History Camp

Cork Camp – 2019

The Pennsylvania Lumber Museum is excited to offer a new history camp program in 2019. At “Cork Camp,” participants will spend two full-days learning about the history of Pennsylvania’s forests, the how-to of wood hick skills, and get an introduction to portraying a living history character. The program will be administered in partnership by the staff of the PA Lumber Museum, PA DCNR State Parks, and several “Guest Instructors.” At the end of the camp, participants will demonstrate what they have learned at the Cherry Springs State Park Woodsmen Show. Please call (814-435-2652) or email (palumbermuseum@gmail.com) to register for this event. Pre-registration is required for participation.

Get the Facts about Cork Camp:

Where?                                The PA Lumber Museum/ Cherry Springs State Park

When?                                 August 3 & 4, 2019

What Time?                        Starting at 9 Am

How Much?                         $50* per person (*early bird registration price through 6/30/2019– reserve NOW to guarantee this rate!)

What’s Included?               2 days of camp, admission to the Cherry Springs Woodsmen Show on 8/4, lunch and dinner on 8/3; lodging in the bunkhouse on 8/3

What’s Not Included?        Meals on 8/4; other souvenirs and necessities

Preliminary Schedule (subject to change)

Saturday, August 3 (Day 1)

9:00 Am               Registration at the PA Lumber Museum admissions desk and introductory activity

9:30 Am               Overview of the Lumbering History of Pennsylvania: -Guided tour of the museum/ Sustainable Forestry Trail with PA Lumber Museum and PA DCNR staff

11:00 Am             Wood hick skills demonstrations, training and contests with Bill Simcox (tentative): hands-on activities for the whole family

12:00 Pm             Lunch (provided by PA Lumber Museum Associates- PALMA) in picnic pavilion

12:30 Pm             History Alive presentation by Rich Pawling (tentative): participants learn more about the lumbering history of PA and the nation and how they might incorporate that into a living history portrayal of a wood hick

2:00 Pm               Additional time with Simcox (tentative)/ Pawling to work on wood hick skills and how to demonstrate them to the public.

3:30 Pm               Woodhick games- fun competitions for program participants that relate to wood hick culture (horse shoes, seed spitting, log raft races, birling, etc.)

5:00 Pm               Conclude wood hick activities for the day; participants can get cleaned-up for dinner

6:00 Pm               Hearth Cooking family dinner (provided by PALMA)- learn to cook over an open fire and/or on the historic wood stove in the mess hall

9:00 Pm               “Lights Out” in the museum bunk house.

Sunday, August 4 (Day 2)

9:00 Am               First activities begin at the Woodsmen Show at Cherry Springs State Park. Participants meet at the Wood Hick Grove

10:00 Am             Participants conduct informal interactions “in character” around the Woodsmen Show, and participate with Rich Pawling’s (tentative) guidance (as M.C.) in presenting wood hick skills demonstrations at the Wood Hick Grove throughout the day

2:00 Pm               Program participants conclude their demonstrations in the Wood Hick Grove

5:00 Pm               Woodsmen Show concludes for the day.

This year’s camp participants will be encouraged to continue to volunteer at the Woodsmen Show and at the PA Lumber Museum, and will be offered a free/reduced admission to the following year’s history camp if they return to help “teach” the next batch of campers. Please know that you MUST PRE-REGISTER IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS EVENT. WALK-IN REGISTRATIONS THE DAY OF THE EVENT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL TODAY TO REGISTER. Thanks!