Education Programs

Outreach

Art on the Go: Discover the Hoosier Group of Artists
Grades 3 – 8
Students will learn about Hoosier artists, specifically those from Brown County. T.C. Steele was a member of the Hoosier Group and helped form the Brown County Art Colony. Discover who the other members were and their influence on Midwest and American art.
Cost is $2.50 per student. Price breaks for a large group (100+) are available.

Steeles: Technology Pioneers in Brown County
Grades K – 5
Discover how the Steele family brought a piece of the city to the country and how they were technology pioneers in Brown County. Today, many students think of technology as computers, iPods or an Xbox. During the time the Steeles lived in Brown County, they had a player piano, rugs and shawls that were woven on a loom using a special technique. What is the connection to today? It’s the binary code. Computers and other electronic equipment still use the binary code today.
Cost is $2.50 per student. Price breaks for a large group (100+) are available.

On-Site Programs

Art and Orienteering
Grades 4 – 12
The goal of orienteering is to navigate along an unfamiliar course using only a map and compass. Here’s how it works: four or five locations have been chosen for their artistic or historical significance around the 211-acre property. Reproduction images of paintings, historic photos and other objects related to the Steeles are contained in a waterproof box at each location. Compasses and maps are available for groups to use to find the boxes. There are clues in each box to lead you to the next place. The boxes can be interpreted on the trail by a staff member or brought back to the classroom for discussion. A “challenge course” is also available for high school students. For groups with no experience in orienteering, a “how-to” program is available upon request.
Cost is $2.50 per student. A combination program and site tour is available for $3.50 per student.

Tour the House of the Singing Winds and T.C. Steele’s Studio
All grade levels
T.C. Steele was inspired by the picturesque scenes he encountered in Brown County. This tour takes students to the House of the Singing Winds, Steele's Large Studio and gardens landscaped by T.C. Steele's wife. You can also include the grounds, cemetery and Dewar Log Cabin. An art project can finish the day. Your class could also hike to the remote studio and do some sketching.
Cost is $1 per student. A combination site tour and program is available for $3 per student.

For more information on educational events and standards at T.C. Steele State Historic Site, contact Christine Atkinson, Arts Program Developer, at catkinson@dnr.in.gov.