History camp 2015-FINAL-panel discussion-bringing history alive for our youth

Bringing History Alive
for our Youth
History Camp Panel Discussion
Boston, MA
Saturday Mar. 28, 2015
by Kyle Jenks

American Heritage Living
History Productions
www.AmericanHeritageLivingHistoryProductions.com
Kyle Jenks
216 509 7502
jaktar773@aol.com
www.linkedin.com/kyle-jenks/32/507/542

American Heritage Living History Productions
Program Listings-started 2005
• The American Revolution:
America’s first Civil War.
• Crafting 18th Century Articles:
(Separate presentation or add to any other
option for a significant savings)
• 1) A wax sealed letter written with
quill pen and ink. 2) Rolling a
simulated black powder cartridge.
3) Button sewing 4) Making an
officer's gorget.

American Heritage Living History Productions
Program Listings
• Patriot vs. Loyalist perspectives
• Country vs. Urban Lifestyles
• The American Revolution: Conservative or
Radical Movement?
• Flags of the American Revolution
• Others
• Military campaigns
• Medicine / Disease / Sickness
• Daily Living / Civics /Politics / Material
Culture
• Religion

What I would be thrilled to see at the end of this
session is formation of alliances that take action on
mutual interests
• By the end of this presentation
you will discover THREE
• CALL TO ACTIONS that I am
passionate about.
• I am seeking people to help me.
• I am willing to work with you on
your projects too.

THE ACADEMIC SIDE
gives us a studied base to rely on…..
• “Process Drama”-Role Playing
in the Classroom
• NYU Steinhardt School
• Prof. Philip Taylor
• Ursuline College-Ohio
• Dr. Bari Stith

“From classical antiquity to the present,
education and theatre have shared
common goals and uses. The Program in
Educational Theatre at New York
University's Steinhardt School of Culture,
Education, and Human Development
consciously brings the two fields together
– in the classroom, workshop, studio, and
on the stage. Here, we develop new
strategies in teaching and learning
through drama.”
What is Educational Theatre at NYU?

Millennials-Age 18-34
• I am a baby boomer. In order
for me to relate to history
from a contemporary
standpoint, I must be willing
yield to what works in today’s
society.
http://fusion.net/story/47184/f
usion-massive-millennial-poll-
results/

Contemporary Example #1:
At Liberty Hall-a Play by James Christy
http://www.nj.com/suburbannews/index.ssf/2014/09/
premiere_stages_at_kean_univer_11.html
“At Liberty Hall follows two high school
students who've just moved to New Jersey:
Cristian Rosario, a funny but unfocused
teenager from Queens by way of the
Dominican Republic; and Alexander
Hamilton, 16, the subject of Cristian's 10th
grade history project. This time-bending
story finds common threads of humor, honor
and awkwardness as told through the
experiences of a someday-Founding Father
and a kid looking for a way out of the
projects.”

www.kean.edu/premierestages
Alexander Hamilton on the
left.
Christian Rosario on the
right.

• The I performance I watched
was a matinee attended by
middle school children who
were bused in. These folks on
stage answered questions at
the end of the show. The kids
were captivated!

“Rapping a Revolution”
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/08/theater
/lin-manuel-miranda-and-others-from-
hamilton-
talkhistory.html?emc=edit_tnt_20150205&nlid
=68529031&tntemail0=y

February 6, 2015
Additions made March 17, 2015
“The Baby Boomer view vs. the
Millennial view”
PERSONAL COMMENTS ON THE PLAY:
HAMILTON currently playing at Public Theater in NYC through May 3, 2015.
These comments are based solely on the content of the NY
Times article: “Rapping a Revolution” Feb. 5th, 2015.
Although I love to be a purist, pragmatism wins out on this creation. It’s a
classic case of: “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.”

