sport was born in America, today it is played in over 100 countries. Growing up, I have fond memories of…
Read MoreWhat July Fourth Means to History
Every July Fourth holiday I have experienced has been different from the year before. Some years I celebrate with my family in our backyard with delicious hot dogs and bright…
Read MoreIgnite Your Curiosity as a Youth Volunteer
Becoming a Youth Volunteer at Conner Prairie When I was 9 years old, my mother called me over to her computer one day to show me some information she’d found…
Read MoreThe Art of Unlearning: Where Children Become their Own Teachers
I want you to imagine what early learning looks like. Do you imagine tiny, child-sized desks, the alphabet on the wall, and an explosion of primary colors? Do you think…
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