2012 History Club

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April: Homesteading 2012 marks the 150th Anniversary of the Homestead Act. Club members learned about the basics of the Homestead Act through the interactive children’s video found on the Homestead National Monument’s web-site. Then everyone went outdoors and became homesteaders. Members had to survey their homestead boundaries, file a claim with the Land Office, develop their homestead, and prove-up on their claim.
March: Packing the Wagon Packing the wagon was one of the most difficult preparations for the journey westward. Members tested their planning skills by sorting through supplies and packing for a westward journey. Teams experienced trials on route and had to adjust their wagons to accommodate difficult situations.
February: Snowshoeing Like the Mountain Men Snowshoeing was an important means of transportation for trappers during the winter months. Students practiced their snowshoeing ability by playing fox-and-geese, an ancient game often played on the frontier. Also, teams perfected their mountain men skills by constructing traps. Afterwards, a fire and campfire treats warmed everyone’s bones.
January: Cross Country Skiing History Club members, their families, and volunteers participated in our second annual cross-country ski outing. Members were worn-out by a morning spent outdoors, learning to move across the snow on skis. Historical perspectives were given on how this mode of transportation was necessary for winter travel for the mountain men, homesteaders, and pioneers in heavy snow years.