Mary Olson Farm Auburn, Washington Education & Public Events The mission statement developed specifically for Mary Olson Farm highlights some of the many possibilities for the Farm’s future use as an educational resource and community facility: Students visiting Olson Creek Restored 1897 Hay barn Students learning at the Farm The Mary Olson Farm is a unique 60-acre farmstead dating from 1879, and located on a sloped and wooded site along the Green River. It includes an intact assembly of rural buildings, and a site shaped by agriculture and stream ecology with two indigenous salmon runs and wildlife. Through preservation of the buildings and historic features, and stewardship of nature, the Olson Farm will foster public understanding of its specific heritage, distinct environment, and the economic reality of a family farm. Particular emphasis is placed on natural history and ecology of the farm site, showing how the environment has shaped and been shaped by the cultures and people who have lived there. Olson Farm will welcome teachers and students for tours, workshops and other learning experiences. It will provide community entertainment through educational tours, festivals and living history events. K-12 education: The Farm will serve as an outdoor classroom for the Auburn and Kent School Districts, area private schools, and homeschooled students, providing hands-on learning opportunities linked to core curriculum in social studies, environmental sciences, physical education, the arts, and related subjects. Higher education: The Museum is developing partnerships with Green River Community College and the University of Washington, to welcome undergraduate and graduate students in Pacific Northwest History, Architecture, Historic Preservation and related fields, to use the Farm as a site for field study. Community events: The Farm will be a welcoming place for a wide range of community activities, including concerts in the barn, harvest fairs, guided seasonal walks for birding and native plant identification, workshops on traditional skills like weaving, and other annual celebrations and special events. The Farm will also be available for occasional private rentals for corporate events and family reunions, which will provide supplemental income to support ongoing maintenance and operation. Events will be sponsored by the White River Valley Museum with partners in the cultural and environmental community.