Virtual Genealogy Spark Club

~ portercounty4h

Hello Indiana 4-Her’s! 

We’d like to help you SPARK an interest in exploring your very own family history! We have a free virtual club where you’ll learn about fascinating genealogy research methods as you construct family trees, charts, and reports for your 4-H Genealogy project! Embark on a journey of self-discovery that, with a little bit of work, will be a thrilling education into your own history. You’ll be the detective of your very own cold case as you learn the skills to go back through time and piece together the stories, places, and people that created YOU! 

Learn from Ms. Susan Snider-Salmon, an experienced Ivy Tech Genealogy instructor, lifelong researcher, author, historian, preservationist, and youth mentor! 

Attend all 3 virtual sessions for maximum fun! Participate in real world challenges each month, and top off the experience with tips for your fair exhibit! This SPARK Club is free for all approved 4-H members. Zoom links will be emailed to all participants.

Register for FREE in the Events section of 4Honline. Registration is recommended before the first session (March 23rd).

Virtual Zoom Sessions: Fourth Thursday of Each Month

1. Discovering Your Family Tree – March 23rd 7:00-8:30pm EST

  • Documentation and record keeping. Research Questions. Choosing a 4-H Exhibit and working backwards from there. Importance of Consistency.
  • Post Meeting Challenge #1: Watch an episode of Finding Your Roots (PBS). Record something new you learned in your journal and add any ideas that come to mind about your own family tree.

2. Leaves of Your Tree – April 27 7:00-8:30pm EST

  • Adding leaves to your tree. Every family member gets a number. Documenting non-traditional family structures. Record-keeping tips and tricks.
  • Post Meeting Challenge #2: Go to your local library or history center in person or virtually. Explore what resources are available for Genealogists. Interview at least one person about the holdings at the facility. Record your experience and findings.

3. Life Cycles of Your Tree – May 25 7:00-8:30pm EST

  • Vital Records (i.e. Birth, Marriage, Death). Census, school, religious records. Comparing benefits of actual records, indexes, and secondary sources. Post meeting email with insider tips for exhibits
  • Post Meeting Challenge #3: Visit a Cemetery or Church burial yard in person. Take photos of family and other headstones which interest you. Make a list and a map showing where to find your relatives/people of interest.