Our homeschool network coordinated an overnight trip with the Rock-N-Water Christian Camp. They host an adventure that takes you back to the pioneer/gold rush days. The guides are dressed in period wear and speak the way they would have back then, never breaking character.
We started at the Hangtown Gold Bug Park in Placerville. After a sack lunch, the kids played old time group games, then we toured a gold mine and hiked the area.
After that, we headed to the camp. It was raining on and off and we took advantage of a weather break to pitch our tent. After that, more games and activities.
The camp’s outdoor kitchen. They made a dinner, breakfast, and lunch for us…
Making rope…
Panning for gold.
Very tight quarters, but we made it work. It poured down rain the whole night and our floor and items got wet, but we were on mats so we(for the most part) stayed dry.
Fantastic after dinner campfire entertainment. Included square dancing, jokes, music, singing, ghost stories, and the kids learned how to play homemade instruments.
Gathering around a campfire before breakfast…
An nature hike taught us about local edibles, including this miner’s lettuce. Ryan love it and kept eating it.
They also learned about a type of leaf that helps clear the sinus passages. Native Americans would run with this stuffed up their nostrils.
Native American grinding rocks. Grinding acorns into a flour…
Making candles….
Making tortillas…
