High School Programs

[sgt1863]

Gents,

Been asked at the last minute to be part of a "Coffee Club" High School Program. Sort of a meet & greet for the teachers and students and with the limitations I've been given I'm looking for assistance on exactly what I can do to show them what it is we do. Those limitations are, No Weapon, Nothing sharp, Nothing pointed, No Large pack or bags plus I will have to be screened by a metal detector. With those limitations that means, no musket, no bayonet, no eating utensils, no knapsack etc. Thus far I threw together a little video presentation on my laptop. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

H.M. Tommarello

[lukegilly13]

Re: High School Programs

I would recommend taking pictures of your gear that you want to talk about and creating a slide show presentation. Or maybe film it and show it as a video. I've done the slideshow thing many times before. It's easier for everyone to see detailed images without having to pass it around anyway.

[bAcK88]

Re: High School Programs

Bring in whatever you can, such as uniform pieces, shoes, accouterments, haversack, and canteen and just let the kids (and teachers!) try everything on.

[Kanawha Riflemen]

Re: High School Programs

I agree with Bill's suggestion. You could almost do a Traveling Trunk presentation, just without the trunk.

John A. Miller
South Mountain State Battlefield
Monterey Pass Battlefield, Washington Township

[cprljohnivey]

Re: High School Programs

Thats like asking a fiddle player to play a song but with only his bow and no fiddle!!!! Best of luck to ya!

[Pennvolunteer]

Re: High School Programs

Wow, I'm glad I live in Oklahoma, I haven't had a school yet limit or restrict what I have to bring, and in fact several have even arranged blank firing demonstrations (albeit with police notification). I had one teacher want me to take out the nipple of my musket but the principal over-ruled him and okayed everything. It is unfortunate you have to try to teach that way, but I think guys have given great recommendations for work arounds. All I can offer is this UTUBE link to the NPS demo from Gettysburg's old visitor center if you need some video to talk about; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FK5GcG_QHJ0

[Cracker Line]

Re: High School Programs

I'd go as a veteran returning home at the end of the war (just in uniform), or a veteran post-war (in civi clothes) and then just talk in first person about where you went, what it was like, a few funny stories about your comrades, etc. etc. You can have the pictures/video going at the same time for a visual (along the lines of a thought cloud off to the side) while doing it, and it wouldn't involve needing all the equipment, gun, etc. Heck, if you play your cards right the only metal you will have on you are your braces buckles. And after your bit of first person as a veteran, you can drop into third person and talk about the hobby, how to get involved, this is the kind of things we do but on the outside we actually get to use guns, etc. By doing the presentation this way they get a limited taste of what we do presentation wise, as well as a straight up discussion about the hobby/other types of things we do/and how to get involved.

-Adam C.