Youth Mission
Youth Education is a one of the main goals of the Postal History Foundation. The PHF is the pioneer among philatelic museums in the use of postage stamps in the classroom. Originally part of a therapeutic program for asthmatic children in 1964, this educational service now reaches more than 10,000 children a year.
Most of the millions of stamps sorted and filed here are for the youth in our city and around the country. Our volunteers are very dedicated, hardworking people who keep this foundation functioning efficiently. They sort, soak, file, and prepare sets of United States stamps for the students. Lessons and PowerPoints are available to teachers and parents. Most of these reinforce the K-12 grade Arizona Standards. We receive orders for lessons and stamps from teachers nationwide.
Stamps provide little colorful windows which allow students to have a hands-on learning experience while completing the required curriculum studied in school, whether it is the Preamble of the United States Constitution or endangered species, the alphabet or the Grand Canyon. The possibilities are endless and students love to learn with beautiful stamps that are packed with information!
The volunteers at the foundation also sort and file foreign stamps. The foreign stamps are sorted into topics such as dogs, famous people, space, royalty, coins on stamps, castles, flowers, and so on. Students are welcome to write a letter to the education director requesting stamps about topics that they are interested in.
The education department is also available for local community, organization, museum and museum events or festivals. Stamp clubs can be started at any school or community group with our help. Libraries and the Boy and Girl Scouts have been using the foundation for years. People from all over the world contact us asking for stamp donations for their children!
Local schools find our field trips to be time well spent! We tailor the field trip experience to the classroom or home school needs. Please contact us for more information or check the field trip option under Youth Education.
Our programs are free to children and educators. ** Please note that we cannot guarantee to supply all stamps requested as some stamps are hard to gather in used condition. All lessons and PowerPoints are the property of the Postal History Foundation and may be used only for educational purposes. They may not be sold or altered in any way. All used stamps given to teachers and students are for educational use only and may not be sold.
The Postal History Foundation is very grateful for all philatelic and monetary donations which help the foundation achieve its goal of education. Donations are tax deductible under IRS rules. We are a 501(3)(c) non-profit foundation.
We help keep philately and learning alive! Please contact us to request materials or schedule a presentation. Teachers, parents and children can visit any day during the week and gather information, lessons and stamps. Our hours are 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday thru Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays.
Contact our Education Director, Lisa Dembowski at education@phftucson.org or call 520-623-6652 ext. 102
