For a fun and educational experience this Winter Break, families can visit the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian to make a Native American inspired craft. While the kids are out of school, the museum has expanded its weekend craft program to every day, all day long during the weekdays the museum is open. The crafts are free with regular admission.

In addition to regular weekend crafts (Saturdays, 11:00-noon and Sundays, 12:30-1:30pm) on Dec. 22, 23, 29 and 30, the entire family can make and take home simple versions of traditional Native American items including:

 Coyote Puppets-In Native American storytelling, the role of a coyote in a story helps to communicate a particular lesson about life to listeners. Native Americans also look to the behavior of the coyote in nature as a guide on how to lead a life of balance and happiness.

 Ledger Art- Ledger art is a term for Plains Indian narrative drawing or painting on paper or cloth. It evolved from painting on hides, and flourished from the 1860s to the 1920s, and then again in the 1960s and 1970s. The term comes from the accounting ledger books that were a common source of paper for Plains Indians during the late 19th century.

 Woven Baskets- Baskets were made and traded by tribes throughout North American. They are made from a variety of fibrous material and used for a wide-range of utilitarian and religious purposes.

Kid’s craft activities are recommended for children ages 5 and up, but there is no minimum age requirement. Participants must be accompanied by an adult. No pre-registration is necessary.

The Mitchell Museum is one of only a handful of museums in the country that focuses exclusively on the art, history and culture of American Indian and First Nation peoples throughout the United States and Canada. In 2012, The Mitchell Museum was named “Best Museum of The North Shore: Up and Comer” by Make it Better magazine, won the Superior award by the Illinois Association of Museums and was named a national finalist by the American Association of State and Local History award program.

For more information about The Mitchell Museum of The American Indian, visit www.mitchellmuseum.org or call 847-475-1030. The museum is open Tuesday-Wednesday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday- Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, students and children and Free for Mitchell Museum members and Tribal members. The museum is CLOSED Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.