Trailblazer program set this week at fort

Gary Herrmann is in his fourth year of helping young people understand the importance and the history of the Fort Scott National Historic Site.

Herrmann, a seasonal worker at the site, is running the site's 13th annual Trailblazer Workshop, a weeklong day camp held at the site that exposes youth 9 to 12 years of age to the mission of the National Park Service and caring for the nation's national parks and historic sites. The workshop began Monday and will conclude Friday.

"I think the fort is very, very important," Herrmann said. "It provides an opportunity for information you can't find anywhere else in the park service in terms of what it represents."

Herrmann added he likes to help get youth interested and involved in the site at a young age and hopes they return as adults to assist with programs there.

"I want to help make sure the interest is maintained to keep this fort," he said. "The only way to do that is to get youngsters involved as youngsters."

Activities at the site during the Trailblazers workshop include a guided tour of the site, digging for buried treasure, learning how a cannon is fired, finding bugs, taking a prairie safari and even discovering how to save the planet. Participants also gain knowledge of methods used to preserve the buildings and artifacts of the fort.

They will also learn about living history and interpretation and work on a play or skit they will present to family and friends at the end of the week. There will also be activities related to global climate change, energy conservation and keeping the planet clean.

"We'll have some environmentally-friendly activities," FSNHS Ranger Barak Geertsen said.

Geertsen, the coordinator of the workshop, said there are seven kids -- most of whom are from the Fort Scott area -- signed up to participate this week. Several other site staff members are also involved with the workshop.

"The main purpose is to introduce kids to the mission of the National Park Service as it relates to the Fort Scott National Historic Site," he said. "Activities throughout the week show how the fort reflects that mission of preserving the resources of the site while allowing for their enjoyment. It's about the different ways we interpret our story and also how we learn about the site's resources and protect them."

Geertsen said the play and mock archaeological dig are "generally rated as the most popular" activities among participants.

So far this week, kids have washed clothing, much like a laundresses did in the mid-1800s, attempted to raise the flag, spent time in the prairie identifying flowers, helped in the herb garden and learned how to load and fire a Mountain Howitzer.

This year, the program is offered from 8:30 a.m. to noon each day.