2007 Camp - "Stepping Back in Time"

The week was amazing and exhausting. Imagine 40+ kids and their parents all intensely interested in the skills and lifeways of the 18th century, throw in about 12 or 15 CoHT members, stick them all on a beautiful piece of private property bordering the Chattahoochee River in the North GA mountains, add perfect weather and you've got a combination that will blow your mind and change your opinion of the human race. Several of the kids planned and made period camps that they set up - either in the "modern" area or over by the living historians. We had more kids (AND parents!) in period clothes (or at least an attempt at!) than we did last year, and they had been practicing what we taught them over the last couple of years.

The kids 11 and up were invited to an overnight trek, carrying all their gear and with no help from Mom and Dad. They were organized into a militia unit of Oglethorpe's Rangers and followed their fearless leaders, Major Ed Seeley and "Major Wesley Cotton" (aka yours truly) through the woods, up hill and down, learning tactical skills and how to cope with hostile territory. They camped in the woods for the evening. The girls were set up as sentries by default, as they camped nearer the trail than the boys, and did very well in dealing with various intruders that made their way through the area. (We had a medical emergency down in the camp area that required the presence of our "civilian" Mom/EMS who accompanied us. You should have seen the folks when they were accosted with the words "Who goes there!?" and 3 muskets aimed right at them! Granted, they were wooden, but in the dark, who knows that!?)

After the trek was completed on Wednesday morning, and thru the next several days, there were classes on traveling to build a new settlement, how to set up the area when they arrived, trapping, tracking, blade safety and first aid, knots, woodworking, fire starting, basket weaving, brain-tanning, and more. They and their parents were able to throw tomahawks, shoot bows and fire a .50 flintlock to blast apart clay pots. There were several period crafts that they completed, AND they were able to learn how to build a notched-log building/cabin/fort with hands-on. There was an evening of period games such as Nine-pins, "Shut the box", farkle, Old Maid (for the little ones), Gluckhaus, and others. A community supper with period dishes made from produce and meats they had grown themselves over the course of the year was held on Friday evening. Afterwards, the kids were able to indulge in (what they consider) the high point of the camp - the trade blanket. With so many young ones, we had 2 separate blankets, and they traded goods they had made themselves. Not to leave them out, and by parental request, we had an adult blanket after the kiddies had their fun and it was HILARIOUS. There were many side trades that took place - I am completely out of trade goods! I don't think anyone walked away unhappy.

On Saturday afternoon, after the fort was completed, a fierce water balloon battle was waged between the settlers and the ferocious Yamacraw Indians. The kids were separated by choosing lots with an N or an S on them, given 2 adult commanders who helped them prepare their 120 rounds of ammunition (ziploc bags full of river water!) and each team was given a flag and armbands. The settlers held the newly built fort on the banks of the river, the natives built a protecting wall from hay bales a good hundred yards or more away. After the rules of engagement were given, and serious threatenings made against anyone breaking those rules, the whistle was blown and the battle begun. Talk about FUN! The battle lasted approximately 30 minutes or so with the Natives overrunning the fort by stratagem and diversion to take the settlers flag. After the dust had cleared (and all the ammo picked up) hands were shaken, peace was made, and all parties, with the adults, indulged in a pizza supper provided by the homeschool families.

Once the supper had been cleared away, a bonfire was built and we awarded patches, specially made for this event, to each child who had completed the tasks required over the course of the week. Patches were also given to the various instructors who had taken part. We were then entertained and instructed by the kids as they presented skits they had researched and prepared on individuals who had broadened the boundaries of the Colonies and United States between 1600 and 1793. These kids were absolutely amazing. We had a young man recite the ENTIRE Mayflower Compact, another who also recited a speech given in the time period (I'm sorry that I can't remember who it was!), and one amazing young fellow who presented the entire life of Benjamin Franklin without a single prompt! The ladies weren't slackers either and the skits were terrific. The final one of the evening was given by the young group of Rangers and presented a funny (and only slightly true) version of their trek which began the camp, and honored Mr. Ed Seeley, who deserved it!

As you can tell, it was a really GOOD week, and though I had sworn not to do this again, and was shanghaied into agreeing for 2008, I'm really looking forward to another opportunity to be with these kids! If y'all happen to have the time free, I invite you to come down and enjoy the time teaching these INCREDIBLE kids, or EVEN BETTER - find out how you can help the homeschoolers in your own area. I think you'll find they are MORE than receptive to what we have to teach!

My deepest thanks need to go to the following GA CoHT members:
Mr. Ed Seeley
Mr. Henry Johnson
Mr. Omer Alexander
Mr. Dan Lambert
Mr. Tom Cissell and his lovely wife Mary
Mr. Terry Poll
Mr. David Brown
Mr. David Wiese
Miss Ashley Wiese
Miss Rebecca Wiese
Miss Victoria Wiese

And to the following folks from the homeschool camp:
Kim and Doug Martin, our hosts and all around gophers, for everything they did to make it easier on us living historians
Alisa and Tim Scher, for getting the logs for the fort and being just wonderful (and especially for pulling my trailer up that hill!)
Patrice Warrick for organizing the families to feed us lunches every day
Chris Lucas for helping with the firewood, logs, and helping Mr. Ed with the fort building

A special thanks to the families who kept us fed in the afternoons!

And a MOST particular thanks to the Coalition of Historical Trekkers for helping us gain the knowledge we now get to share with future generations!

God bless!
Veronica Wiese
Photos at http://www.coht.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=44 More coming ASAP