Smithfield Summer Camp
Campers will learn about life in Colonial America with interactive, hands-on activities. Campers will discover hearth cooking, weaving, leatherworking and more.
Experience required None
Difficulty Level Easy
Conditions: participants may work outdoors, but under a roof; please dress for the weather..
Maximum capacity is 10. Participants must be 8-10 years old
July 11-15
9am-12pm daily
$90 for Blacksburg residents, $95 for non-residents
Registration throughBlacksburg Parks and Recreation use keyword search Smithfield
Hands-on Gardening for Kids: Germination
Participants will learn hands-on gardening techniques by exploring the topic of seed germination and will learn to grow their own microgreens for use in food. Participants will also learn about historic plant uses.
This course is best suited for children ages 8 - 10 years old.
Experience required None
Difficulty Level Easy
Conditions: participants will be outdoors, please dress for the weather.
Maximum capacity is 6. Participants must turn in Smithfield paperwork before attending.
June 29
9am-11am
$10 for Blacksburg residents, $15 for non-residents
Registration throughBlacksburg Parks and Recreation use keyword search Smithfield
Beginning/Intermediate Blacksmithing: Burger Flipper
Participants will forge a decorative handle and spatula blade for the grill/cook fire. This class focuses on material manipulation and temperature control.
Experience required None
Difficulty Level Easy to Moderate
Conditions: participants will work around coal smoke and open flame; extreme caution and closed-toe shoes are required. Additional safety information provided after registration. Participants must sign a waver.
Maximum capacity: 5 per class - municipal COVID policies observed. Open to participants 16 and older; younger participants are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult.
April 30
10am- 4pm End times vary depending on student progress; instructors available until 4pm.
$90 for Blacksburg residents, $95 for non-residents
Registration throughBlacksburg Parks and Recreation use keyword search Smithfield
Classes are are Brought to you by our Platinum Sponsor, CMG Leasing
Hands-on Gardening for Kids: Plant Cloning
Participants will learn hands-on gardening techniques by exploring the topic of plant cuttings & cloning using mint and garlic. Participants will also learn about historic plant uses.
This course is best suited for children ages 8 - 10 years old.
Experience required None
Difficulty Level Easy
Conditions: participants will be outdoors; please dress for the weather.
Maximum capacity is 6. Participants must turn in Smithfield paperwork before attending.
June 22
9am-11am
$10 for Blacksburg residents, $15 for non-residents
Registration throughBlacksburg Parks and Recreation use keyword search Smithfield
Beginner Basket Weaving: Appalachian Style Ribbed Basket
Participants will learn to weave an old Appalachian style ribbed basket. Class led by Kathy Dulaney from Floyd, VA, a weaver of Old Appalachian style baskets for over 35 years.
Experience required None
Difficulty Level Easy to Moderate
Conditions: participants may work outdoors, but under a roof; please dress for the weather..
Maximum capacity: 6 per class - municipal COVID policies observed. Open to participants 16 and older; younger participants are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult.
Part 1: May 21 (Starting your Basket)
1- 4pm
Part 2: May 22 (Finishing your Basket- OPTIONAL)
1-4pm
$65 for Blacksburg residents, $70 for non-residents
Registration throughBlacksburg Parks and Recreation use keyword search Smithfield
History of Bluegrass Music Lecture and Demonstration
Participants will learn about the history of music in the Appalachian region, hear demonstrations of various instruments (banjo, guitar, dulcimer, autoharp, cello) and see how stylistic techniques evolved and changed over time.
Led by Stewart Scales, instructor for Virginia Tech’s Geography of Appalachia course.
Experience required None
Difficulty Level Easy
Conditions: participants may be outdoors, but under a roof; please dress for the weather..
Maximum capacity is 30. Participants must be at least 15 years of age or accompanied by an adult
August 7
2-4pm
$15 for Blacksburg residents, $20 for non-residents
Registration throughBlacksburg Parks and Recreation use keyword search Smithfield
Plein Air Painting
Participants will work with local artists Matt Gentry & Gerri Young to learn how to journal with watercolor paint in the “plein-air” style. No experience needed..
Experience required None
Difficulty Level Easy to Moderate
Conditions: participants may work outdoors, but under a roof; please dress for the weather..
Maximum capacity is 10. Participants must be at least 15 years of age and bring their own supplies.
May 28 and 29
9am-3pm
$15 for Blacksburg residents, $20 for non-residents
Registration throughBlacksburg Parks and Recreation use keyword search Smithfield
History of Smithfield from the Viewpoint of the African American Enslaved on site!
Dr. Kerri Moseley Hobbs and Dr. Daniel Thorp
April 30
Section 1: 1-2:30
Section 2: 3-4:30
Special Bonus: Live performance by Mischeck Mzumara, African Graduate Students Organization of VT, and National Theatre Association of Malawi
Maximum capacity: 25 per section.
