Pathways School Plans Interactive Event

According to Wanda Swarr, founder of Pathways school, Heritage Day began as a way for students to demonstrate what they had learned. The school invited a few re-enactors and demonstrators to join in the encampment. "That (first) year, we had a couple hundred people here, but it has just exploded and it's so much fun," recalled Swarr.

This year's fourth Heritage Day will be held at the school's Brubaker Homestead campus, 414 Long Lane, East Earl, on Saturday, Oct. 15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is no charge for admission or parking. "We have a lot of demonstrators and interactive events," noted Swarr.

Swarr pointed out that students and demonstrators will be dressed in Colonial garb or in pre-1840s costumes. Encampments will include a furtraders encampment and a pre-1840s encampment. A Civil War re-enactors group will also be on-site. "We are trying to interpret history in southeastern Pennsylvania through the years," explained Swarr, who noted that a Native American interpretive area was student-developed. "They said 'We know (Native Americans) were here. Why aren't we interpreting Native American history and not just European settlers?'" reported Swarr.

Activities for people of all ages are planned, including Colonial games, along with a scheduled tug-of-war and sack races. Swarr pointed out that visitors can try candle dipping, paper making, stirring a big pot of soup, or shooting a traditional longbow on the archery range. "We have tomahawk throwing," she said. "We had it before it became the 'in' thing."

One interactive competition is a Woods Walk, which is a contest for adults and teens. Groups of four walk through the woods visiting five stations, where each participant earns points to determine how well they could each could survive on the frontier. "Above a certain number of points is a mountain man," said Swar, who noted other designations include flat-landers and 6 feet under. Last year's winner of the contest received a lantern handmade by one of the students.

"We have Colonial skills through the early 1900s," said Swarr, who noted that wagon and tractor rides and story trails will be part of the event. Story trails will involve pages on posts to read on a walk. Last year, one story trail had a Native American theme, and the other was an environmental walk around the pond. She also hopes to have storytellers and musicians on-site.

Food items that will be available for purchase will include soups, chili, hot dogs, and sub sandwiches, along with baked goods and ice cream made with hit-and-miss engines.

In conjunction with Heritage Day, a handmade, flint-knapped knife, which was made by a Native American interpreter specifically for Pathways to use as a fundraiser will be auctioned online. Readers may visit http://www.learningatpathways.org for more information.

"In the past, visitors have said it feels like a real community," recalled Swarr. "It's a very family-friendly (event) because we have activities for all ages."