Planning the Spring Encampment 2009

Lawton Public School's Executive Director of Public Relations and Communication, Keith Mitchell, helped me to distribute yet another survey to teachers last week. This one to inquire which week in April we should have the annual Spring Encampment program. So far April 20-25 has the most votes. This living history program is really neat, if I do say so myself! There's absolutely nothing like it for miles and miles around. One reason being that the program takes place in a replicated southern Plains trading post! I mean, this trading post was built according to a actual description written in the diary of a 1840s traveler! It's as close to the real thing as you can get! And, the trade store is full of the actual sorts of 1840s trade items you would find in such a place. Strings of red, yellow, white and turquoise glass beads hang from hooks nailed into the ceiling beams, (I think they're ceiling beams...). Also hanging along the beams are light weight tin lanterns and heavy metal traps. On the shelves behind the counter are little round mirrors, triangular packets of red rouge, hair combs made of bone, playing cards and dice. On the other end you'll find sacks of coffee, sugar, and flour; red and black wool blankets, and calico printed fabric. That's not all, but I won't go on. You really should see it for yourself! The only thing else I must say is concerning the interpreters, who will always be the most amazing part of the whole event. Not only because of their expertise on the history of 1830s-1840s fur trade in the southern Plains, and their ability to relate this history to guests of all ages, but because of their unbelievable generosity. I'll tell you right here and now, we have never and will never have the money to repay them for their time and worth. We are truly indebted to them.