Sheep to Shawl, offered each spring to children in nursery school through Grade 5, includes demonstrations and hands-on activities related to the processing of wool, from shearing a sheep to making a shawl. Four unique stations keep the students actively involved as they observe and participate in the shawl-making process.
Sheep to Shawl 2025- A Heartfelt Thank You!
What an incredible experience this year’s Sheep to Shawl has been! From our Community Day to the field trip dates, we are beyond grateful to everyone who made this event possible.
A special thank you to Fred the Shearer, whose 40+ year relationship with this program continues to inspire and educate all of us. To Bill Oliver, for sharing his invaluable farmer expertise and experiences year after year. And to the dedicated sheep farmers – the Reimann and Ross families – for joining us this year with their sheep and knowledge.
We are also appreciative of the Rock Day Spinning Guild, whose members brought their incredible spinning skills to the event.
To our dedicated volunteers, hardworking staff, wonderful board members, and talented presenters – your passion and effort made this event special for everyone in attendance.
A huge thank you to Stewart’s for their generous Holiday Grant Matching program which helps us fund Sheep to Shawl year after year.
And of course, we are grateful for our partnership with so many local schools, whose students attended the field trips, and the community members of all ages who joined us for our annual Community Day – your enthusiasm and curiosity make this event so meaningful.
Pre-registration is required. Please contact education@brooksidemuseum.org.
Also available as an in-classroom program for $120 per session, plus mileage.
Information for Teachers
Sheep to Shawl runs for 1.5 hours. See your confirmation for your scheduled start time and information regarding the daily schedule.
It is important that we begin the program on time in order to keep to our daily time schedule. If your group arrives after the program starts, you will be guided to the appropriate location, but you may not “make-up” any missed activities or stations. If you know ahead of time that you will be arriving late, please let us know. Also be sure that you are sure of our exact location. We are located at the intersection of Charlton Street, Front Street and Fairground Avenue in downtown Ballston Spa. Our address is 21 Fairground Avenue, Ballston Spa, NY 12020.
Please have each child wear a name tag with their name printed in large letters.
The program runs rain or shine. Some of the activities will be held outside on the grounds of the Saratoga County History Center with demonstrations under tents. The children should wear comfortable outdoor clothing and shoes. Please be sure that the children are prepared for cool temperatures and rain, whenever necessary.
The parking lot is open to buses, those needing handicap accessible parking and sheep transport trailers. In groups where parents are bringing students to the program, drivers should plan to park along Front Street or Charlton Street and walk to the museum with their children. Handicap accessible parking is available at the museum. Please consider notifying us ahead of time if you need accessible parking so we can reserve a space for you.
REGISTRATION & CANCELLATION POLICY FOR EDUCATION PROGRAMS
- Registration for on-site education programs must be done in advance and payment must be received 2 weeks prior to the scheduled visit in order to hold the reservation. A credit card may also be used to hold the reservation. If payment or credit card is not received by the required date, the time slot will be offered to another group from our waiting list.
- Chaperones will be charged the same fee as the students. There will be no charge for teachers, teacher aides or other school employees.
- Our on-site program takes place both inside our building and on our grounds under tents. The program runs rain or shine. SCHC will only cancel the program if weather is severe and every attempt will be made to reschedule the cancelled program. If the program cannot be rescheduled, a refund will be given.
- Refunds for a program cancelled by the school group can only be guaranteed if one week’s notice is given. For cancellation notice of less than a week, a refund will be given only if the time slot can be filled with another group.
