Gingerbread Leader the Dog and more at Watkins Museum’s Tails and Traditions event

December 20, 2024 - Features

by Julie Clover | Public Education Manager

Student Advisory Board member Grace Hudson assists participants at the Watkins Museum’s Tails and Traditions event. Photo by Julie Clover.

The Dole Institute of Politics hosted an activity table at the Watkins Museum of History’s 11^th annual Tails and Traditions Holiday Festival Saturday morning, December 7^th. This family-oriented event preceded the annual Old Fashioned Christmas Parade that brought hundreds of people to downtown Lawrence. Public education manager, Julie Clover, and freshman SAB student, Grace Hudson manned the Dole Institute table, promoting its mission among young visitors.

Participants at the Watkins Museum’s Tails and Traditions event had the opportunity to vote for Socks the Cat or Leader the Dog. Photo by Julie Clover.

Senator Bob and Elizabeth Dole were very fond of their rescue miniature schnauzer pup named Leader. Discussing Leader the dog is a great way to interact with young kids at the Dole Institute. Families took part in a very important democratic election at this event – casting their ballot with a plastic egg for their favorite political pet between Leader the dog (Senator Dole’s dog) or Socks the cat (President Clinton’s cat) to mimic the 1996 presidential election. Throughout the morning, Leader the dog won!

After their ballots were cast, children were encouraged to step up to the table and color in a brown cardstock cutout of a holiday themed Leader the dog. Kids ranging from preschool to middle school created their Dole Institute keepsake ornaments. Students could choose a precut Leader or cut one out on their own. Colored pencils were provided to beautify the ornament. They could finish the craft with a hole punch and tying of a piece of yarn to fully complete their ornament. This make and take craft was popular along with other activities available throughout each floor of the Watkins Museum of History.

Participants at the Watkins Museum’s Tails and Traditions event had the opportunity to color their own Gingerbread Leader the Dog. Photo by Julie Clover.

The Dole Institute was joined with other KU organizations, including the Spencer Museum of Art, KU Museum Studies, KU Center for East Asian Studies, and the Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian studies. Several families were already familiar with the Dole Institute, saying they had previously attended community events such as Trunk or Treat and Easter Egg Roll. Dole Institute literature was also available to interested adults. Watkins Museum of History estimated over 400 people attended the event.

Children color their own Gingerbread Leader ornament at the Watkins Museum’s Tails and Traditions event. Photo by Julie Clover.

Public education, including family and children audiences, is integral to the work and mission of the Dole Institute. Free primary source inquiry classes are available to K-12 students, KU classes, and scout groups either at the Dole Institute or off-site. We also offer interactive field trips and tours! Contact our public education manager, Julie Clover, for more information: jclover@ku.edu; (785) 864-1420.

Special thanks to the Watkins Museum of History for hosting this annual event. Happy holidays!

Julie Clover serves as the Dole Institute’s Public Education Manager. In her role, Julie leads K-12 and family education programs, including on-site, outreach, and online initiatives. Julie graduated from the University of Kansas with her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biological research. Most recently, she was an education specialist at the Natural History Museum of Utah and traveled all over the state teaching outreach education programs to thousands of students every year.

About the Dole Institute
The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, a vibrant forum for civil discourse, civic engagement, and idea exchange across the political spectrum, features historical archives, exhibits, and public programs for all ages. Inspired by the public service of native Kansan, veteran, legislator, and statesman Senator Bob Dole and his wife Senator Elizabeth Dole, visitor galleries feature changing exhibits, the Kansas Veterans Virtual Memory Wall, architectural-scale stained glass American flag, and September 11 memorial.