Fort Knotts - February 16 & 17, 2008

On President's Day weekend, I joined the Historical Citizens Association for an exciting time of Civil War reenacting, hosted by Knott's Berry Farm. I've participated here and there in the past as my sister is a history buff and a very active reenactor and has been for quite a few years. (I mainly go because I love to get dressed up in clothes from the past!). But this was my first event where I spent the night in a tent and participated more. And let me tel you, it was a blast!
(I'm on the very left in the blue and white)

We set-up the Friday before and, boy, was that a task. There were 4 of us who were able to help set up and it took all us to get each of the 5 tents (or flys as the ones without walls are called)up. (All in all, there were around 20 of us in this group and a few hundred reenactors in total at the event.)

Then we moved on to unpacking all of the boxes of dishes and silverware. That may sound unusual in a camping setting, but not for this group. You see, they portray what it would have been like to be a civilian in a small town during the Civil War. They represent the residents and passer-bys, who got stranded in the town for one reason or another, of a street in this town...Oak Street. My sister, Miss Violet, runs the Johnson Oak Inn so it is necessary to have all the dishes and silverware (it's real silver too). (Go here to learn more about Oak Street and its residents.)

Each reenactor develops a character and portrays that character in the 1st person at each of the events. Then, through their characters and the setting they create, they teach visitors what it would have been live to live back then...to cook over an open fire, wash dishes by hand in big dish tubs, go to school (in both the North and South), go to finishing school, and operate a telegraph machine.

While it is very exciting to see the military reenactors display their armor and have staged battles, it is just as exciting - and sometimes even more - to see the Civilians with their 1st person personas.

It's an amazing learning environment as each of these reenactors know their history so well and exactly what was going on in the year they are representing.

If you ever wanted a hands-on learning evironment for your kids, especially your boys, this is the place to go. There are events all over the country all the time so it shouldn't be hard to find one near you.

We had a family come by as we were washing our dishes from our dinner meal (what you and I would actually call lunch) and the kids wanted to help us wash them - even their young son! They really got into it and the mother was telling us that this was her 2nd year homeschooling her children and that this event was a way for her kids to get credit for a fieldtrip, school credit, and learn about history all in one.

She was thinking that her son would be the one who would really get into the event with the military aspect all around and that the rest of the family - including their 2 daughters - were just coming along for the ride. But she was pleasantly surprised as all of her children really enjoyed themselves. Before they came to us, they had just finished visiting with another group of reenactors with whom they helped do their laundry! They all learned a lot and have a great time together as a family.

If you want to find out more information about reenacting either for yourself or for your children or to find an event to bring your family to, please visit the Historical Citizens Association website. They are a non-profit organization with the mission of spreading the word about historical reenacting in order to promote history and education.

You can see some pictures from the event below:

Dinner Time!

Yes, even the men do dishes.

Watch out for the Calvary!

Ah, all the pretty ladies lined up in the kitchen.

Miss Violet showing off the coffee grinder to a young spectator.

For more pictures, please visit the
Historical Citizens Association website.

Tip of the Week (2/28/08)

How to Nurture a Growing Reader

Source: Helping Your Children Become Better Readers Brochure from RIF/VISA
Ages: 0-4, 5-8, 9-12


Summary: Reading doesn't just happen. It is a skill that must be nurtured from a child's earliest years. Once children know how to read, they still need gentle coaxing and support to reach their full potential as readers.

Here are a dozen tips for nurturing your growing readers:

1. Read with your children at least once every day.


2. Make sure they have plenty to read. Take them to the library regularly, and keep books and other reading materials in their reach.


3. Notice what interests your child, then help find books about those things.


4. Respect your child's choices. There's nothing wrong with series fiction if that's what keeps a young reader turning the pages.


5. Praise your children's efforts and newly acquired skills.


6. Help your child build a personal library. Children's books, new or used, make great gifts and appropriate rewards for reading. Designate a bookcase, shelf or box where your children can keep their books.


7. Check up on your children's progress. Listen to them read aloud, read what they write and ask teachers how they're doing in school.


8. Go places and do things with your children to build their background knowledge and vocabulary, and to give them a basis for understanding what they read.


9. Tell stories. It's a fun way to teach values, pass on family history and build your children's listening and thinking skills.


10. Be a reading role model. Let your children see you read, and share some interesting things with them that you have read about in books, newspapers or magazines.


11. Continue reading aloud to older children even after they have learned to read by themselves.


12. Encourage writing along with reading. Ask children to sign their artwork, add to your shopping list, take messages and make their own books and cards as gifts.