Women in History

Women in History – March 2024

The Women in History program dramatizes remarkable women—from Queen Elizabeth to Sally Ride—for our elementary and middle school students. The American Association of University Women (AAUW) coordinates the costumes, writes the scripts, and along with other volunteers, we portray the women!

If you are interested in participating, please fill out this Volunteer Form and press the button to send it to one of our WIH Committee members.

As before, we’re recruiting performers to make “history come alive” again in PVSD and other elementary schools in March of 2024. To accomplish our WIH program, we are seeking volunteers — Camarillo moms with schoolchildren, AAUW members, and women who love theatric performance to portray one of five unique and remarkable women:

CARMEN CAMARILLO
Carmen Camarillo (1903-1987) (Grades K-3)

  • Youngest child of the Camarillo family. The family members have been so influential in our local history.
  • She will tell how her childhood was different than childhood today.
  • She will also discuss her work with the White Horses and her philanthropic activities.

MARY CASSAT
Mary Cassatt (1845-1926) (Grades 3-5)

  • First impressionist woman painter and best known for her paintings of women and children.
  • She will tell how she had to overcome a number of obstacles to get training as an artist and to be accepted as one.
  • This was a time when women were not encouraged to work outside the home.

BESSIE COLEMAN
Bessie Coleman (1892-1926) (ALL GRADES)

  • First woman of African American and Native American descent to become a pilot and obtain a pilot’s license.
  • She will discuss her difficulties in getting a pilot’s license because of her African American and Native American background.
  • She will also talk about her participation in air shows as a stunt pilot.

BABE DIDRIKSON
Babe Didrikson (1914-1956) (ALL GRADES)

  • One of the best female athletes in multiple sports. She set Olympic records in the javelin throw and high jump as well as winning 82 golf tournaments.
  • She will discuss the difficulties she had to overcome to achieve success.
  • She will also emphasize the value of hard work to achieve goals and the importance of playing fair.

SYLVIA EARLE
Sylvia Earle (1935-present) (Grades 3 -8)

  • A National Geographic Explorer in Residence and avid spokeswoman for ocean conservation and marine protected areas worldwide.
  • She will discuss living under the ocean for two weeks, having a record dive in a “JIM Suit” and helping to develop underwater vehicles to explore the ocean.
  • She will also discuss her current work in developing marine sanctuaries.

We will be offering an evening WIH Training Meeting for all volunteers. We will provide information as soon as the location and timeframe are certain. Also, we will provide each performer with a full script, tips on how to perform, and information on how to obtain all the necessary props.