To be honest, I am not a fan of hip hop music. From the article: “A meeting of old and new, Colonial and millennial, is
the quintessence of “Hamilton,” in which Mr. Miranda — who wrote the book, lyrics and music, and stars in the title
role — uses a hip-hop, R&B and pop score to retell America’s founding story.” This play is not just for my eyes. This is
art and history combined together which widens its appeal. It is presented by a younger generation than mine for a
younger generation of people that find value in this kind of communication. Just yesterday [March 16th] I met a young
lady of the millennial generation who offered telling comments. She was fascinated by my description of this play. Her
comment first was that she felt her communications by various social media outlets was getting to be monotonous. She
said the subject matters revolved around, fashion, celebrity news or negative press in current events. Second, she
offered that this play interested her. When “shopping” for entertainment she looks for subjects that she can personally
relate to. This I think is an almost universal reason why a particular entertainment event achieves large scale success. I
found this refreshing and hopeful insight into what our young adults are looking for out of life.
If the content is historically accurate [right now I can’t afford the $120 ticket price to judge it for myself!] that is one of
two crucial reasons I would support this work. The second, as I eluded to, is that it is presenting history in a method
familiar and appealing to the performer’s contemporaries. As a First Person Interpreter of two 18th century characters,
I still choose to be pragmatic and open minded regarding this stage play. Again, perhaps this play is not designed to
appeal to the baby boomer generation necessarily. Its power lies in appealing to the audience represented through
popular culture in today’s world.

SHAKESPEARE:
As another analogy, I dare say Shakespeare is never challenged when people of different races or genders depict his
characters.
As an aside, I find it fascinating that this play comes on the heels of another new play about Alexander Hamilton
called “All Things Liberty” by James Christy which debuted to school children bused onto the Kean University
Campus in Union, NJ this past October. See:
http://www.nj.com/suburbannews/index.ssf/2014/09/premiere_stages_at_kean_univer_11.html
It is also relevant for a younger audience. “All Things Liberty” hits home because it brings universal human
experiences and makes them relatable to the current generation. By succeeding in doing that we have a better chance
to keep the appreciation of our hard won creation called the United States of America alive.
LAST OF THE MOHICANS:
Indulge me a bit of elaboration please. Do we get value from the fact that Last of the Mohicans has fostered an
enduring impact on the public’s fascination with its history even though it is not a completely non-fiction story? I
would argue yes. It has helped perpetuate an interest in history.
A crucial kudo to “Hamilton” would be if they get the history right. It just may seem out of context to an audience not
used to rap or hip hop music.

THE CONSTITUTION AND ITS BILL OF RIGHTS.
……which is another analogy I’d like to make: The way the Constitution was written to be a “living,
breathing” document. The founders were wise. They saw into the future and predicted evolution in
society. A strict document would paralyze society and eventually doom this then experiment in
Republican government delivered on a large scale. James Madison, the “Father of the Constitution”
doggedly researched all previous forms of Republican government through time and concluded that
they all sprung from small, city state environments and all eventually failed. In 1787 a group of 55
men gathered in the same place our Declaration of Independence was signed 11 years earlier. They
were now attempting to organize this bold statement it took eight years of war to forge and unite it
into a large and varied amalgam of states that became the largest successful republic ever devised. It
still stands today….227 years later and I believe our millennials still want to protect it.
Kyle Jenks

"
http://www.publictheater.org/hamilton/
No tickets available!!-Jan-May 3, 2015 Performances were already
extended to May 3rd. They are getting a phenomenal response and
are predicted to go to Broadway!

School Channel Reality Show
• A take off on PBS shows
such as:
• Manor House
• Frontier House
• Colonial House

School Televised
History Jeopardy competition
• I have a bunch of
Jeopardy questions saved
up if you would like to
contact me to help you
put one together that has
an American Revolution
theme.

History Stories
Liberty’s Kids- DVD
series

History Stories: “Arguing Comics”
• The Historical Society of Rockland County
Invites You to Join Us for
• "How Cartoonists Responded
to 9/11," A Golden Anniversary
Lecture by Kent Worcester
When: Thursday, April 23, 2015; 7:15 sharp
Where: HSRC, 20 Zukor Road, New City,
NY
Admission: $FREE (reservations required)
• Reserve tickets by sending an email to
info@rocklandhistory.org or
calling (845) 634-9629.

History Stories: “Arguing Comics”
• Kent Worcester is a professor of
political science at Marymount Manhattan
College, where he teaches courses on
democratic theory, modern political theory,
contemporary war, and the politics of
popular culture. He is the author or coeditor
of six books including, most recently,
"Arguing Comics: Literary Masters on a
Popular Medium" and "A Comics Studies
Reader." For several years, he gave talks on
New York City and comic books for the
New York Council for the Humanities'
Speakers in the Humanities program.

