Arcadia Homestead: Story Time with Miss Moss

Cassie Brown

Posted: 7/20/2020

   

In a time of quarantine and isolation, children (and even parents) are suffering from “cabin fever” and need something to do. The Arcadia Mill staff understand how difficult these times are and have created a way to entertain and educate children without putting anyone at risk. Every Wednesday, the character Miss Moss sits underneath the story tree and reads a story about history, culture, nature, feelings, and more. These short videos posted on social media have helped to not only entertain families, but to keep connections with the Arcadia community.

The “Story Time with Miss Moss,” program began in the Summer of 2019 by the Arcadia Mill staff for the Arcadia Homestead that opened earlier in the same year. For years, the Arcadia Mill Visitor Center had hosted their monthly kids craft program, and they wanted to continue this outreach by creating a program to encourage literacy at the Arcadia Homestead. The character Miss Moss was created by Krystal Johnson, the site’s Education Coordinator, as a tool to connect with children during these story times. In her overalls and moss-covered brim hat, Johnson sits in a rocking chair under the live heritage oaks on the homestead property to read a story. She reads stories such as “The Lorax,” “If You Give a Pig a Pancake,” and, “Where the Wild Things Are.” She even touches on topics like celebrating Juneteenth, a holiday celebrating the freedom gained by those once enslaved. When asked why she started this program, Johnson replied, “I wanted to get families outdoors, enjoying nature and learning together. The enormous heritage oaks at Arcadia Homestead provide a picturesque, peaceful, and most importantly, shaded, area for gathering outdoors. I would often wonder about the stories these old live oak trees could tell about what they have witnessed in their centuries-long lives.”

With the impact of COVID-19 reaching across the country, the staff found a way to continue this treasured story time. The setting is a little different, with the viewer at home, but the message is still the same: The Arcadia staff wishes to continue educating, entertaining, and connecting with their community. The videos on Facebook of Miss Moss include a different story every week and recently have included a sing-along at the very end. While these videos have helped everyone stay connected this summer, the Arcadia staff deeply miss seeing everyone. When asked if there was anything else she wanted people to know about Miss Moss, she replied, “I miss the in-person experience of seeing children connect with the stories and interacting with Miss Moss, but it has been rewarding to receive responses from our original attendees who get excited each week about visiting the Story Tree from the comfort and safety of their own homes! I look forward to seeing them all sitting on the giant blanket in the grass with Miss Moss again someday.”

If you wish to watch “Story Time with Miss Moss” videos, follow Arcadia Mill on Facebook to see new uploads every Wednesday.