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The Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial -- better known as America250PA -- visited students at Jersey Shore Area Elementary to share a love for Pennsylvania history.
The commission, according to executive director Cassandra Coleman, is planning and coordinating programs ahead of 2026, including the story-telling initiative that brought volunteers to Jersey Shore and eventually "will reach 50,000 students," Coleman said.
Volunteers read the "K is for Keystone" alphabet book to children and shared gift bags that included T-shirts, crayons from Easton-based Crayola, snacks from Utz and Hershey, temporary tattoos of the state bird from the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and wristbands.
"The kids are always thrilled," she said.
Krista E. Snyder, a volunteer from Pennsylvania College of Technology's admissions office, said the dean of admissions reached out to their office to see who would want to participate. Snyder, who previously worked for nonprofits and had experience with Jersey Shore classrooms, thought she would be a good fit.
"I love spending time with kids," she said.
She enjoyed reading to Adrienne Miller's second-grade classroom.
"These guys are a blast," Snyder said.
"I liked the places that they talked about," Aspyn Anderson, a student in Miller's class, said of the story. "I liked Hersey. I liked everything."
"It was good," classmate Sawyer Moore agreed.
Coleman said the initiative partners with local mascots -- including Penn College's wildcat mascot and Leo the Lion from King's College in Wilkes-Barre at the Jersey Shore visit -- businesses and community groups. Miss Lancaster County, state troopers and police officers from Lycoming Regional Police and staff members from Gov. Josh Shapiro's office, Geisinger, Lycoming Engines, Fred Hamm Inc., First Citizens Community Bank and Chance Aluminum were among the other volunteer readers this week.
Coleman said it's impressive to see how much students already know about Pennsylvania's history when they hear the story, including the Gettysburg Address, the rise of the steel industry and the founding of Crayola and Hershey Chocolate.
It's "a testament to our amazing teachers," she said.
Coleman said 50 counties and more than 250 municipalities have joined to support the efforts, which include an installation of commemorative bronze bells at historically significant locations, the design and installation of fiberglass replicas of the Liberty Bell in each of the 67 counties of Pennsylvania, placing American flags on veterans' graves from Memorial Day to Veterans Day in 2026 and other projects.
She believes when these children near the 300th anniversary of the United States, they will look back with fond memories of days like this one.