Washington scouting new class for ‘Capsule Keepers’ preservation society

Washington has a semi-secret society hard at work today. It’s a group you probably didn’t know existed. Its job is to collect and protect all the most precious artifacts in the state and preserve them.

And what makes this group so unique is that is made up of 10-year-old children.

For 25 years, the current and first crop of Capsule Keepers has been training and preparing for this task, counting down the years to 2014 when their talents and expertise will once again be called upon for the greater good of Washington.

One such keeper is Jennifer Estroff, who now as a 35 year old, much like the knight in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, must pass on her knowledge and expertise to a new generation.

The task: identify and collect items that represent Washington to be put in the state time capsule at the State Capitol.

“Our job right now is to get the next generation of Capsule Keepers and have a great event where we’re going to swear in the new generation,” Estroff said.

Estroff is one of roughly 300, who as 10 year olds, were given the task of guarding the first of 16 time capsules that was filled and sealed inside a vault in the Capitol Building.

Every 25 years, a new group 10 year olds will fill a capsule and seal it away. This will be done until 2389. Washington’s 500th anniversary.

“They agree to watch over the Capitol to make sure Washingtonians remember what it’s there for and ensure that 25 years from now that more items are put into it to preserve our state’s history and that they recruit a new generation,” Estroff said.

Any Washington child born between November 4 and November 18 in 2004 is eligible to become a Capsule Keeper.

The kids don’t actually get to choose what goes in the time capsule, but their ideas are certainly welcome and encouraged. Items from the first time capsule sealed in 1989 include letters from sci-fi writers, CD-Roms and a phone book. There are also some items from Boeing.