A new year is on the horizon for Conococheague Institute

New Year, New Horizons:

The Future of the Frontier

The cabin at Conococheague Institute with grape vines bursting.

Written by MATTHEW WEDD

At the Conococheague Institute. We study, preserve and interpret the 18th-century lifestyle of Frontier America.

By looking back to the past, we can learn so much, which helps us connect better to ourselves as a community today and prepare for the future.

Last year we received unprecedented support allowing new programs like “Can You Live 18th Century” and a gift from the Kermit and Clarisse Hicks Foundation that funded a complete Interpretive Panel renovation.

With that in mind, what does 2023 have in store for CI? How can your family play a role in our growing Frontier Family? Read on to find out.

If you couldn’t tell from our past articles and photos, we love the 18th Century and our natural environment. But what and who are we?

The Conococheague Institute is a Non-profit organization located at Rock Hill Farm, a well-preserved 18th-century homestead. Surrounded by open farmlands and with mountains on the horizon, it would be easy to think you have been transported to Colonial America. However, you are just a 15-minute drive from Mercersburg and Greencastle, Pa., and Hagerstown, Md.

Our beautiful scenic site has 30 acres of natural resources with woodlands, wetlands and meadows teeming with flora and fauna. Numerous gardens with native plants attract pollinators, birds and photographers alike. Our grounds and walking trails are open daily from dawn to dusk, and dog walkers are extremely welcome.

Nestled in that scenery are several historic houses, log cabins and structures dating from the mid-18th century. The land itself was first settled in 1734 by the Davis family, and our programs today focus on the settlement period of the Frontier. Sam Cathey baking bread rolls.

As a homestead, our focus isn’t on the BIG history. No battles were fought here, George Washington never slept here...and Ben Franklin never drank here!

Instead, people lived here. The daily lives of all our ancestors are often swept away in the pages of history, so we bring that to life with our weekly Saturday programs and educational bookings. Focusing on the everyday stories, but also of those underrepresented in the history books.

How hard is it to draw water from a well? Why were taverns and alcohol so important for health and economy? What native medicinal herbs would a frontier mother grow to nurse her

Frontier games in the tavern.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MATTHEW WEDD

September 23 is set for the second annual Fall Frolic Fundraiser will be back again in September. PHOTO BY ROB BROGAARD Bonfire Night returns in November.

young? What meals would an enslaved person eat compared to the farmers? And what did people do to have fun?

Interested? Explore our site any day, but definitely check out the Historic Programs every Saturday, or visit one of our Events.

Events: Conservation, Frolics, Bonfires and more

So what events can we look forward to in 2023? We theme our events around our story of Colonial life, but nature plays a part too.

As a partner of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, we regularly organize volunteer tree plantings to help stream health. Contact us at info@cimlg.org to get on our volunteer list. Birding walks, medicinal herb hikes and more occur on a regular basis.

This year we’ll be hosting a special Conservation Celebration on April 15, filled with naturalists, crafts, some tree plantings and more. Perfect to prepare you for Earth Day on April 22.

Spring and fall are our heavy booking periods for educational programs and in 2023 we’ll be launching some new programs, including an exciting Colonial program for PreK. Think Frontier Punch and Judy…

September 23 is set for the second Annual Fall Frolic Fundraiser to support our educational programs. In 2022, we raised $10,000 and we aim to beat that this year with more corporate sponsors and activities.

Our “Guy Fawkes Night” or “Bonfire Night” will be Saturday, Nov. 6 this year. A day of thanksgiving in the British and Colonial calendar for an averted destruction of the Government (in 1605), for centuries it was celebrated with large bonfires, food, drink, fireworks, song and dance. It still has all those elements today at the Conococheague Institute, so mark your calendar now for that cool November evening.

And for those who just enjoyed Christmas and can’t wait for the Holiday season to come around the Colonial Christmas event will be hosted again on Saturday, Dec. 16.

Summer camps, cooking and sewing workshops, lectures, astronomy and guest appearances occur all throughout the year. So how can you stay up to date on the latest CI news? Become a member!

Join today by visiting cimlg.org/join-the-conococheague-institute or contact info@cimlg.org for more details.

Business sponsors and donors allow our programs to be bigger and better. If you would like to sponsor a fundraiser or educational program please contact us. We thank you for your support.

Finally, consider making a legacy gift to CI in your Estate and Will. We are a 501(C)(3) nonprofit registered in Pennsylvania and Maryland, and all donations are tax deductible. Our annual operating budget is $120,000 and an endowment fund would allow our Historic and Natural environment to flourish with new students every day for generations to come.

Past, Present and Future combine at the Conococheague Institute. We look forward to you being a part of it.

Matthew Wedd is executive director of The Conococheague Institute in Mercersburg.

Sugar maple planted by a young naturalist.

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