Our 2011-2012 Activities

2012 Trails Inc. Living History Schedule of Events

       A. D. 2012 looks to be a fertile year for the cultural and natural history education programs of Trails, Inc.  Living History.  A series of hikes and presentations that are not shown on the schedule, but that certainly are worth your perusal (especially if you have an interest in Civil War history) are the Mary Ingles Trail Blazers’ Hikes Through History.  You can check these out at the MITB website:  http://maryinglestrailblazers.homestead.com/index.html

       When you see a series of question marks on the schedule, that means that the dates or events are not yet certain.  Check this website upon occasion to see when these dates or events get settled.  Also, if you have further questions on any of these scheduled items, contact the numbers or websites given with each item. 

        Our regional history from the protohistoric period up to the Civil War era is vastly more interesting than most folks realize.  There are many lessons to be learned from the daily lives of the people whose diverse cultures so heavily influenced modern southern Appalachian culture.  Our popular Tracking and 18^th Century Woodslore weekends (T&W) are expanding this year.  Twin Falls State Park in southern WV always serves as an excellent backdrop for this program midwinter, when a good tracking snow often graces our hikes.  Then in March, we will hold an early spring T&W at Carter Caves Resort State Park in KY.  This will be a good time for detecting the explosive breeding amphibians that abound in that park.  For those who have wanted to learn more about T&W during a leaf-on season, think about joining us at Blackwater Falls State Resort Park, WV this year in September.  We will be able to see deer licks, large spruce cone middens made by fairy diddles, as well as some signs of high elevation/latitude animal species. 

        One of the newer events that we think you will find interesting is the American Indian Weekend at Meadowcroft Rockshelter near Avella, PA.  This is a World Heritage Site, perhaps the oldest proven (to date) human occupied site in eastern North America.  Many top-notch living history interpreters collaborate with the research staff at the site to incorporate research findings into the living history presentations.  In the first year of our participation, Trails Inc. interpreters helped round out the living history presentations at the replica Monongahela Culture palisaded village by constructing and demonstrating a cooking pit and roasting rack.  Snapping turtle, rattlesnake, a variety of fishes, rabbits, fowl, chestnuts, crabapples, corn, mushrooms, pumpkins, and other items were cooked to show the potential abundance of a late summer feast.  This past year, Dianne handled the cooking pit, while Doug played in the water.  We opened up waterfront demonstrations at Cross Creek, by constructing a rock and log fishing weir.  Two excellent living history interpreters, Ed Robey and Aaron Bosnick helped Doug demonstrate a variety of techniques for gathering sustenance from a lotic (flowing water) environment.  If you have never heard of Todd Johnson, you should remember that name.  Todd is one of those living history interpreters whose fertile imagination gives rise to new ways of interpreting old life skills.  When Todd first mentioned the possibility of a waterfront prehistoric fishing/gathering demonstration at this ancient human-occupied site, the light bulb turned on and the site administrators gave their blessings. We worked through all of the initial concerns, selected a good demonstration site, and began preparing nearly a half year in advance.  We constructed a fish trap out of saplings, bark, and bearskin rawhide strips.  Doug made a Micmac style scapula fish spear.  Todd made a fish net.  Aaron made a crayfish trap and a fish dip net.  Doug constructed a mini-fish weir in Elk River during the first-ever Elk River Gathering living history event.  This was practice to work out the details of construction and interpretation for the Meadowcroft event.  Check out our photos of the 2011 event for an idea of what types of activities you will see at the 2012 event.  We hope you can join us at this event or some of our other scheduled events this year.  Stay connected to history through living history events! ---Doug Wood.

2011 Dec. 12 – Two Ostenaco History Alive! performances, West Milford Elementary School.  Not open to the public.

2012

-Jan. 13-15 – Tracking and 18th Century Woodslore, Twin Falls State Park, WV.  http://www.twinfallsresort.com/calendar.html   Contact Bryan Danford at 1-800-CALLWVA.

-Jan. 21 – Kanawha State Forest Foundation Shirley Schweizer Winter Walk, KSF, WV.  http://www.kanawhastateforest.com/events.html  Contact Kevin Dials at 1-800-CALLWVA.

-Jan. 28 –Master Naturalist Tracking Class, Morgantown, WV.  http://monongahelamn.blogspot.com/

-Feb. 25 - Cherokee Attack on Fort Dobbs educational event, but no battle re-enactment, Fort Dobbs State Historic Site, NC.  http://www.fortdobbs.org/events.htm  Contact Scott Douglas 704-873-5882. 

-Mar. 2-4 - Tracking and 18th Century Woodslore, Carter Caves State Park, KY.  http://parks.ky.gov/parks/resortparks/carter-caves/default.aspx  Contact Coy Ainsley at 1-800-255-PARK (7275)

-Mar. 9-11 – Warrior Medicine, Frontier Folk workshop at Blue Licks State Park, KY.  http://parks.ky.gov/parks/resortparks/blue_licks/default.aspx  Contact Paul Tierney at 1-800-255-PARK (7275).

-Mar. 23-25 – The Decline of Monongahela Mussel Fauna presentation during the Appalachian Studies Conference, Indiana, PA.  http://www.iup.edu/appalachianstudies/default.aspx  

-Mar. 30-Apr. 1 – Cherokee Peace Negotiations re-enactment, Fort Dobbs State Historic Site, NC.  http://www.fortdobbs.org/events.htm  Contact Scott Douglas 704-873-5882. 

