Wednesday, Jul 28, 2010
National Park Service News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: July 28, 2010
CONTACT: Donna Davis, (864) 461-2828
Cowpens National Battlefield hosted a Great Outdoors Activity Day which was directed at reconnecting children to the outdoors and educating them about the history of the Revolutionary War battlefield. On July 14th, over one hundred students gathered at the Scruggs House to participate in educational activities lead by the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) and Teacher Rangers.
The YCC worked closely with the Teacher Rangers to create a day in which children from the area could come and learn about history while also having a lot of fun. Children from Midway, Sunshine Preschool and After School Club, Crayons 2 Computers, the Cherokee Children’s Shelter, and the Cherokee County Boys & Girls Club all came and enjoyed a day of games, crafts, and nature.
The YCC, who were all dressed in colonial attire, were a big hit with the children. They gave the visiting students a tour of the Scruggs House and told them stories of colonial frontier life. Students were allowed to pet a chicken and hold turtles, and examine deer bones. The YCC also taught the children how to play colonial games, such as “Jump the Brook” and “Chuck Farthing” (Pebbles in a Bucket.)
The Teacher Rangers lead the craft tables and assisted the children in creating replicas of Revolutionary War drums and musket cartridges. Students were excited about the hands on activities. They marched around tapping on their drums and yelling, “Thank you Cowpens National Battlefield!”
The collaborative efforts of the Youth Conservation Corps and the Teacher Rangers made the Great Outdoors Activity Day a huge success. Teacher Ranger Cora Stepp said, “we realized that our goal to give back to the community was reached when we saw smiling faces of the children who attended.” The YCC consists of six local high school students who are interested in the improvement and conservation of our natural resources. They spent the summer working together to preserve the battlefield. The Teacher Rangers are two local middle school teachers who spent the summer working for and learning about the National Park Service. These teachers will take what they learned over the summer back to their schools and share it with their students.
Cowpens National Battlefield is the site of the American victory over the British on January 17, 1781, and is located 10 miles west of Gaffney, SC, and 3 miles east of Chesnee, SC, at the intersection of Highways 11, 110, and 221-A. For more information, call (864) 461-2828, or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/cowp/.
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EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICATM The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.
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