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James Madison’s Montpelier Hosts Annual “We the Kids Day” on April 5th, 2025

On April 5, James Madison’s Montpelier will host its annual “We the Kids” Day, offering children and families an opportunity during spring break to participate in numerous activities and tours specially created with young adventurers in mind that inspire curiosity, exploration, and play.

We the Kids Day combines everything that kids love into one place. There will be food from Twisted Provisions, colonial games and science activities, hearth cooking with food historian Leni Sorensen, nature walks, music, and more. Get messy and plant seeds to start a garden. Join Lindsey Cormack in an interactive workshop on citizenship for parents and kids. Have a shockingly good time with our static electricity machine. Get up close and personal with some of the wildest residents of the Wildlife Center of Virginia. Learn about oral history with the Montpelier Descendants Committee. If you like visiting historic sites and places, come to Montpelier and learn about four historic sites in one location with our community superpartners: Historic Germanna, the Museum of Culpeper History, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum, and James Monroe’s Highland. And, of course, a visit to the home of the Father of the Constitution and Architect of the Bill of Rights would not be complete without an opportunity to meet and interact with President Madison himself.

According to Emily Stanfill, Montpelier’s Manager of Student, Family, and Digital Programs, “At James Madison’s Montpelier, engaging and inspiring audiences of all ages is a core part of our mission, and We the Kids Day on April 5th is dedicated to introducing some of our youngest visitors to the power of this site. Children have taught us that they see Montpelier differently than our adult visitors, and our programming on April 5 reflects the diverse ways in which people of all ages connect to Montpelier. We will have traditional elements: the House will be open for self-guided walk-throughs, but some people may not realize that James Madison was a scientist and naturalist! So there will also be science and nature-focused hands-on activities. Historic cooking, blacksmithing, and music demonstrations will also be ongoing throughout the day. We look forward to welcoming you to Montpelier.”

The event is from 9:30 AM-3:30 PM. Visitors 17 and under are free; adult tickets are $10. To learn more about scheduled and drop-in events and to purchase tickets in advance, visit https://www.montpelier.org/events/we-the-kids-day/.

Schedule

10:00am and 12:00pm Wildlife Center of Virginia programs
10:30am and 1:45pm Woods Walks with Virginia Master Naturalists
1:00-1:45 Lindsey Cormack activity in the Grand Salon, David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center
Oral History Committee/Montpelier Descendants Committee Activity in the Grand Salon, David M. Rubenstein Visitor Center
Early Music Access Project

All Day
Open House Tours – tours begin at House front portico and last entry is at 3:00pm
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library
Museum of Culpeper History
James Monroe Highland 
Historic Germanna 
Hearth Cooking with Leni Sorenson
Culpeper Water and Soil District
Mr. Madison is at Home
Colonial Games
Science Activity Station
Planting Station

Food Truck- Twisted Provisions