Company, Halt!

The Lew Wallace Youth Academy wrapped up today with an audience with General Lew Wallace (seated) in his officer's tent. General Wallace and his troops will receive visitors until 9:00 p.m. tonight, and again from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday.

The Academy "recruits" get the feel for their woodfield rifles before the captain drills them.

Tanner, Felipe, and Jordan help the surgeon with an "amputation."

The patient, Sam, said the hardest part of "losing" his leg was that he could hear the sawing but couldn't see what they were cutting!

Pleasure-houses for Their Souls

Angelica creates a 3-D model of her own personal study, complete with observatory, library, and spa.

The blueprint for Javan's study includes a rocket, swimming pool, big-screen TV room with Xbox, and an elevator.

Solving Problems - History Detectives

Jordan and Tanner examine historic photos of the General Lew Wallace Study grounds with Beth Swift, Wabash College archivist, in an effort to locate the reflecting pool that Wallace filled in around 1900.

Dear Mr. Mayor...

Sam and Chaz work on their letters to the Mayor of Crawfordsville. Later,

Dr. Helen Hudson helped them transform that letter into a two-minute speech. Our intern, Kevin Stevens (Wabash Collge, class of 2011), played the part of the mayor as the spokesperson from each small group presented their cases. The mayor will receive their letters - on Lew Wallace Youth Academy letterhead - next week!

Lew Wallace Youth Academy Day Two: Creating and Appreciating Art

academy7809 008, originally uploaded by WallaceStudy.

A Lew Wallace Youth Academy student begins his plein-air painting on the grounds of the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum while Museum Intern Kevin Stevens looks on.

Lew Wallace Youth Academy Day Two: Creating and Appreciating Art

academy7809 003, originally uploaded by WallaceStudy.

A new crop of budding artists tried their hand at plein-air painting today on the grounds of the General Lew Wallace Study and Museum, as part of the nationally-recognized Lew Wallace Youth Academy. The Academy, which focuses on a different discipline each day, will run through July 11, 2009.

Lew Wallace Youth Academy is Underway

The first day of the Lew Wallace Youth Academy, Exploring Other Cultures, was a success! The middle-school students jumped into the cultures of Uganda with singing, dancing, and drumming in a traditional African style. Dr. James Makubuya from Wabash College and Sr. Stella Sabina led the activities with enthusiasm, encouraging students and adults alike to try sounding out words in Swahili and coordinating arms and legs in a dance. The kids enjoyed themselves thoroughly:

"I loved dancing, singing, and drumming with my friends."

"It was really cool and I love learning new languages and new dances."

"My experience with other cultures was awesome. I loved the dance and the drumming together. It was great."

At an age that most people consider awkward, the Academy students jumped in and tried something completely new with enthusiasm and vigor, making new friends along the way.