The Lynnewood Hall Preservation Foundation in Cheltenham Township hosted Elkins Park School’s fifth and sixth grade students and faculty on Tuesday, June 3.
Teachers Amy Flynn and Cori Ayers curated a curriculum to study the history of the Widner family and property, which included the creation of dioramas of students’ favorite rooms. Tuesday’s visit was the culmination of their studies.
Glenside Local was invited to participate in the experience. From our photos:
“Having the 5th and 6th grade classes from the Elkins Park School visit Lynnewood Hall was such an incredible and rewarding experience,” Edward Thome, Executive Director of LHPF, told Glenside Local. “Their teachers, Amy Flynn and Cori Ayers, invested so much of their time and expertise into curating a course which was embraced enthusiastically by the students. I could not be more grateful to these two for their dedication and passion.”
Thome noted that the Foundation “is about fostering a deeper understand of our collective history and cultivating a deeper appreciating for the arts and skilled trades.”
“Education, in many facets, is a core component of our mission and vision. Eventually, Lynnewood Hall will need to be passed on to the next generation who will become the curators of this significant and artistic piece of American history,” Thome said. “These students, with their great eagerness and intelligence, have give us great hope for the future, as they will one day be the stewards of our Nation’s history and cultural fabric.”
Angie Van Scyoc, LHPF’s Chief Operating Officer, seconded Thome’s thoughts.
“The educational aspect of our mission and vision is integral to how we are approaching this project. It is why our motto is ‘We look to the past to inspire the future.’ To be able to see that engagement begin with the younger ages within our local community has been rewarding. It is what matters most,” she said.
For additional photos, you can check out Lynnewood Hall’s Patreon page. You can also check out the students’ podcast regarding the experience.
Flynn and Ayers shared additional photos and sent the following to students’ families following the visit:
Dear CSD Family
We are thrilled to share the incredible experience our Gifted Students had today during their special visit to Lynnewood Hall. In a moment that felt like stepping into a living chapter of local history, the doors of the Main Hall opened, and our students walked into its grand space—filling it with excitement, awe, and a deep sense of purpose.
Each group brought with them the miniature room they carefully researched and designed—imaginative reconstructions of spaces within the Hall—and proudly left them behind as a symbolic offering to a place they’ve come to know intimately through study and passion. It was a moment that beautifully captured their journey of bringing history to life.
For weeks, these students have been immersed in learning about Lynnewood Hall, the Widener family, and the local history that shaped our community. Today, all of that research and creativity took life. It wasn’t just a field trip—it was a culmination of curiosity, scholarship, and artistic expression.
We want to extend our deepest thanks to Angie, Edward, and Tyler for welcoming us so warmly and allowing our students to be among the first to tour as a student group Lynnewood Hall and begin what we hope will be a long and meaningful partnership with the Foundation.
A heartfelt thank you also goes to our school administrators and school board, whose continued support helped make this visionary project a reality.
And finally, thank you to our amazing students and their families for every hour spent researching, designing, imagining, and diving headfirst into the Widener Rabbit Hole with Mrs. Flynn and eventually with Mrs. Ayers and Mr. Tracy. Your enthusiasm and dedication made this day unforgettable.
With gratitude and excitement for what’s to come,
Amy Flynn & Cori Ayers
PS. As Cori and I left the Hall today we said it kind of feels like we just had a wedding and had one of the most memorable days ever and are so sad to see the first chapter end but look forward to the next part of this story.
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