History Stories: Comics and
Graphic Novels
http://colonialcomics.tumblr.com/

Write a Story
A Graphic Novel using
Photoshop

Write a Story
• Document your experiences
• Example: Your Diary
• Write it in quill pen and ink
by candlelight.
• Self Publish a Graphic
Novel or Comic

Colonial Story Cubes
• Use existing product called
Story Cubes-I brought them
to try today if you like.
• Or make your own…..
• Purchase these items at a craft
store
• Wooden cubes
• Wood burner

An idea on how to use Colonial Story Cubes
• Make it a group lesson. It is a fine way to utilize
intellect and creativity, requiring both sides of
the brain to function optimally.
• Whoever begins the story, sets the tone for its
theme.
• Each successive roll of the dice is done by the
next person in the group.
• They must build on the same story line
established by the first person.
• Successive games begin with a different person
to establish differing themes.

Make a Facebook Page, write a blog, create
a wikiHow article…..OR
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Google +
• wikiHow

Great event listing sites
http://www.thehistorylist.com/
• Lee Wright
http://www.smoke-
fire.com/smoke-fire-
newspaper.asp

Great blogs
http://boston1775.blogspot.com/
• By J.L. Bell
•Boston 1775
• History, analysis, and
unabashed gossip about the
start of the American Revolution
in Massachusetts.

Great blogs
http://www.benfranklinsworld.com/
• by Liz Covart
www.newyorkhistoryblog.org
• Editor: John Warren

Great blogs and web sites
http://allthingsliberty.com/
Notice the relevance to
21st century life.
Commentary on a television
series dealing with the
American Revolution.

http://raglinen.com/
Notice the relevance to
21st century life.
Commentary on a modern
aspect of
American Revolution.

http://www.historytube.org/

USE www.hstry.co
• www.hstry.co
• "Create interactive timelines
that remind you of a FB set-up"
• It’s free to sign up.
• CEO Thomas Ketchall
• See article at:
www.edtechtimes.com

Museum Trek
• “Create a memorable experience
for your visitors with MuseumTrek,
the mobile game of location based
clues that players solve while they
Trek around your museum.”
• http://www.museumtrek.com/con
tactinfo.php
• President: Tim Cook

CALL TO ACTION #1:
Establish Living Historian’s Clubs
• One’s that I know exist:
• Montgomery Township HS, NJ-
”Living Historians Club”
• Held twice a year at Rockingham
Association Kingston, NJ-
Washington’s Last Military
Headquarters
• Guilderland High School,
Guilderland, NY [Albany area]-did a
FP project

• Bureau Valley CUSD
• Manlius, Illinois
• Heights
• Oakland, NJ
• Manito
• Oakland, NJ
• How about developing an exchange
program between the groups?

Establish Living Historian’s Clubs cont.
• WHERE DO YOU FIND THE KIDS?
• Schools
• Public, Private
• Rudolph Steiner Schools
• Waldorf Technique
• Magnet, Charter
• Homeschoolers
• Academies
• National Blue Ribbon Schools

• WHERE DO YOU
FIND THESE KIDS?
• Reenactments
• Encampments
• Rendevous’
• Community Events

Take them to a re-enactment or
encampment

Create your own Reenactment
• Watch this awesome
DVD.
• Plan, write and act
out your own
reenactment.

Finding the kids cont.
• At the History Bee/History
Bowl
www.historybowl.com
• At the National History
Day competitions
www.nationalhistoryday.org

http://www.nationalhistoryclub.org/

The History Bowl
Mid Atlantic Regional
• I attended the Mid Atlantic
Regionals at Princeton
University on Sat. March 21,
2015, volunteering as a question
reader.
http://www.historybowl.com/
• This and the following 2 photos
were taken in the Frist Building
Room 302. This is where Albert
Einstein used to teach!

The History Bowl
Hundreds of kids and
growing into an
international competition.

The History Bowl
Quarter final round

• Boy Scout International
Exchange Program
• Canada: SCOPE-Toronto area
• United States: Olympia
http://www.sbfg.ca/
• Scout Brigade of Fort George

• http://www.sbfg.ca/

• Boy Scout Domestic
Exchange Program
• Mohawk Valley/Schenectady Council-
gathering in Fort Plain, NY May 1-3, 2015
• Cradle of Liberty Council in Valley Forge,
PA
• Northern NJ Council-Offices in Oakland, NJ

• Boy Scout
• Eagle Project Suggested
Topics
•First Person
Interpretation
•Historical Drama
•Graphic Novel

cont.
• WHERE DO YOU FIND
THESE KIDS?
• Summer Camps-Workshops
• Helderberg Workshop, Albany, NY
• Did crafts from our AHLHP program
listing
• 1) A wax sealed letter written with quill pen
and ink.
• 2) A simulated black powder cartridge.
• 3) Button sewing
• 4) Making an officer's gorget.

