Traveling Through Time: Along the Wilderness Trail
A Workshop for Educators in Scott County
There are several great historical locations along the Wilderness Trail that focus on westward expansion. Virginia Fourth grade Standards of Learning focus on Virginia History. Why not combine the two together. Natural Tunnel State Park along with Joan Short, a park volunteer and a retired High School English teacher, partnered with the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Association, Wilderness Road State Park, Netherland Inn, and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park to provide teachers a two day workshop focusing on the Wilderness Trail. This program was offered free of charge to educators though a generous sponsorship of the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Association and Stafford Custom Graphics.
Each site visited was full of historical information for teachers to hear, see, touch, and tour. Teachers met at Natural Tunnel State Park and were transported by a 24 passenger bus to Netherland Inn, Natural Tunnel State Park, Wilderness Road State Park, and Cumberland Gap National Historical Park.
On July 29th the program started at Netherland Inn focusing on Long Island, the individuals that came to the area, and bartering. Several volunteers from the Inn gave the educators tours of the Inn, Daniel Boone’s Cabin, the kitchen, and the Flatboat. The second half of the day educators went to Natural Tunnel State Park where they viewed frontier bread making and toured the Wilderness Road Blockhouse while learning what life was like along the Wilderness Trail.
Day 2 started out at Wilderness Road State Park where the group was met by Captain Joseph Martin. Capt. Martin gave the educators a wonderful tour of his fort. Educators experienced fort life through several demonstrations by first person interpreters. From Wilderness Road State Park the group went to Cumberland Gap National Historical Park to listen to stories about who came through the gap given by Pam Eddy, one of the park’s historical interpreters, and the opportunity to walk on part of the actual Wilderness Trail.
While driving to each location Joan Short and Bill Cawood, park interpreter and High School Science teacher, talked about points of interest along the Trail. The teachers did not spend any time in a classroom; the classroom was the Wilderness Trail. Participants received a three ring binder full of information about each site, lesson plans, worksheets, and DVD’s they can use in their classrooms.
This workshop allowed teachers to view several local field trip opportunities that are available close to their school with in-service credit and contact information for each location. The educators had a great time and learned lot about their local history. The positive feedback and teacher enthusiasm will insure that this program will be offered next year.
We would like to thank Netherland Inn, Wilderness Road State Park, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Stafford Custom Graphics, The Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Association, and all the Volunteers for all their help and support with this workshop. Thanks!
Megan France
Education Specialist
Natural Tunnel State Park
