Kids Summer Camp with focus on history& Colonial Crafts

History Camp at Bedminster's Historic Vanderveer House

The Friends of the Jacobus Vanderveer House in Bedminster is proud to announce in conjunction with the Bedminster Township Recreation Department, the 2nd History Camp for children.

 

Journal Entry: Dear Mom & Dad... Here's what happened at History Camp Today Day 3 – The Farmer’s Household, Colonial Clothing and Sewing Projects Hello Everyone, Another fine day at History Camp!  Today we learned about life in the farmer’s household from Good Wife Fawn MacNab.  Fawn discussed the types of chores done on a daily basis by both men and women in a farm household and passed around several of the items, tools and necessities that might have been found in a typical farm home.   Of particular interest was the herb “Lamb’s Ear” which was one of the items used as bathroom tissue during the colonial period.  We also learned that in the summer farmers and their families would often go barefoot to preserve the life of their shoes and were therefore more susceptible to parasites or an infection from stepping on foreign objects.  Overall, life on the colonial farm was very hard. As a farmer’s wife, Fawn developed the special skill of seat weaving, mostly using items found on her family’s farm such as rush or cane from bamboo.  Rush was readily available and grew on farms near ponds, lakes or marshy areas.  The rush was cut, dried and stored for up to three years, then soaked in water prior to weaving.  We learned about other mediums used and how they were made including splints and binding, and we were able to see first had several types of woven chairs Fawn brought along to share from youth chairs (what we call a “high chair” today) to dining chairs and more decorative chairs.  Next in contrast, Lady Ellen Ruck discussed what colonial life was like for common people and the upper class during the 1700s.  We learned that colonial people shook with their right hands because toilet paper did not exist and used their left hand in place of it (ewe).  We also learned that women showed their wealth by wearing expensive clothes in great quantities.  What really freaked us out was that men wore more make-up than women in colonial America (that's gross)!  Then we had the opportunity to dress a woman for a colonial ball and learn about all the types of garments worn by men and women and the fabrics used to make them.     Then it was our turn to try our hand at sewing items used by colonial men and women.  The boys made ribbon cockades to adorn their tri-corns and the girls made ribbon necklaces with pineapple lace and satin rose embellishments.  Sewing was a new task for many of us, but commonplace in colonial America.   During colonial times, boys or girls would find a bright spot next to a window and sew cross legged for hours whether it be making or repairing more durable items used in the home, quilting or making clothing.  Next, we all started working on sewing shilling pouches.  Everyone was so focused that for a little while it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop (literally).  Sadly we ran out of time, and everyone was encouraged to take home their shilling pouches to work on them.  Lady Ellen instructed the campers to tie their finished shilling pouches onto their period costumes as done in colonial America.  Thank you to Lady Ellen and Good Wife Fawn for a most interesting presentation and for sharing their patience and expertise with us.  A special thanks to Caitlin Morris (Marthe’s daughter) and Olivia Galbraith (Jeanne’s daughter) for helping us today and threading all those needles!  And to Mr. John Philips for a most educational and enjoyable afternoon. Tomorrow is open fire cooking with Kathryn Ormosi.  Bring your appetites!  Do hope you can join us! p.s. Lady Ellen Ruck is the creator of our campers’ wonderful period costumes.  For more information on Lady Ellen’s Fine Ware be sure to visit www.ladyellens.com.     Robin Ray, History Camp Coordinator Bedminster Twp Recreation Director

Day 1 Diary | Day 2 Diary | Day 3 Diary | Day 4 Diary |

History Camp at Bedminster's Historic Jacobus Vanderveer House

Dates: Session 1 - June 30 - July 3, 2009 1-4pm Session 2 - July 20 - July 24, 2009 1-4pm Ages: 9-12 & open to all students in the Somerset Hills area.
Session	Activities
Monday	Welcome, clothing/costume hand-out, History of of the Vanderveer/Knox house, “Bee Keeping and Colonial Farming” with Tassot Apiaries from Milford, New Jersey.  Discussion and processing.
Tuesday	“Basket Weaving” with Elisa Kessler Caporale - Children will learn about the history of colonial basket making, purposes, materials, etc. and will be making round reed baskets with multicolored reed finished, looped or braided trim.  Discussion and processing.
Wednesday	“The Farmers Household ”Colonial clothing, sewing craft projects. Discussion and processing.
Thursday	“Open Fire Cooking ” with Michele Dansak & Kathy Ormosi.  Plan to cook items over an open outdoor fire pit, either soup and a bread or fried dough, and also churn butter.  Children will be involved with the food prep that doesn’t actually involve being over the fire. (All necessary fire approvals have been satisfied with the township in addition to the location of the fire pit).  Clothing styles and their purposes will be discussed relative to children.  Discussion and processing.
Friday (2nd Session Only)	"Archeological Exploration" - with Ian Burrow of Hunter Research, one of New Jersey's most renowned archeological firms.

Registration Form Details (For Download)