Establish Living Historians Club cont.
• WHERE DO YOU FIND THESE
KIDS?
• Association of Public Historians
• State Historian’s office
• Community Historian’s office
• Museum conferences
• ALHFAM
• NAI
• CAR

cont.
WHAT DO THEY DO?
• Staged Readings
• Graveyard Tours
• Dinner Theatre
• Make them all fundraisers
for the Living Historian’s Club

cont.
WHAT DO THEY DO?
• Docents at historic sites
• Perform a play
• [BBA play at Dorset, VT Playhouse]
• Rent wars
• Pullman Porters
• Perform a role play
• Alternate history
• Both sides of the story

Encourage the club members to develop
First Person Personas
• Book: Past into Present: Effective
Techniques for First Person Historical
Interpretation
• By Stacy F. Roth
• Go to Appendix 2: The Ultimate
Character Development List
• Interpreting Our Heritage
• by Freeman Tilden
• Telling History
• By Joyce M. Thierer

First Person Interpretation
in grand style
• Here’s a very sensory rich
application of the use of First
Person Interpretation.
• General George Washington
reviewing the troops. This
re-creation was in Fort Plain, NY
on Aug. 1-3, 2008.
• Gen’l Washington actually toured
the “Mohawk Valley” in 1783 after
the war was officially over.

This is the dragoon unit that accompanied
General Washington into town.
• They are called Sheldon’s Horse
Second Continental Light Dragoons.
They are still a semi-commissioned
military unit called out by the Governor
of Connecticut.
• They were Washington’s
official “life guard” unit.
• Dean Malissa as Washington rode into
town on horseback with them up to the
site at the Fort Plain Museum.

Reception Friday night
Meet the General
• This weekend long event
began with a reception
Friday night.
• On Sunday there was a
dinner. Dean Malissa is
shown here with a guest at
the Friday night reception.

First Person Interpretation in grand style
• On Saturday “His
Excellency” greeted the
public in character under
his marquee shown here.
• In the afternoon there was a
formal review of troops as
shown on slide 60.

A powerful emotional impact took place…..
“I remember being paralyzed with awe as I
was given permission to have the ultimate
experience: Stand aside and be a "fly on the
wall" so to speak and observe this man work
his magic. “His Excellency” received the
public at this event under the marquee
pictured on slide 63. The way the public
responded to him is a testament to the
incomparable magnetic attraction he
displayed. And the thing of it is, it is George
Washington's magnetic and magnanimous
personality that the people responded to.”

I have never forgotten that day…..
• “Not to take anything away from Dean. He is
magnetic and magnanimous too, but the public
was actually mesmerized and tongue tied in his
presence. They [and I] thought we were in the
presence of the commander in chief of the
Continental Army!
• It was one of the most powerful emotional
experiences I have ever had. Right then and
there I said to myself, "I am going to do this as
well as Dean Malissa someday .".... [but as
someone shorter.]
• All the reenactors attending this commemoration
received one of these medals. I have saved it for
7 years, always on display at my desk.”

My Development of a First Person Persona
• I started chronicling my
experiences as a reenactor in
2003 which turned into a story.
• I began the hobby in my native
upstate New York which lent
itself to learning about the
French and Indian War and
American Revolution time
periods.

• I found and bought Past into
Present: Effective Techniques for
First Person Historical
Interpretation
• By Stacy F. Roth
• I went straight to Appendix 2:
The Ultimate Character
Development List and started
filling in the blanks.

• I started blending my
chronicles in “Musings”
with the Appendix in Stacy
Roth’s book.
• I started reading books of
real life people I thought I
might like to portray.

I came up instead with a personal example
of a First Person Interpretation
My persona resulted in a historically inspired character
named Douglas McKenna. It was developed based on
being born in 1732 in Schenectady, NY. I told the story
of growing up in what was then known as the
Western Frontier.
I delved into his dealings with the varied and diverse
cultures present in upstate New York including the
English, Dutch, French, Scottish, Irish, Palatine
Germans and the five nations of the Iroquois
Confederacy. My journey into manhood was through
participation in the French and Indian War as a Roger's
Ranger and then deciding to join the patriot cause
during the American Revolution.

