This is a favorite event of mine. There are a few schools around the country that hold what is equivalent to the Camp Day that Sarasota Middle School holds annually. Canton, Connecticut Middle School also has a Civil War (War Between the States) Day. I know there must be others, but unfortunately not nearly enough.
This event is called Camp Westcott. Adam Westcott was a history teacher at Riverview High School in Sarasota. He was also a Civil War Re.enactor. He was a member of the 1st Minnesota in the area and later a member of the 97th Pennsylvania. Yep, he fought as a Yankee. But y’all can’t have a re.enactment unless you have two sides. As time moved on, he had some health problems. He switched from a fighting soldier to a member of the medical corps and fielded with the doctors. Later, he had to make a further switch as his health became worse. He started a time period sensitive pharmacy and did many demonstrations with his field medicine cabinet. He went to be with the Lord in 2005. In 2006, although the event had been going on for several years known simply as Camp Day, it was dedicated and renamed Camp Westcott. Adam's tent, chair and brogans (army shoes) along with a plague are onsite throughout the day.
Adam was a good friend, and we miss him very much. His widow comes to the Camp Day each year. She, too, is a good friend.
Adam and Middle School history teacher Jan had conceived the idea several years earlier. After getting permission from the powers that be, they started Camp Day. From what I understand, the first one was very small. This is no longer true, however. They believed that it would be a good way to teach the students history in a fun way. That turned out to be a good prediction.
The eighth graders participate in this day. The seventh graders are guided through the camp. And the sixth graders are paraded around the perimeter. There are a zillion opportunities and jobs for the students from officer of the day to dish washing. Members of the 97th Pennsylvania donate their time to do drills, fire cannon, fife, drum and demonstrate historical crafts. It changes a bit every year, of course, depending on what members might be available.
2009 presented an extra special treat…Jan and her beloved sweetheart Charlie got married with all the students present. The fifer (Jane) and drummer (Tim) played them down the aisle. Yes, it was a “real” wedding as a clergyman officiated at the ceremony. Appropriate license obtained ahead of time.
This year we left our house and traveled the almost 200 miles on Thursday and stayed with Jan and Charlie, so that we could be near the school for early Friday morning setup.
On-site is Adam’s old medicine cabinet now manned by his friend Wally and Wally’s daughter Andy. There is a general store (the students can buy period candy), lemonade stand, period music (this year a banjo player), a hospital, Underground railroad station, and inn. And, of course, Miss Molly’s Kettle Korn. Several young men helped to get us set up. Then eight to ten students (always seem to be girls) had been chosen to help in our tent in two shifts. One girl on each shift collects money (which goes back to the school). It gets very busy at times--with nothing to do at others. I have done this event long enough to know not to stop during down time. Just keep baggin’. The bags of popped corn will disappear soon enough.
The students receive their assignments for the day by pulling the job from a hat. Most of the time, the students are happy to get our job until they stand there for a while. I have to keep telling them that I do it all when they are not there. Steve is the cook; I am the bag lady (fill the bags) plain and simple. Unless we are super busy, I also collect the $$$$$ in normal life. I always get one or two great workers, a couple of mediocre and a couple of divas whose feet hurt within five minutes or they become soooooooooo tired.
My favorite is when those prima donnas get the dish washing detail.
Jan has accumulated many costumes, uniforms, and various sundry outfits which she “rents” to the students (the rental fee is not in money, but they do have to sign for them).
Lunch is provided. It is a meal one might have had in the War…crackers, an apple, baked beans, apple pie (which the parents donate), lemonade and muffins. Food is served on metal pie plates and lemonade in "tin" cans. Most of the food is donated. Not very substantial, but none of us starve...
Most of the students and their parents are extremely enthusiastic about this day. It often comes just before spring break. The students, their parents, many teachers do most of the set-up. Jan and Charlie start the evening before and bring out some of the façades that need to be put together on the day itself. They put in mannnnnnnny donated hours before and after the event. Much of the stuff is owned by Jan and Charlie; some owned by the school. The school does provide a “portable” in which they can store everything. (For those of you outside of Florida…a portable is a “temporary” building used as a classroom. It is not usually temporary, however. It is a free-standing building on the school campus.). Students and parents from Jan’s team, the GNUs, under Charlie’s direction tear everything down and put it in its proper place for use next year. It is amazing how discipline, cooperation and many hands can get a big task done quickly and efficiently.
We goofed on calculating supplies this year. We messed up on the amount of oil we needed. So, one very nice Mom went to the local Publix in the middle of this whole thing and picked up some vegetable oil for us. I am sorry I don’t know her name, but THANKS be to her, nonetheless.
Jan is a tough, but fair teacher. If someone is not behaving in a manner appropriate to the time period, she will give them a time out (up to an hour). I have heard her threaten to ban someone from Camp Day for misbehavior (which seems to be THE worst punishment a teacher can hand out these days!!!).
The day, from what I understand, has become self supporting due to the sales of kettle korn, lemonade and general store items and donations by parents and local businesses. The eight graders get paid with “funny money” by the paymaster. They can, then, in turn use these funds to buy what they want (until they run out of money, of course). The sixth and seventh graders pay with real US money.
The day is very hectic and VERY tiring, but it is also very exhilarating! It is good to see students absorbing and learning things that are outside of the classroom, but may be part of life.
Thank you Adam, Jan, Charlie, teachers, parents, students, soldiers and demonstrators. You truly have an unique story here. There are few events like this in life for fun and learning.
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