In today’s toy world, however, with metal and plastic replacing wood, mass manufacturing replacing careful craftsmanship and science-fiction replacing simplicity, the thing that’s really lacking is the creativity and uniqueness that once went into traditional toys.
On Saturday, July 31, Cumberland Heritage Village Museum is giving kids the opportunity to see the hard work that used to go into making toys and other household items, at the museum’s Carpentry for Kids workshop from 10 a.m. to noon.
The carpentry workshop is the latest instalment of the museum’s ‘Back to Basics’ summer workshop series for kids.
The workshops aim to make traditional skills like knitting, cooking and rural resourcefulness fun for modern kids, and to help them understand the effort put into items we now often take for granted.
The July 31 workshop will be put on by Cumberland Heritage Village’s in-house carpenter, in the museum’s own carpentry shop.
During the workshop, kids will make their own unique wooden puzzle to take home at the end of the day – which education officer Patricia Lamarche said will likely wow their family and friends.
“Back in the 1920s and 30s, the reality was that buying a toy wasn’t nearly as easy as it is today, so many families used to make their own toys at home,” said Lamarche.
“Making something yourself leaves you with a much more unique end product. If you buy a puzzle at the store you know that there are thousands of those puzzles out there, all exactly alike,” she said.
“That’s what’s missing from consumer culture – uniqueness and individuality.”
If adults are interested in trying their hand at heritage trades, too, Cumberland Museum is also hosting a blacksmithing workshop for adults on the same day, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Cumberland museum’s blacksmith, Robert Vaughan, will teach the basics of the ancient art at his forge on site.
At the end of the day, students will leave with a handcrafted sample of ironwork.
“It’s really interesting to try, and fulfilling when you’ve made something yourself that you can actually use,” said Vaughan.
“The best part of blacksmithing to me is the opportunities for creativity that come with it.”
Depending on the individuals’ abilities and interests, the workshop could have participants making anything from metal hooks to a dinner gong, said Vaughan.
“It’s always more rewarding to know how to make things yourself,” added Lamarche.
The Back to Basics: Carpentry workshop takes place Saturday, July 31 from 10 a.m. to noon at Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, located at 2940 Old Montreal Road in Cumberland. Cost for the workshop is $4 per participant. Advance registration required. Ages 7 to 12.
The adult blacksmithing workshop will run the same day from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Cost is $4 per participant. Ages 14 and up.
For more information or to register call 613-833-3059 or visit Ottawa.ca/museums.