Join Dr. Kerri Moseley-Hobbs and Dr. Daniel Thorp for a physical walking tour that presents narrative stories in the voices of African Americans enslaved at Smithfield and the facts of the economic business of slavery on site.
Lecture Follow-up on November 6: "Truth and Lies about Civil War Colored Regiments in SwVa). Between sections, Mischeck Mzumara will give a riveting one-person theatrical performance.
$5 for Blacksburg residents, $10 for non-residents; free to VT students (registration not required)
Registration through Blacksburg Parks and Recreation use keyword search Smithfield
There are many styles of learning. Whatever style you prefer, Smithfield has something for you, from hands-on workshops, to walking tours, lectures and town halls. Our offerings are updated regularly, so be sure to check with us often!
Colonial Campfire Cooking
Participants will work with Smithfield interpreter, Melvin Lester to learn about historic cooking methods used in the Colonial period via open-fire cooking. This class is interactive and hands-on; participants will have the opportunity to consume the meal that is prepared during the class.
Experience required None
Difficulty Level Easy
Conditions: participants may work outdoors around an open fire. Must be able to work in a smokey environment.
Maximum capacity is 6. Participants must be 18 or older.
July 16 (July 24 will be a rain date)
9am-5pm
$10 for Blacksburg residents, $15 for non-residents
Registration throughBlacksburg Parks and Recreation use keyword search Smithfield
Intermediate Blacksmithing: Hot Dog Tongs
Participants will forge a pair of long-handled BBQ tongs ideal for grabbing hotdogs from the grill or cookfire.
Experience required None
Difficulty Level Easy to Moderate
Conditions: participants will work around coal smoke and open flame; extreme caution and closed-toe shoes are required. Additional safety information provided after registration. Participants must sign a waver.
Maximum capacity: 5 per class - municipal COVID policies observed. Open to participants 16 and older; younger participants are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult.
May 14
10am- 4pm End times vary depending on student progress; instructors available until 4pm.
$100 for Blacksburg residents, $105 for non-residents
Registration throughBlacksburg Parks and Recreation use keyword search Smithfield
Classes and Lectures at Smithfield
Hands-on Gardening for Kids: Plant Division
Participants will learn hands-on gardening techniques by exploring the topic of plant division. Participants will also learn about historic plant uses.This course is best suited for children ages 8 - 10 years old.
Experience required None
Difficulty Level Easy
Conditions: participants will be outdoors; please dress for the weather.
Maximum capacity is 6. Participants must turn in Smithfield paperwork before attending.
June 15
9am-11am
$10 for Blacksburg residents, $15 for non-residents
Registration throughBlacksburg Parks and Recreation use keyword search Smithfield
Smithfield also thanks our classes sponsor, National Bank
An Introduction to the Teas of the World
Participants will learn about major tea producing countries across the globe and taste different examples of tea. Physical geography and tea production will also be discussed
Led by Stewart Scales, instructor for Virginia Tech’s Geography of Tea course.
Experience required None
Difficulty Level Easy
Conditions: participants may work outdoors, but under a roof; please dress for the weather..
Maximum capacity is 20. Participants must be at least 15, or accompanied by an adult.
May 29
2-5pm
$15 for Blacksburg residents, $20 for non-residents
Registration throughBlacksburg Parks and Recreation use keyword search Smithfield
Smithfield Medicinal Plants Tour
This walking tour offers participants the opportunity to learn about plant uses for historic medicinal purposes in Smithfield’s Kitchen Garden.
Experience required None
Difficulty Level Easy
Conditions: participants will be outdoors; please dress for the weather.
Maximum capacity is 12. Participants must be at least 15 years of age or accompanied by an adult
July 23
August 13
August 27
6:30-7:30pm
$15 for Blacksburg residents, $20 for non-residents
Registration throughBlacksburg Parks and Recreation use keyword search Smithfield
Weaving Lecture and Demonstration
Participants will learn about the history of weaving & spinning in colonial America and the tools used to complete this work. Participants will view a live demonstration of both weaving and spinning techniques, learning applications for modern day.
Experience required None
Difficulty Level Easy
Conditions: participants may work outdoors, but under a roof; please dress for the weather..
Maximum capacity is 10. Participants must be 15 or accompanied by an adult.
July 17
2-3pm
$10 for Blacksburg residents, $15 for non-residents
Registration throughBlacksburg Parks and Recreation use keyword search Smithfield
Jingle Bell Basket Weaving Class
Participants will receive an introduction to the over/under method of weaving with reed and will craft a jingle basket. No experience required.
Experience required None
Difficulty Level Easy
Conditions: participants may work outdoors, but under a roof; please dress for the weather..
Maximum capacity is 10. Participants must be at least 15 years of age or accompanied by an adult
August 13
1-4pm
$15 for Blacksburg residents, $20 for non-residents
Registration throughBlacksburg Parks and Recreation use keyword search Smithfield