This past Friday was our annual field trip to Homeland for the Alafia River Rendezvous. This day is always a highlight in our school year. The setting is a pre-1840's encampment of fur trappers and Indians. The participants actually live on the grounds in either tents or tee-pees for one week. They dress in period costume. The last two days of the event are open to the public. Doesn't this beef roast look tasty?
Here we have an Indian and a fur trapper having a pow-wow. Sure hope they come to a peaceful agreement on their trading! There are lots of innocent people around that may get hurt if a fight breaks out!!
My two younger ones save their money for this event. There are always lots of things they would like to buy like knives, tomahawks, bows, arrows, furs, arrowheads...well you get the idea. Definitely a "mall" for guys!! This year Brandon purchased a bowie knife and Bryce decided on a tomahawk.
How about a fresh, warm loaf of brick-oven baked sourdough bread?
This lovely couple kindly posed for a picture with the boys. See the bow Brandon is holding? He picked it out last year on this field trip and it was his birthday present from his Dad and me. However, he didn't have it but maybe a month and the string came off. Well, this is a REAL longbow and we couldn't find anyone around that knew how to restring it so it hung in his room for the rest of the year. Torture! He was so happy when we found a gentleman that fixed it for him at the rendezvous. Needless to say, these two boys have been shooting arrows every day since.
There are also competitions for all ages. This picture is of the younger guys in a tomahawk/knife throwing competition.
There is also a shooting range for black powder guns.
We had a great time enjoying our day of living history. Our entire family loves history-any time period! I remember hating history in school but since we have been homeschooling it has really been a fascinating subject for everyone. We use "living books" to study with and add awesome field trips such as this one. It is the icing on the cake!
By the end of the day we were all exhausted but happy. On the drive back home Brandon thanked me several times for great field trip and said that it was as much fun as a day at Disney. Wow, can you believe that?! And at a fraction of the price!! I love boys!!
6 comments:
oh i do love this event, but i had to miss it. hopefully next year i can make it like ususal. this will be one of a few things that once were part of my "tradition" that will change. thank you for the pics of brandon and bryce oh yeah, especially the ones of the tee pees and such!!!
Mom, that looks kinda like you and dad sitting there with the boys. LOL! JK!
We have something similar here - The DeSoto Encampment where they re-enact when DeSoto was "blazing a trail through Florida" I took fourth graders there in January when we were studying Florida History. Always a cold day, but fun! You did get a loaf of bread for me didn't you?
closer,
Yes, we really missed you going with us this year :( Counting on you being with us next year!! You know I don't deal well with change!
krackerjap,
Dad would be so proud to have a beard like that! Me, not so much!
KayCee,
Yes! Your comment finally worked!
Glad you didn't give up. Sorry, didn't get any bread but it sure looked yummy!
When I first glanced at the pic with the couple I thought Brandon was Monroe, he looks just like him in this pic to me! Looks like fun, hopefully Hannah will get to go back next year!
Oh That looks sooo much fun ,why did i have to be sick that day : )
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