Back to School and Back to Cather

While the pendulum swung from a normal, traditional school year all the way to the pandemic-related restrictions of last year, this year we are swaying in a delicate equilibrium between offering in-person experiences as well as virtual activities for students and educators.

Teachers are welcome to bring their classes to Red Cloud for in-person, guided tours of our sites and center, but they can also make use of our recently developed smartphone and web app, virtual tour, as well as the new collections pages on our website, to learn about Willa Cather and Red Cloud. There are even optional student assignments located in the app!

We have also developed new activities for elementary students that can take place at our center as part of a tour or online via Zoom. “Guess the Gadget” introduces students to archival work and pieces from our collection, and “Letter Detective” involves deciphering Willa Cather’s very tricky handwriting. We are also available for “Ask an Expert” and other customized sessions on Zoom.

To educators we offer:

• Virtual Programs, including a link to our app (under the LEARN tab on this website)
• Zoom webinars for your class with our expert education staff on everything Willa Cather
• Resources for teaching Cather's texts (under the LEARN tab on this website)
• Updates of mini-lessons and activities on our Educational Resources page

To students and educators we offer important scholarship programs each year:

• Several student scholarships, with different requirements and deadlines, are awarded at our annual Willa Cather Spring Conference each June
• The Ana McCracken Educator Scholarships to bring you to Red Cloud—and Cather to your classroom

Arts and cultural programming at the Red Cloud Opera House this fall:

• August 19 — Virtual Author Series: Dr. Guy Reynolds
• September 3-November 1 — Plain Views: Pastel and Photography: Kathleen Lohr and Rick Rasmussen present a unique view of Central Nebraska
• September 23 — Virtual Author Series: Dr. Kelsey Squire
• October 28 — Virtual Author Series: Dr. Will Thomas, Michael Burton, and Dr. Kwakiutl Dreher
• November 4: Virtual Author Series: Dr. Becky Faber
• November 4-December 11 — 49 Minutes of Fame: Native American pop art exhibit & gallery activities
• November 12 — Go for Baroque: Hear the Rhythm of the Road, Route 66
• December 15-January 19, 2022 — Young at Art: exhibit featuring Caldecott Award-winning artwork & gallery activities
• December 16 — Virtual Author Series: Leonard Marcus

We want to hear from you!

Please complete our online Educator Needs Assessment survey to help us plan future programs and resources. You will also receive 10% off in our bookstore for participating! And stay tuned later this year and in 2022 for more educational resources, including additional virtual galleries like this one and free online events!

It is our goal to bring Willa Cather and Red Cloud to your students and classroom experience in any way that we can!

For more information or to customize a virtual or on-site experience for your students, contact Rachel Olsen, Education Coordinator rolsen@willacather.org, 402-746-2653