The St. Mary’s County Museum Division is launching its 2026 Junior Historian Program at the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum, offering children ages 7–12 an engaging four-day outdoor experience that combines local history lessons with hands-on environmental activities during spring and summer breaks.
The program, held at the historic Piney Point Lighthouse Museum in St. Mary’s County, runs for three hours each day across four consecutive days per session. It emphasizes interactive exploration of Southern Maryland’s heritage and natural surroundings, with limited enrollment of 12 participants per session to ensure personalized attention. The fee is $100 per child for the full program. Upon completion, every child receives a Junior Historian certificate recognizing their participation and achievements.
For 2026, the program introduces two distinct tracks to appeal to both returning and first-time attendees. The New Adventures track delivers fresh activities designed specifically for this year, while the Classic track revives popular favorites from previous sessions.
The New Adventures track encourages repeat participants to explore new content but remains open to all eligible children. Sessions are scheduled for March 31–April 3 and June 15–June 18. Activities focus on local ecosystems and wildlife, including building an insect hotel and decorating a bat box to learn about bees and bats, assisting in the construction of a new pollinator garden at the museum, and studying the roles various animals play in Southern Maryland’s natural environments.
The Classic track suits newcomers and features time-tested activities. It runs July 27–30 and August 3–6. Highlights include a hands-on archaeological dig, designing and racing model boats, and crafting bird boxes and bird feeders.
Karen Stone, Manager of the St. Mary’s County Museum Division, highlighted the program’s value in a prepared statement: “Because Piney Point has so many interesting things for kids to explore, we thought it would be great to continue offering this fun yet educational multi-day Junior Historian program for children during summer break. With such a broad range of topics, participants are sure to find lots of fun things to do while enjoying the outdoors at the lighthouse.”
The initiative supports family-friendly educational opportunities in Southern Maryland by blending outdoor time with meaningful historical and scientific learning at one of the region’s iconic sites. The Piney Point Lighthouse Museum, overlooking the Potomac River, provides an ideal backdrop for these activities, drawing on its maritime history and natural setting.
Registration is required and parents should act quickly due to the small group sizes. For details on the program, additional museum educational offerings, or to inquire about enrollment, contact Olivia Flack with the Museum Division at Olivia.Flack@stmaryscountymd.gov. General information about the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum is available by calling (301) 994-1471.
This program builds on the Museum Division’s commitment to accessible, engaging youth education in St. Mary’s County, providing structured yet enjoyable ways for young residents to connect with their local past and environment during school breaks.