The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service has an honored history of bringing educational opportunities to the public in unique and exciting new ways. Extension Agents, Leslea Barnes, Crittenden County’s 4-H agent and Adam Barnes Livingston County’s ANR agent started discussing ideas for some new extension programing. The goal was to create a quality program that could meet many of the priority indictors, mesh the major program areas of ANR, 4-H and FCS, and reach a new and diverse audience.  

               The program that was developed is the Early American Heritage Project.  It was modelled off of the 4-H Western Heritage Project that originated in Montana. It meshes 4-H core curriculums with ANR and FCS programing to create a well-rounded program that can bring together youth and adults in a unique and fun hands on learning experience through living history. This program combines a comprehensive study of American history from the period 1750 to 1815 and consists of major components such as, but not limited to 4-H shooting sports (ie Black powder), Leadership Development, Living History (Civics), Foods, Community Engagement and Agriculture & Natural Resources (woodland and wildlife education) along with encompassing many other important life skills as indicated by priority indicators. Because this program lines up with our states schools educational common core components, educators have been very supportive of the hands on education this program provides.  

               To introduce this program to the youth in Western KY, a Day Camp or as we liked to call it, a Spring Muster was held at West KY 4-H Camp. With cooperation from our District Director, West Kentucky 4-H Camp director, and volunteers from Illinois, Missouri, and Indiana, a great event was born that will now become a yearly event. With ANR and 4-H agents helping at multiple stations during the event, 90 youth from Crittenden, Livingston, Caldwell, Lyon, Butler, Trigg, Todd, Hopkins and Muhlenberg county were able to participate in a hands on Early American Heritage learning experience.  In total, the Day Camp had 129 people participating.  This Day Camp help reach a diverse audience in which this event was the first time they had participated in a 4-H event or been to West KY 4-H Camp.

               During this Day Camp, youth were divided into 4 groups and were grouped together by different flags that were common to the time period.  Youth rotated to each station learning a variety of skills and hands on history lessons throughout the day.  Every participant was able to experience history by being assigned to a cannon crew and firing a cannon.  Youth trained as colonial militia would have back in the late 1700’s and each fired a black powder firearm.  A Native American of the Ojibwa tribe brought in many historical pieces and youth learned about native arms. Youth also enjoyed a hands on cooking lesson over an open fire and learned about the cooking and food preservation methods from the 18^th century.  

Youth were surveyed to have a better understanding of what they gained from a program like this.   Of the youth that were surveyed, 93% said they better understand and can follow how to safely handle and load a black powder firearm.  69% reported that they can demonstrate to others how to safely load a black powder firearm.  84% of the youth surveyed felt they gained skills they can apply at school, home or in the community.  99% gained a better understanding of our diverse cultures that helped shaped our nation.100% gained knowledge in our American Heritage.  88% gained more appreciation for our founding fathers.  97% of the youth surveyed reported that they enjoy outdoor activities with 96% reporting that the Day Camp was a fun learning experience.  Finally, 90% reported that they wanted to participate in programs like this in the future.