Evolution of Douglas McKenna
What I really enjoyed next was bringing the civilian
aspect into Douglas’ life.
The reenactment hobby although not limited to the
military approach is most commonly battle
reenactment oriented.
I continued to participate in that aspect which I
thoroughly enjoy but I also sought out community
history site projects that brought a more complete
picture to Douglas’ life.
This is a sample of an interpretation I did at the
Schuyler Mansion in Albany, NY.

Evolution of Douglas McKenna cont.
One of the best examples of my evolving awareness
of the time period was a move to a neighboring state.
Since New Jersey, commonly known as either the
Cockpit of the Revolution or the Crossroads of the
American Revolution, is so rich in that time period’s
history, it allowed Douglas to have reason to end up
in many more different places.
Proof of the increased complexity of character
development was a presentation I was hired to do at
Valley Forge National Historical Park for a large,
annual Boy Scout pilgrimage.

I assembled a team of first person interpreters to
approach the story from the perspective of soldiers
traveling to Valley Forge at different times
throughout the winter of 1777/78 and spring of 1778
from the northern campaign in Saratoga, NY.
It allowed me to present this “global” perspective to
the war as well as highlight three historical figures
that not only have less renown, but are of minority
status. They are Salem Poor of Bunker Hill fame,
Honyerry Doxtader, an Oneida Indian from the
Iroquois Confederacy and Polly Cooper, also of the
Oneidas.

Douglas continues to travel around and meet many more
people as he ages and gets involved in things that men
did back then, like own property, invest and get into
politics.
This is when I decided the time was ripe to take on a
historical figure that really lived.
James Madison, our fourth President has been in the
back of mind since 2007 but I didn’t feel I could do a
man of such great renown justice.
When opportunity finally knocked, I was ready. Now I
am studying for a first official presentation as Mr.
Madison for Constitution Day this year on Sept. 17, 2015.

A Douglas McKenna performance example

• This is my stage for the
performance I did at the West
Point Museum, West Point,
NY.
• The client was the West Point
Chapter of the Company of
Military Historians.

• The stage consisted of the table and chair you see center stage.
• There is a fireplace at stage left. Here I piled real wood logs with a cast iron pot set on
the imaginary fire. I had real food [pre-warmed] in the pot [canned beef stew.] The pot
was lined with a plastic container.
• I had bottles of grape juice mixed with wine and apple juice mixed with hard cider to
drink along with the proper drinking glasses, tankards, bowls plates and utensils.
• In the very center of the audience, [very hard to see] is a “cage” made of wire that
protected a halogen work light that sat inside.
• The work light was tilted up ever so slightly and the light was shown through a piece of
parchment yellow tissue paper to give the stage a candle lit appearance once the house
lights dimmed.

• I had all the other period props necessary for my performance.
• I had pre planned for an audience member to be part of the show.
• He sat in the front row with a small table next to his chair.
• He was someone I could talk to and serve food and drink to while I was
telling my story.
• This particular presentation revolved around the story I received in a letter
from my wife Sarah who was in Philadelphia in 1787 when the Constitutional
Convention has just adjourned.

CALL TO ACTION #2:
Help me organize a
First Person Interpretation Symposium
• Held at a Physical location
• How to do it…..
• … or a Virtual Location
• Series of Podcasts
• SKYPE
• Webinar
• WikiHOW-Article
• HSTRY.COM timeline format
• First Person Blog or FB page

Introduce kids to Professional
Actor/Interpreters at the Symposium
www.ahtheatre.org
Dean Malissa on Right as George Washington
courtesy of AHT.
Let them feel the power that
this presentation style is
capable of.

www.leagueofmostinterestinggentlemen.com
• Left to right:
• Albert Gallatin, Secretary of the
Treasury,
• President James Monroe,
• President Thomas Jefferson,
• Count Rumford and seated: Dr.
Benjamin Franklin.
• Not pictured: President James
Madison

• Stacy Roth at
Monmouth State
Battlefield site
• Monmouth, NJ

CALL TO ACTION #3
Re-enact a historical event
Example: The 200th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Ghent
• Feb. 16, 1815
• Place: Octagon House in
Washington, DC.
• Troops guard and wait to
ceremoniously welcome the
Treaty arriving from its
ratification by the Senate only
several blocks down the street.

The 200th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Ghent
• Recreation of the route
taken by the Treaty from
the Senate to the
Octagon House.