-April 20-22 – Wildflower Weekend, Carter Caves State Park, KY.  http://parks.ky.gov/parks/resortparks/carter-caves/default.aspx  Contact Coy Ainsley at 1-800-255-PARK (7275).

-April 28 – Osbra Eye Memorial Wildflower Walks, Kanawha State Forest, WV.  http://www.kanawhastateforest.com/events.html  Contact Kevin Dials at 1-800-CALLWVA.

-May 19 – The Siege of Fort Randolph, Krodel Park, Point Pleasant, WV.  http://fortrandolph.org/index_files/siege.htm  Contact Craig Hesson at 304-675-7933 or chesson1774@suddenlink.net

-May 22 – The WV Breeding Bird Atlas, Clay Center Science Café at Taylor Books, Charleston, WV.  http://www.theclaycenter.org/publicprograms/adultprograms/sciencecafe.aspx  Contact 304-561-3570.

-May 26-27 – The Montgomery and Grant Expeditions Against the Cherokee, re-enactment, Fort Loudoun State Historic Site, TN.  http://fortloudoun.com/  Contact 423-884-6217.

-June 2-3 – Warrior Encampment, Jumonville National Historic Site, PA.  http://www.nps.gov/fone/jumglen.htm  Contact 724-329-5811.

-June 9-10 – Statewide Master Naturalists of WV Tracking Class, Elkins, WV.  http://mnofwv.org/  

-June 11 - Ostenaco History Alive! performance, WV Conservation Camp, Camp Caesar, Bolair, WV.  http://www.wvca.us/education/program.cfm?page=program_conservation_camps  and  http://www.wvhumanities.org/alive.htm .

-June 24 – Frontier History Bus Tour, National Speleological Society Annual Conference, Lewisburg, WV.  http://www.nss2012.com/  Contacts jeff@nss2012.com  and jep@nss2012.com

-Jun. 30 - ???Elk River Gathering???

-Jul. 7 – Emissaries of Peace Exhibition opens at Fort Necessity National Battlefield, PA.  http://www.nps.gov/fone/jumglen.htm  Contact 724-329-5811.

-Jul. 9 - Ostenaco History Alive! performance, Blackwater Falls State Park, WV.  http://www.blackwaterfalls.com/Special.htm  or  http://www.wvhumanities.org/alive.htm Contact Paulita Cousin at 1-800-CALLWVA.

-Jul. 21 - ???Whiskey Rebellion or Elk River Gathering???

-Jul. 23-28 – Pioneer Life Week, Carter Caves State Park, KY.  http://parks.ky.gov/parks/resortparks/carter-caves/default.aspx  Contact Coy Ainsley at 1-800-255-PARK (7275).

-Jul. 25 or 26??? - Ostenaco History Alive! performance, Carter Caves State Park, KY.  http://parks.ky.gov/parks/resortparks/carter-caves/default.aspx  Contact Coy Ainsley at 1-800-255-PARK (7275).

-Aug. 4-5 – Battle of Bushy Run re-enactment, Bushy Run Battlefield, Harrison City, PA.  http://bushyrunbattlefield.com/

-Aug. 12 – Lower Kanawha Valley Rare Plant Tour, (Native Plant Society and Mary Ingles Trail Blazers).  http://www.wvnps.org/  and  http://maryinglestrailblazers.homestead.com/index.html

-Aug. 17-19 – Battle of Blue Licks Commemoration, battle re-enactments & educational presentations, Blue Licks Battlefield State Resort Park, KY.  http://parks.ky.gov/parks/resortparks/blue_licks/default.aspx  Contact Paul Tierney at 1-800-255-PARK (7275).

-Sep. 1 – Fort Henry Days, battle re-enactment and educational presentations, Oglebay Park, Wheeling, WV.  http://www.foremat.com/fhd/Fort_Henry_Days/HOME.html

-Sep. 14-16 – The Legacy of Mary Ingles (Mary Ingles Trail Associates) living history educational event, Beech Fork State Park, WV.  http://www.beechforksp.com/events.html  1-800-CALLWVA.

-Sep. 14 - Ostenaco History Alive! performance, during The Legacy of Mary Ingles.  http://www.beechforksp.com/events.html  1-800-CALLWVA and http://www.wvhumanities.org/alive.htm.

-Sep. 22-23 – American Indian Weekend, Meadowcroft Rock Shelter World Heritage Site, Avella, PA.  http://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/meadowcroft.aspx  Phone 412-454-6000.

-Sep. 28-30 - Tracking and 18th Century Woodslore, Blackwater Falls State Park, WV.  http://www.blackwaterfalls.com/Special.htm  Contact Paulita Cousin at 1-800-CALLWVA.

-Oct. 13 – Living History of the Kanawha Trace, Tri-State Area Boy Scouts of America Camp Arrowhead, Barboursville, WV.  http://www.tsacbsa.org/tsac/  Phone (304) 523-3408.

-Oct. 14 – Ostenaco History Alive! performance, during the Mason-Dixon Line History Hike, Mason-Dixon Historical Park, Monongalia Co., WV.  http://www.exploretheline.com/ and  http://www.wvhumanities.org/alive.htm

-Oct. 19-21 – Salt Festival, Big Bone Lick State Park, KY.  http://parks.ky.gov/site_map.aspx?error=404  Contact Todd Young at 1-800-255-PARK (7275).

-Nov. 3 – Historical Presentation, Braddocks Road Historic Preservation Society, Jumonville Conference Center, Jumonville, PA.  http://braddockroadpa.org/  Phone (724) 439-4912.