This past month, two of our classes ventured out of their usual classroom and into the world of hands-on learning with visits to the Oshkosh Public Museum and the Paine Arts Center. These field trips were opportunities for learners to build vocabulary, practice reading in real‑world settings, and connect with history, art, and each other.
At the time of our visits, both museums featured exhibits celebrating Mexican culture, giving some of our learners a chance to see their heritage reflected and celebrated in a public space here in Oshkosh.
For many of our students, especially those who have recently arrived in the U.S., moments of cultural recognition can be powerful. Seeing familiar traditions, artwork, and history represented in local museums helped students feel seen, valued, and connected to the broader community.
The Oshkosh Experience class visited the Oshkosh Public Museum, where learners explored exhibits that brought local history to life. At the time of the visit, the special exhibit was, Crowned in Tradition: Quinceañeras in Wisconsin, which “will explore how quinceañeras are celebrated here in Wisconsin through women’s stories and items from their special events. The exhibition introduces the historical origins of this unique coming-of-age celebration, and highlights the social and cultural significance of this important tradition.”
Meanwhile, our Functional English classes visited the Paine Arts Center, specially to explore their Dancing with Life: Mexican Masks exhibit, which “invites visitors to explore the rich festival culture of Mexico through historic and contemporary masks.” The classes had a great time viewing the unique and elaborate masks, before getting a chance to create their own!
We are so grateful to both the Oshkosh Public Museum and The Paine Arts Center for welcoming our classes with open arms. Everyone on both trips shared how much they enjoyed and appreciated the outing. We look forward to more visits and field trips in the future!