We spent most of this week, March 16-19 with the students of Craver Middle School in Colorado City, Colorado. The Appleseed instructors that helped with this event: oneshot_onehole, ColoradoBoots, Franktown_Kid, JustJax, Offy, COJeepGirl, Skinner, topcat, Mike.45%er and Prone to Knit.
This event was initiated by the teacher Tim Baird last year. We were quickly invited back to do this year's event. He was assisted by another teacher, Jeff Oswald.
Before spring break each year, Craver Middle School offers intensives. These are week-long classes in a variety of subjects. There were 9 offerings this year which included Appleseed, basket weaving, women's studies, debating and roller coaster physics (math).
We had 67 kids sign up for our class but they were redistributed to even out the classes. We ended up with 31 students.
Monday started off with an introduction to Project Appleseed along with a description of what was to happen during the week. Last year Rick Cowlishaw came in as our reenactor. This year he brought in 6 members of The 2nd Connecticut Regiment of Militia to split the day with us helping in the presentation of our amazing heritage. Joining Sergeant Rick Cowlishaw were Surgeon Ed Duncan, Captain Wendell Knighton Smith joined by his wife Sherry and daughters Heather and Hannah.
They started off in the classroom explaining their role in the Revolutionary War, the contents of their packs, firearms history and how they functioned, what their existence looked like, the food they ate (we were shown the 5-day supply of rations they carried, about the size of a Whopper meal. No wonder they were such small people then and we are so big!), cartridge boxes, why someone had the job of collecting the contents of chamber pots, the use of the drum to muster troops along with examples of the different beats for different purposes, and the absolute value of women at that time.
They brought a variety of firearms including a genuine flintlock pistol from the 1600s. They had handmade rope, drums, eating utensils, flasks, canteens. Everyone was dressed in period-correct outfits. Colorado Boots and I were in period clothing this day, also. A student asked why they had so much rope and they were told they'd see examples outside.
Their regiment surgeon was on hand to share his tools of the trade. He showed examples of the medicines they had, the tools that they used including blood letting instruments, dental extractors and tools to scrape pus for vaccines.
In the afternoon we all went out to the football field to see their encampment complete with tents, a cooking area, musket racks and surgeon's area. Their camp was protected by barriers made of sharpened sticks (a French name I cannot recall). They cooked a meal of ration stew with dumplings on their brazier and also churned butter. They melted lead and made ball and buttons. They explained the importance of rope for putting their camp together. Evidence was all around of us in their tents and other amenities of the camp. The three men, in formation, fired their muskets several times (powder and paper wadding only), went through some marching maneuvers and lowered their bayonets in unison. That was pretty intimidating! They then broke up into different study areas: the cooking/ball making area, the surgeon's area and a lesson on lashings. Each kid went to the area of interest to them.
The 2nd Connecticut Regiment did a fantastic job for Project Appleseed as they immersed these kids into our past which helped our lessons have more impact. It made for a richer learning experience. We just can't thank them enough for donating their time and effort into our mission. Here's a short video from one of their past events: http://www.krdo.com/news/group-recreates-revolutionary-war-camp-in-colorado-springs/26799370
Tuesday started off with a discussion of safety rules. We told more stories. We talked about the symbolism on the flags that hung all around the room. The kids were then allowed to design their own flags with symbolism that was important to them. Modern firearms were discussed. Safety rules from Jeff Cooper, the NRA and Appleseed were compared. The kids made cartridges, mimicking what kids of the Revolutionary War were responsible for doing. They made "ball" of melted pink wax, then wrapped them in paper with coffee grounds as powder. They were given hard tack - they weren't impressed that the soldiers had to live off these sparse rations. We have ColoradoBoots to thank for making the hard tack and providing the paper, coffee grounds and markers for the flags. We have such great volunteers.
Two young girls in the class asked if they could play their flute and trumpet. They were just learning and wanted to perform before an audience. They were given a minute for a short piece and did an admirable job despite their extreme nervousness. These little things make up the special moments in Appleseed. They felt comfortable enough with us strangers to put themselves out there like that.
When the Boston tea party story was told, ColoradoBoots had a brick of tea to pass around.
We did a lesson on use of the sling and prone steady hold factors as well as the 6 steps of firing a shot and a little bit on NPOA hoping it would make range day easier for them to be familiar with the fundamentals of shooting. We allowed the kids that wanted to get some experience to get into the sling and prone position. We had a laser on the demo rifle which helped to illustrate how steady they were with a sling compared to no sling.
