Location(s)

I just spent two days with 200 4th and 5th graders and 30 education majors from Penn State-Altoona at Fort Roberdeau. It was a blast.

I'm a volunteer at Fort Roberdeau, a historic site in Blair County, PA not far from Altoona and Tyrone. Since I've been piecing the history of this Revolutionary War period fort together for about 15 years or so, I usually tell people who visit the fort about the historical and archeological research I've been helping with. We've learned much, but there's still a lot that we don't know yet. And that's just fine with me; as long as there's still something to learn, I'll never be bored!

The program at the fort this week was very special. About 200 4th and 5th graders from the Bellwood-Antis and the Huntingdon School Districts actually came to Fort Roberdeau TWO DAYS IN A ROW! Imagine having a field trip for two days! But we also had some other students at the fort -- about 30 students from Penn State-Altoona that are studying to be teachers. It was a great chance for the younger students to learn about one of the coolest places in Central Pennsylvania, and it was an opportunity for the college students to learn about teaching (and, more importantly, LEARNING) outside of the classroom. Here's how it worked.

On Thursday, the college students observed the Fort Roberdeau volunteers in action as they presented at sixteen different "education stations" scattered around and in the fort. The volunteers have done their own research about the topics they teach about, so they are experts. And the stations -- if you want to know anything about life during the Revolution in central Pennsylvania, this is the place. Students got to try their hand at quilting, cooking at a fireplace, and being a tinsmith. Some were recuited into the militia and charged with protecting the fort. Others learned the fine art of country dancing (no boot-scootin' in the 18th century country dance!). Some students had to help with the daily chores of Revolutionary kids. Some even got chased by an Iroquois scouting party and had to flee to the fort! The elementary students spent a half hour at each station and visited six stations each day.

On Friday, it was the college students turn to be the teachers. After observing the volunteers the day before, and doing a bit of studying overnight, the teachers-in-training donned 18th century costumes and manned all the stations. The volunteers/mentors stood by, ready to answer questions and troubleshoot as needed. There's a saying that "nobody learns it like the teacher," and I think the Penn State students really understand what that means now!

This was a great experience for ALL of us. The elementary students got to spend two days out in the beautiful fall weather at a beautiful site learning about the history of their own home area. The college students got a look into the really nifty learning that happens at historical sites and museums. The volunteers got an appreciation of what great work they do as they watched the "teacher/apprentices" try to learn their jobs.

But most importantly of all, we made a lot of great memories!