Delivering the chest to President
James Madison that contained the
Treaty as it traveled from Ghent,
Belgium the year before.

• President and Mrs. Madison looking
over the Treaty before signing.
• This was the original table used by
President Madison to sign the Treaty at
the actual place. Octagon House was
the First Couple’s temporary residence
at the time.
• The President’s Mansion had been
burned by the British on August 24th
of the previous year, 1814.

• It’s official.
Congratulations are in
order!

CALL TO ACTION #3:
Help me Re-enact this historical event
1754 Albany
Congress
Ben Franklin Comes to
New York with:
“Hints toward a Scheme…”

1754 Albany Congress
Ben Franklin Comes to New York with:
“2014 was the 260th anniversary of
this month long convention that
resulted in the Albany Plan of
Union, the precursor to our
American Constitution. There are
many aspects to this seminal event
that I believe are extremely
compelling but not commonly
known.” KJ
ASSIDUITY: constant or close application or
effort; diligence; industry.

1754 Albany Congress
Ben Franklin Comes to New York with:
“This recreation will supply the audience
with an accurate depiction of history,
presented in a highly “consumable” way. In
other words: “It is entertaining!” The
audience is drawn into the human drama
depicted at that month long event and will
walk away with a feeling of appreciation
and inspiration. This re-creation will give a
unique view of American heritage by
weaving a web of human interaction, not
simply a linear timeline of events.” KJ
ASSIDUITY: constant or close application or
effort; diligence; industry.

Introduce kids to Professional Storytellers
• http://www.lauracrockett.com/
Laura_Crockett/Welcome.html
• http://www.magicwords101.com/
• Denise McCormack

http://www.storycircleatproctors.org/
www.facebook.com/partnersforalbany
stories

• Rick Salazar typically tells
the Native American,
[sometimes referred to as
First Peoples] rendition of
their creation evenings
around a campfire.

Write and perform a historical
play or movie

Write and perform a historical play or movie

Our Play: Colonial Life in the Mohawk Valley
Recommended for 7th-8th graders
• “250 years ago, English, French, Indians and
Colonists contested control of upstate New York.
Colonial life in the Mohawk Valley will be
performed in your auditorium, using your
students as impromptu actors.
• This 9 scene play is prearranged with your
teachers and is played out ON THE SPOT in a
LIVE 90-100 minute performance. Kyle Jenks
provides all the clothing, accouterments, cue
cards, set decoration and stage direction for this
unprecedented style of performance.
• Presentations involve each and every student.”

Our Play: Colonial Life in the Mohawk Valley
Recommended for 7th-8th graders
• Scenes titles are:
• 1) Introduction,
• 2) People of the Longhouse,
• 3) Home Life on the Frontier,
• 4) The Alarm has Sounded,
• 5) The Stockade at Fort Hunter,
• 6) The Scouting Party,
• 7) The 1754 Albany Congress,
• 8) 1756: An Indian Celebration at Fort Johnson
• 9) Conclusion and Thank you ceremony.

Write and perform an
Outdoor Historical Drama
• Get help from:
www.outdoor-theatre.org/
• “Outdoor Historical Drama has
the magical power to imbue the
visitor with a sense of
pilgrimage to another time and
place where actual events took
place.” KJ

Here are some existing
Outdoor Historical Dramas

Our Outdoor Historical Drama:
Drums Along the Mohawk Outdoor Drama
Gelston Castle Estate
980 Robinson Road
Mohawk, NY
www.datmod.com
www.facebook.com/drums
alongthemohawk

• Kidscan participate in roles pertaining to:
• Cast
• Crew
• Production Team
• Set Design
• Wardrobe
• Props
• Support Staff
• Opening Acts-Living History Presentation
• Educational Project or Information Booth

Scenes from: Drums Along the Mohawk
Outdoor Drama

Sat. Aug. 1, 2015 5 pm
Sun. Aug. 2, 2015 5 pm
Sat. Aug. 8, 2015 5 pm
Sun. Aug. 9, 2015 5 pm

Organize a bus tour –field trip

Our Overnight, Guided Bus Tour goes to:
• In 2014 our itinerary took
our guests from the
Historical Society of
Rockland County [NY] to
12 locations that directly
applied to the people,
places and events in the
show.