The kids were allowed to hold some of the firearms under our direct supervision. The Appleseed safety rules were explained once again with the kids reciting them back to us.
Wednesday was range day. We went to the Avondale Clays & Gun Club which donated the berm without range fees. Thanks, Brog! We were blessed to have two volunteers from the Colorado 2nd Amendment Association, Luke and Keith. They have become great supporters of Appleseed. Don from the 9/12 group came out to help. He is with the Constitutional Champions camp that we are invited to each year as we bring stories and a pellet line to their curriculum. A parent that helped last year, Kevin, came to help again. Rico was also out for a second year from the Colorado AR-15 forum which donated 6000 rounds of .22 ammo for this event. We also had to come up with 30 rifles and the volunteers and instructors made it happen. We are grateful to each and every one of you.
ColoradoBoots was able to get a KOAA news team to come out. They stayed for about 2 hours.
We, of course, started out with safety rules, safe rifle and line commands. The kids shot a redcoat target; we went through sling use, steady hold factors and the 6 steps of firing a shot. One left-handed student used my bolt rifle. This was his very first experience with firearms. He had expressed fear the previous day but quickly fell into the routine. In the video, he's the one that says "And that's how you load a .22 mag!"
We held a cracker shoot which the kids loved. At the end of the day the students were given some free time to shoot. Those that wanted to shoot the Garand and AR-15 lined up and had a great time. The kids that stayed on .22LR sent a LOT of lead downrange. The teacher had mixed up some tannerite which the centerfire shooters were able to set off which was very cool.
On Thursday, Jim and I went back to the school to watch the show and tell presentation the kids had put together. Their fellow students/teachers/school officials/parents came through in groups. The kids had poster-sized paper for their pieces. We saw rifle history, lots of safety rules, some of our stories written out in their words, historical flags and recaps of the week.
I'll be putting up pictures as I get them processed and sorted. If they show up here, we have model releases on them.
I'll also be adding links to media pieces as they appear.
http://www.koaa.com/story/28556589/craver-middle-school-students-trade-the-classroom-for-the-gun-range
http://www.ijreview.com/2014/03/123469-students-field-trip-every-gun-control-fanatics-worst-nightmare/ Look at the views and shares.
https://www.facebook.com/KOAA/photos/a.114239518938.120114.114200373938/10153252804948939/?type=1 Opinion question from KOAA. Over 6,0000 likes, 1200 comments and 784 shares.
https://www.facebook.com/KOAA/photos/a.114239518938.120114.114200373938/10153252023368939/?type=1 A post on KOAA Facebook that the story was coming.
http://www.nranews.com/cam/list/cam-company Cam & CO, March 19th, at 2:17:05 and 2:31:50
Luke Wagner of Colorado 2nd Amendment Association and oneshot_onehole got a couple minutes on Cam's show March 20th, apparently in the special 4th hour available only to subscribers just before the half hour mark.
http://www.colorado2a.org/project-appleseed-goes-back-to-school/
https://www.facebook.com/nagrfb/posts/10153111976090432
http://ingunowners.com/forums/appleseed/378334-appleseed-news-good-story.html
http://www.glockforum.net/forum/off-topic-discussion/12906-craver-middle-school-students-trade-classroom-gun-range.html
http://gunsnotgoons.com/revolutionary-war-revolutionary-war-re-enactors-appleseed-volunteer-elizabeth-and-real-firearm/#
You guys are awesome.
That's awesome! This story is really catching fire on the NAGR Facebook page. 50,000 likes and over 2000 comments. Would be good for members of the cadre to jump in and answer questions:
https://www.facebook.com/nagrfb/posts/10153111976090432
Bluesteel, thanks for the link. I'll put it in the original post.
Pictures are coming. We had to check for those we didn't have model releases on and resize them.
Kim
Here are the pictures. They come from the teacher Tim Baird, Franktown_Kid, ColoradoBoots, JustJax and COJeepGirl.
Some more...
More photos.
Photos.
The students created a giant card that they presented to us to thank everyone that was involved.
HAZZAH!!!
Fantastic O0
Here's a link from from a popular news source ,
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/03/20/co-middle-schoolers-trade-pencils-for-rifles-shoot-american-revolution-firearms/
Thanks, Johnnyappleseed. They got a lot of facts wrong and never mentioned Appleseed. I'm going to send info to the journalist.
Kim
I love reading about this and showing my fellow high school students about it, they all think its really neat :)