Women’s Rights National Historical Park to Celebrate National Poetry Month

Date: March 29, 2014
Contact: Jamie Wolfe, 315-568-0024

Seneca Falls, NY - Women's Rights National Historical Park will celebrate National Poetry Month this April by participating in the "Poem in My Pocket," town-wide activity for local children. The program is sponsored by Mynderse Public Library and is designed to promote appreciation of poetry. During the first week of April, the students will receive a short poem, which they will practice at school and at home.

On April 10, from 3:30 to 4:30 pm, park rangers will be on hand at Mynderse Public Library to assist the students in a "Build-a-Pocket" craft activity. The children will make and decorate their very own pocket to keep their poems.

During the week of April 23-30, 2014, second and third graders from Frank Knight Elementary School will be sharing their poems with local citizens.The children will carry a poem in their own pocket and are invited to visit any participating local business during regular operating hours. Students will say, "I have a poem in my pocket" and they will read their poem to any employee. In return, businesses will "reward" the students with a small incentive.

"Women's Rights National Historical Park interprets the history of the 1848 First Women's Rights Convention and the park is fundamentally intertwined with our local communities through that history," said Park Superintendent Ami Ghazala. "Women's Rights National Historical Park is proud to participate in the "I Have a Poem in My Pocket" program," said Ghazala."This reminds us that there is an important cultural dimension to that relationship. We are proud to participate in these events in Seneca Falls and Waterloo and to be part of the Finger Lakes community."    

"The park staff is thrilled to be part of such a wonderful activity which encourages creativity, self-confidence, and promotes self-expression through poetry," said Chief of Interpretation, Kimberly Szewczyk. Contact a park ranger on the grounds of one of our historic sites or in the park's visitor center during the program week. "We have free children's poetry books for the first 30 students who share their "Poem in My Pocket" with us," added Szewcyzk.

The park visitor center is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM. For more information, please visit our website at www.nps.gov/wori or call [phone].Follow the park's social media sites for Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/womensrightsnps) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/#!/WomensRightsNPS) to learn more about our upcoming programs.