Our Overnight, Guided Bus Tour
• Itinerary:
http://www.rocklandhistory.org
/page.cfm?page=367
• Video testimonial on
www.facebook.com/drumsalong
themohawk
• Also listed on:
www.thehistorylist.com

Revolutionary War Conference
May 1-3, 2015 Fort Plain, NY
• The Mohawk Valley played a key role in the struggle
for American Independence. Join us at the Fort Plain
Museum and discover the area’s rich history.
• Six Great Author - Historians! Six Great
Revolutionary Stories!
• Saturday May 2, 2015
• For More Information Contact Brian Mack at
518-774-5669 or E-mail us at
fortplainmuseum@yahoo.com
• Exit 29 off the NYS Thruway
• Friday night reception and Sunday bus tour
• Todd Braisted - "A hellish plan to go over to the
enemy" The Revolutionary War Adventures of
Lieutenant Edward McMichael
• Don Hagist - The Revolution's Last Men, the
Soldiers Behind the Photographs
• Jack Kelly - Band of Giants, the Amateur Soldiers
Who Won America's Independence
• James Kirby Martin - Forgotten Allies, the Oneida
Indians and the American Revolution
• Bruce Venter - Col. John Brown and the Battle of
Diamond Island on Lake George
• Glenn Williams - The Year of the Hangman,
George Washington's Campaign Against the Iroquois

Revolutionary War Conference
May 1-3, 2015 Fort Plain, NY
• Registration Fee (s): $40 per person (space is
limited, early registration is suggested!) Fee includes:
Cocktail Reception – Meet & Greet featuring a
presentation, “Discovering Fort Plain” by Norman
Bollen. Refreshments will be served Friday evening
and all day Saturday. A boxed lunch by Panera Bread
will be provided at noon on Saturday.
• *For an additional $20 per person fee: Guided Bus
Tour of “Mohawk Country” on Sunday: Includes
the Nellis Tavern, Fort Klock, Van Alstyne
Homestead, Isaac Paris House, Palatine Church,
Stone Arabia Churches, Fort Plain Museum, Stone
Arabia Battlefield, Klock’s Battlefield and John
Brown’s Grave.
• Registration Deadline is April 17, 2015
• Please make checks and money orders payable
to: Fort Plain Museum. Mail completed
registration and lunch order forms with
payment to:
Fort Plain Museum
Attn: Brian Mack
PO Box 324
Fort Plain, N.Y. 13339

Gil and Lana from Drums Along the
Mohawk Outdoor Drama get married!
• Saturday July 25, 2015
• Wedding at the 1770 Palatine
Church at 3 pm.
• Reception at 4 pm at the 1747
Nellis Tavern.
• Sponsored by Mohawk Country
• “America’s First Frontier”

Gil and Lana from Drums Along the
Mohawk Outdoor Drama get married!
• Both locations are off New York
State Thruway Exit 29.
• Get details from Kyle Jenks at
• 216 509 7502 or
jaktar773@aol.com

Get them moving!
• Teach them Colonial
Dancing
• Popular periods are
• Colonial
• Regency
• Civil War
• I can help you find groups
and musicians.

Take them to Secret Places
Give them an adventure outdoors
Life was physically active in those days
• Take them on a Bike Ride
• Take them on a hike
• Take them on a Bike/Hike
• Geo-caching
• Orienteering
• Open fire cooking
• 18th Century Camping

Sports
• Watch movie: Crooked Arrows
• Play Lacrosse
• Play Cricket
• Play Rounders
• Bowl on a Lawn
• Play Vintage Baseball

Sports
Primitive Biathlon
• http://www.shandakenprimitive
biathlon.net/
• Catskills, NY
• Manchester, VT

Biathlon-Which are you?
• FAST? • SLOW?

Or are you a Biathlon wannabe?

Are you up for forming some alliances?
My three CALL TO ACTIONS
are:
• Create a network of Living
History Clubs
• Create a First Person
Interpretation Symposium
• Create a reenactment of
the 1754 Albany Congress

I don’t know if I’m ready to form any alliances.
I just want to watch the clock.
• A patriot soldier asked his
commander at the Old North
Bridge:
• “Are you going to let them burn the
town down?” The patriot
commander replied: “Who’s with
me?”
• No one turned him down.
Let’s do this.

Thank you for your attendance and
contributions! I look forward to
getting better acquainted.
Kyle Jenks
216 509 7502
jaktar773@aol.com
www.linkedin.com/kyle-jenks/32/507/542

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