Grant County News School Update

Grant County News

Area School Activities and News Update

Area Students Participate In Western Cultural Arts Day Reliving

The Adventures of Lewis And Clark

by Sharon M. Wheelock

History came vibrantly alive when area school children travelled to Ellsworth for the annual Western Cultural Arts Day, which this year featured the theme of Reliving the Adventures of Lewis and Clark.

Following The Pledge of Allegiance, the National Anthem was sung by Kim Foreman.

Students were divided into three groups: K, 1st and 2nd grades; 3rd and 4th grades; and 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades, and each group helped certain people reenact events from the era of Lewis and Clark, with the children interacting in the happenings of that time.

Dale Clark & Company led the historical presentation of Lewis and Clark,s adventures on their expedition from the eastern U.S. into the heartland of America, at the request of President Teddy Roosevelt, to see what lay beyond the land that had earlier been discovered and settled. They came through Nebraska, spending a long time here, loving the land, the rich, lush grass, all the wild flowers and the numerous fruits. In the Nebraska, the Lewis and Clark group were the first Americans to see the Indian tipi, and they saw, for the first time, a badger, a wolf and prairie dogsand even named the prairie dogs. They were so interested in prairie dogs that they put one in a cage and took it back to Washington. Lewis and Clark lived on wild life, fish and all the fruits and berries throughout their journey; fortunately they found them in abundance in Nebraska. They missed death many times, fighting grizzlies, wolves and illnesses, and made friends with some Indians"who gave them watermelon for the first time. The Lewis and Clark expedition left a camp near St. Louis in 1804, journeyed up the Missouri and crossed the Rocky Mountains. The explorers reached the Pacific coast in 1805. They returned to St. Lewis in 1806 with valuable information about the new frontier. Part of that new frontier was that state of Nebraska. They spent their first winter, 1804-1805, in Fort. Mandan, North Dakota, near the American/Canadian border. Their second winter quarters, 1805-1806, were at Fort Clatsop, Oregon near the Oregon/Washington border. Their overall goal for the entire trip was to find a water passageway to move travelers and business from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast, as well as discovering what dangers and difficulties would be encountered by those who made the journey.

Dr. Steve Beliel showed one group of children the art of Blacksmithing. He represented fur trappers, traders, and flinty knappers from the days of, and just following, the Lewis and Clark expedition. They also demonstrated how to churn butter, how to make a pioneer dugout, and a pioneer school.

One of the highlights of the day for everyone was the David Little Lakota Heritage Society dance performances for all the Western Cultural Arts attendees.

Trail cooks, Jim and Kay French, helped the children fry bread cinnamon rolls, and made coffee and hot chocolate at the Chuck Wagon.

Lyne Messersmith presented Hearts Compass for the youngsters.

At noon, chow was served to all the young people, and other guests, with Jim and Kay French. This was followed by over an hour of covered wagon rides and singing on the trail with Bernie and Bill White, wagon masters.

Throughout the afternoon, each of the groups involved repeated for new arrivals their demonstrations of blacksmithing, churning butter, Lakota dance performances, seeing a pioneer dugout made, observing the making of quilts and other items made by people of that era.

Later in the afternoon, fruit cobblers, coffee and hot chocolate were served at the chuck wagon before they bid Happy Trails, Thanks and Great Explorations to all.

Everyone went home with the adventures of Lewis and Clark much more vivid in their minds than if they had only learned it in from a book.

**Area Students Participate In Western Cultural Arts Day Reliving**

**The Adventures of Lewis And Clark**

***by Sharon M. Wheelock***
	History came vibrantly alive when area school children travelled to Ellsworth for the annual Western Cultural Arts Day, which this year featured the theme of Reliving the Adventures of Lewis and Clark. Following The Pledge of Allegiance, the National Anthem was sung by Kim Foreman. Students were divided into three groups: K, 1st and 2nd grades; 3rd and 4th grades; and 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades, and each group helped certain people reenact events from the era of Lewis and Clark, with the children interacting in the happenings of that time. Dale Clark & Company led the historical presentation of Lewis and Clark,s adventures on their expedition from the eastern U.S. into the heartland of America, at the request of President Teddy Roosevelt, to see what lay beyond the land that had earlier been discovered and settled. They came through Nebraska, spending a long time here, loving the land, the rich, lush grass, all the wild flowers and the numerous fruits. In the Nebraska, the Lewis and Clark group were the first Americans to see the Indian tipi, and they saw, for the first time, a badger, a wolf and prairie dogsand even named the prairie dogs. They were so interested in prairie dogs that they put one in a cage and took it back to Washington. Lewis and Clark lived on wild life, fish and all the fruits and berries throughout their journey; fortunately they found them in abundance in Nebraska. They missed death many times, fighting grizzlies, wolves and illnesses, and made friends with some Indians"who gave them watermelon for the first time. The Lewis and Clark expedition left a camp near St. Louis in 1804, journeyed up the Missouri and crossed the Rocky Mountains. The explorers reached the Pacific coast in 1805. They returned to St. Lewis in 1806 with valuable information about the new frontier. Part of that new frontier was that state of Nebraska. They spent their first winter, 1804-1805, in Fort. Mandan, North Dakota, near the American/Canadian border. Their second winter quarters, 1805-1806, were at Fort Clatsop, Oregon near the Oregon/Washington border. Their overall goal for the entire trip was to find a water passageway to move travelers and business from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast, as well as discovering what dangers and difficulties would be encountered by those who made the journey. Dr. Steve Beliel showed one group of children the art of Blacksmithing. He represented fur trappers, traders, and flinty knappers from the days of, and just following, the Lewis and Clark expedition. They also demonstrated how to churn butter, how to make a pioneer dugout, and a pioneer school. One of the highlights of the day for everyone was the David Little Lakota Heritage Society dance performances for all the Western Cultural Arts attendees. Trail cooks, Jim and Kay French, helped the children fry bread cinnamon rolls, and made coffee and hot chocolate at the Chuck Wagon. Lyne Messersmith presented Hearts Compass for the youngsters. At noon, chow was served to all the young people, and other guests, with Jim and Kay French. This was followed by over an hour of covered wagon rides and singing on the trail with Bernie and Bill White, wagon masters. Throughout the afternoon, each of the groups involved repeated for new arrivals their demonstrations of blacksmithing, churning butter, Lakota dance performances, seeing a pioneer dugout made, observing the making of quilts and other items made by people of that era. Later in the afternoon, fruit cobblers, coffee and hot chocolate were served at the chuck wagon before they bid Happy Trails, Thanks and Great Explorations to all. Everyone went home with the adventures of Lewis and Clark much more vivid in their minds than if they had only learned it in from a book.

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