Conner Prairie - Prairetown

We visited the final 3 sections - 1836 Prairetown, Conner Homestead, and Lenape Indian Camp.  Prairetown was a large area and we only visited about half of it.  There were lots of buildings to go in - homes, school, mercantile, blacksmith shop, bakery, etc.  In the bakery, the actor was roasting pumpkin seeds over an open fire.  She had finished using the pumpkin to make a pie earlier in the day.  The aromas were wonderful!

 

Camden tried several pioneer-era games.

She also took over the map and showed us where to go next.

One of the hands-on activities was candle dipping.  They had several starts ready to go and Camden joined the line.  We didn't stay long enough to make a substantial candle, so I didn't pay the $5 to take it home.  But I'm glad she tried it!

The barn on the Homestead was filled with sheep and cows.  Several newborns were around.  This lamb was 5 weeks old.

It wasn't until we got to the Lenape Indian Camp that I actually had a very vivid memory of my elementary school trip in 4th grade.  I definitely remember sitting in the wigwam with the rest of my class and have a very quick image of it that comes to my memory. 
 

We stayed almost 3 hours at Conner Prairie and had a fabulous girls day together.

Conner Prairie - Civil War

The Smithsonian Institute does an annual Museum Day where many museum's across the country are free.  This year, we took advantage of this admission at Conner Prairie.  Gramma Pat and Aunt Carole came along too.

There are 4 reenactment areas in this historic site, along with an indoor museum.  Everything is hands-on!  We took a tram to the farthest area and entered the small southern Indiana town of Dupont after it had been part of Morgan's Raid in 1863.

The one room school house had been taken over by the militia in an attempt to sign soldiers up for the fight.  Camden put her name down.

Then she sent a message using Morse code.
 

Just across the street were some ladies who were riding side saddle.  Camden was able to pet one of the horses and later we went to a small side saddle riding demonstration.

Camden's favorite part of the day happened in between.  There was a movie experience/re-telling of Morgan's raid.  It was very fast paced and included multiple imagery throughout.  At the very end, a cannon was "shot" with a loud bang and strobe light flash.  Across the theater from it, a "hole" appeared in the side of the building.  Camden loves to tell that part!

We headed over to the soldier encampment and took a look inside their tents.  While there, Camden was recruited to join the militia.

The soldier in charge showed them how to hold the gun and how to follow orders.  Then he marched them around the town square.

Then came word that Morgan's raiders were approaching.  He took them to a field and showed them how to load (and reload) their guns.

He ordered them to "fire".  He actually fired his gun several times.

Next he yelled that the gun fire was not having it's intended impact and they would have to "show some steel".  He led them running across the field toward the enemy in the woods.

Once they got close, he yelled that they weren't backing down so they should "fall back" and they all turned around and ran back to safety back near camp.

Such a great introduction to Civil War history for Camden.

Beasley Apple Orchard Field Trip

Camden had her first field trip on Wednesday.  Her teacher let them take one of their notebooks and it helped pass the time with the almost 45 minute bus ride to Danville.

There are three classes of first graders, and we attempted to get group pictures.  It is quite difficult to get 18 first graders to look at the camera at the same second!

And 60 was impossible!

We stayed in our class groups to take the tour.  Our guide was heading toward the barn to show us the process there when she saw that the pickers where down a row very near to us.  She said that is a very rare thing and wanted to let us have a look.  The group headed down one of the aisles.

There are 4 men who pick all of the apples in this large orchard.  They are very quick!  He kept working while our guide pointed out the correct picking method.

The men collect the apples in a basket around their shoulders and then dump it into one of these bins when their basket is full.

After watching the men, the kids each got to pick one apple.  Camden kept requesting to pick more.  Guess another trip is in order to a u-pick place and some apple butter needs made!

Before we left the area, the kids got to feel the inside of the pickers basket and see how the basket is designed to keep the apples from being bruised, but also make it easy for the pickers to release them into the bin.

Our next stop was on a hay wagon for a brief lesson on how each season is important in the growing of apples.
 

There was also a lesson on the role of bees in growing apples.

Our next stop was through the refrigerator (a large garage building) that keeps the apples through the winter months so they are still good to buy and eat.  The place was filled with bins of apples and smelled so heavenly!

Our final tour stop was in the barn where they make their delicious cider and clean and sort the apples for sale.

When then headed out to benches for a sugar cookie snack with some fresh apple cider. There truly is no better fall drink than fresh apple cider from an orchard.

While all the groups finished up we headed to a field for some free play and pictures at a nice fall display.

Three of Camden's friends wanted to have their pictures taken and I happily snapped away.  My favorite is the group shot of Macie, Camden, Payton, and Tayton.