School Tours and Workshops, Scout Workshops
and Educational Materials

Ash Lawn-Highland offers a variety of educational workshops for all ages. Ranging from Candlemaking to Farm Tours, these workshops give students an insight into the life of President James Monroe in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Ash Lawn-Highland also welcomes all Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts for specially designed Scout workshops. All Workshops include a house tour. Prices are listed here.

Workshops at Ash Lawn-Highland
(A Tour of Monroe's home, Highland, is included with each workshop.)

Spiders, Cranes and Bales - Enjoy open hearth cooking as it would have been done in the kitchens of James Monroe. Delve into authentic 19th century cooking traditions including receipts (recipes) for foods and medicines.

Fun and Games 1800s Style - Play the games Monroe daughters, Maria Hester and Eliza, would have enjoyed here at Highland, including graces, quoits, and Nine Man Morris. And just for fun make rope!

One If By Land (Lantern Making) - Create your own hand-punched lantern using techniques from Monroe's youth. At the end of the workshop, the lantern is yours to take home.

Lighten Up (Candle Dipping) - No need to raid the bee hives. Make your own hand-dipped beeswax candles like those used at Highland. They are yours to take home at the end of the workshop.

Curliques and Filigrees - Create your own work of art. Use a 19th century art form, paper quilling, to transform tiny strips of paper into interesting and unusual designs. We provide the paper and you make the "ques" for cards and jewelry.

Decorations and Doodads - Using a variety of materials, participants will make ornaments inspired by Monroe's "cabin castle," Highland. Select from age appropriate options. Come pinch, punch and roll with us.

Monroe is the Man - Explore leadership. In a conversation with President Monroe, discuss his experience as a patriot, a planter, and a public servant. Ask him about his successes and failures as a leader.

Groups rates for the above workshops are $10 for students and $15 for adults. A list is available of the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs) covered during these workshops.

When Civilizations Collide: Treaty Making with President James Monroe - Students will be guided through this migratory journey not only from the perspective of the American settler but also the American Indian. Student interaction will be part of a detailed examination of American Indian and Settler culture, including language, food production, religion, government and land ownership. There will be an opportunity to role play both the Settlers and the Indians thereby practicing the art of negotiation and compromise.

Archaeology - learn the basics of archaeological excavation and dig on the estate. Workshop participants will learn techniques of archaeology as they excavate, screen and wash artifacts. Workshop space is limited and is not recommended for large groups. Available only by request.

Group rates for these two workshops are $15 for students and $20 for adults.

Girl Scout and Boy Scout Workshops
For Girl Scouts:
A Girls' Life (2 hours) - $15 - Designed for Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts-Step back in time at Ash Lawn – Highland, home of President James Monroe.  Come discover the world of a girl in the 18th century, experience life as a slave girl and the daughter of a plantation owner and learn crafts and games the Monroe daughters would have played.  Brownies will earn “Her Story” and “Listening to the Past”.  Juniors will earn “Folk Arts” and “My Heritage”.  Schedule a time by calling Ash Lawn – Highland at 434-293-9539 or email to info@ashlawnhighland.org).  A minimum of 10 girls is needed to sign up and groups are limited to about 20 in size.   You may be put with another Troop as needed. Girl Scout programs are available on Mondays only in January, February, March, September and November.

For Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts:
Cub Scout American Heritage Belt Loop (2 hours) - $12 - Cub Scouts will be able to fulfill some of the requirements for the American Heritage Belt loop, completion will require some work on your own after the program. We invite the scouts to make candles or lanterns with our staff, discuss the meaning of names, and also help create their family album.

Boy Scout American Heritage Merit Badge (4 hours) - $20 - Offered on Saturdays, Boy Scouts can come and learn about their American heritage through the eyes of James Monroe. We will offer a one day program to include all requirements.

Boy Scout Archaeology Merit Badge (6 hours) - $25 -

Offered on request, Boy Scouts will be able to excavate and clean artifacts (weather permitting) and will spend six hours working on and finishing this badge. We offer a one or two day version, depending on your time, or allowing the troop to camp at one of our local campground’s and take in tours of other historical sites.