Discover Nebraska is a project of the Nebraska State Quilt Guild. The Lincoln Quilters Guild adapted the program and has been doing presentations since the fall of 2000.

Discover Nebraska is a Quilting/Social Studies unit geared to 4th graders studying Nebraska history. Our objective is to enrich the curriculum by providing an interesting and educational way to teach Nebraska history and the history of quilt making. To accomplish this, we use our Discover Nebraska quilt (made by our committee), a Nebraska map, visuals and quilts. Our twenty committee members are volunteers from the Lincoln Quilters Guild. Guild members have donated over 20 quilts for this purpose. Our quilts range from an 1887 crazy quilt to a painted quilt that tells the story from the book Sam Johnson and the Blue Ribbon Quilt. Our donated quilts have been documented by a group of ladies who work in quilt preservation and documentation. Two hours is spent in each school beginning with a central presentation for all 4th grade classrooms. The students then go to the classroom, where they color quilt blocks and assemble their paper quilt. All classes reassemble to show off their quilt, we review the materials presented, show our current quilting projects and answer student’s questions. This year we have presented to 38 elementary schools (105 classrooms or 2100 children) in Lincoln and surrounding communities. Discover Nebraska material has been adapted to the state of Iowa. Discover Iowa was presented to a Des Moines area school with the help of Des Moines Quilt Guild volunteers.

Other community outreach projects of the Lincoln Quilters Guild include making "cuddle quilts" for hospitals and social service agencies, providing "Santa Socks" filled with personal care items and toys for the needy, and making and donating wallhangings for new Habitat of Humanity homeowners. A number of our members are regular volunteers at the International Quilt Study Center & Museum. We have donated over $64,000 to name a room, The Mary Campbell Ghormley Reading Room, to honor one of our founding mothers, Mary Campbell Ghormley.

DISCOVER NEBRASKA NEWS:

• Discover Nebraska was presented at the Homestead National Monument, west of Beatrice. It was a public, Saturday evening (indoor) "Campfire Program."

• Discover Nebraska was shared with a group of hearing impaired students attending a two day workshop at the International Quilt Study Center and Museum.

• Discover Nebraska will appear on "The Quilt Show," Ricky Tims and Alex Andersons' internet program. The taping was done with the fourth graders of Messiah Lutheran Church last May.