Can you Live in the 18th Century?

Summer Camps at the Conococheague Institute

Written by Matthew Wedd

With the summer camp season approaching, the Conococheague Institute is pleased to announce a new and novel way for your children to experience history this summer.

Following on the heels of our award winning 2022 “Can You Live 18th Century” program where nine high school students lived 18th-century life on our 30-acre homestead, we have adapted the program to be a weeklong summer camp for 2023.

There will be different weeks for different age ranges so all can get involved in experiencing 18th-century life.

Cultural norms and clothing are an important building block for understanding history, and our costumed presenters will help the students try out some new fashions and feel like they’ve stepped back in time.

Throughout the camps participants will learn historic cooking techniques and enjoy the reward of eating something you have made by hand over a fire. From kneading bread and baking it straight in the oven, making your own butter or roasting meat over the fire, tasting the result of your own work is so rewarding.

Learn about different jobs and trades, and perform the hard work needed on a rural farmstead. The garden always needs lots of hands to help, and children in the 18th century were a major source of work for a frontier family. From laundry and spinning, to traders and hunters, the community was a diverse place and our summer camp experience will try to instill as many of these roles as possible.

An important part of history is how to have fun, and participants will learn to frolic colonial style with cards and chist, sports, song and dance around a bonfire. Party like it’s 1776!

At the Conococheague Institute we focus on telling everyone’s story, so we’ll also be exploring the differences between indigenous people and colonists in their food, medicine and hunting styles.

The Summer camps are currently slated for late June through July 2023 and you can find out more information by contacting CI at info@cimlg. org. Prices will vary based on sponsorships and discounts will apply to CI members.

The Conococheague Institute is a 501(c)3 Non Profit located outside Mercersburg in Franklin County, Pa.

For more than 20 years, the Conococheague Institute has preserved the cultural and natural resources of Pennsylvania’s frontier, and educated the community on the importance of this heritage.

In recent years the focus on accessibility (with our grounds and trails open year round), and engaging hands-on programming has helped CI grow exponentially with CI being named Non-Profit of the Year and Educator of the Year in 2022 by the CVBA. The award-winning programs have created heavy booking seasons focused on 18th Century civilian life and natural conservation.

The grounds are open daily from dawn to dusk perfect for picnics, dog walkers and birders alike, with free historic programs every Saturday year round.

To become a member or learn more contact CI at info@ cimlg.org, 717-328-2800 or visit ww.cimlg.org