gardening, bee keeping, sewing and weaving, tree and vegetation identification, and more.
Along with learning how to set a trap in June, participants learned how to identify animals based on their footprints and how to barter and trade for necessities.
Kathy Sparks, a retired educator, and several other history-loving volunteers developed the program in 2016. The Brown County Historical Society provided start-up funds and the program received a grant from the
reading about them in books, the participants come to realize the trials and tribulations and life experiences that they have in common with the youth in days gone by.”
The volunteers, for the most part, are retired educators, school librarians or nurses, or others who have a love of history and want to share that love with young people.
Marcia Sledd, a retired children’ s librarian from Nashville, has been volunteering since the program began. bartering session the participants also had a chance to look at money from the 19 th century and learn how bills were literally cut into pieces to represent smaller currencies.
“ I just like the old ways,” said Kipp, a member of the Pioneer Women’ s Club.“ We need to pass on our history so that we can learn from our mistakes and appreciate our past.”
Sparks said the program is often filled to capacity. In 2017, 157 children participated, with participants coming from Nashville, Spencer, Franklin,
Patrick Haulter, Ernie Dickmeyer, and Lana Dickmeyer explain hunting and trapping. Kids are touching a mink pelt.
Brown County Community Foundation. The funds were used to buy supplies including Dutch ovens, slates for the schoolhouse, weaving and spinning equipment, cooking utensils, tools, garden supplies, etc.
“ We realized that there was a gap in programming for children with a focus on history. The goal is to instill a love of history— local history when we can— in today’ s youth,” Sparks said.“ By experiencing events as Pioneer children may have, rather than only
“ I just love reading and telling stories to the children,” she said.“ History is so important.”
Dressed in pioneer period clothing, Mary George Kipp helped teach the children about trading and bartering at June’ s session. While playing a role playing game, Kipp gently reminded one participant that a hunter / trapper would not barter the tool of his trade( a gun) for a wagon wheel, but would more likely trade a few furs. During the
Monticello, Bloomington, and even as far away as Michigan.
“ We are in our third year of the program and it has really taken off,” Sparks said.“ Happily, we have children that have participated from the onset of the program and have even had several“ graduates” who have come back to assist once they have aged out( at age 13).”
For more information, visit < browncountyhistorycenter. org / childrens-activities. html >. •
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