PORT TOWNSEND — The success of two weeklong history camps that the Jefferson County Historical Society hosted last week calls for an encore, said historical society executive director Bill Tennent.
Both parents and children “thought it was wonderful,” Tennent said.
“We will definitely do at least two camps next year.
“If there’s enough demand, we might do more.”
Both camps — one at the Commanding Officer’s Quarters at Fort Worden State Park for boys and another at the Rothschild House in Port Townsend for girls — were sold out, with a dozen attending each from Monday through Friday last week, Tennent said.
Although the Rothschild House history camp — which focuses on learning about the Victorian lifestyle — has become an annual event, last week’s “Join the Regiment” camp at Fort Worden was a first.
First year
“This is the first year we did a boys camp,” Tennent said.
“In the past, we’ve had the history camp at the Rothschild House.”
That camp wasn’t gender-specific.
“It was the kids who suggested we have a boys camp and a girls camp,” Tennent said.
The historical society took over management of the Commanding Officer’s Quarters in the spring.
“So we thought, that’s the perfect place to do a boys camp,” Tennent said.
At the camp based at the Rothschild House — a museum at Franklin and Taylor streets, children learned about Victorian fashion, dance and etiquette — including the “language of fans,” in which much is said with a flick of the wrist — had a tea, built replicas of Victorian houses and learned about games of the era.
Activities at the Commanding Officer’s Quarters included marching drills, a bivouac to the beach, an obstacle course, a checkers tournament and experience manning the harbor entrance command post.
The children also spent a day at the Coast Artillery Museum at Fort Worden and another day with participants in the Victorian lifestyle camp, learning about Victorian customs.
“On one day, the boys and girls got together,” Tennent said.
“The girls went to visit the Commanding Officer’s Quarters and went through the Victorian etiquette of handing in calling cards and did a Victorian dance with the boys.”
The Fort Worden camp was directed by Steve Bailey, manager of the Commanding Officer’s Quarters, with assistance from Ethan Berg, a camp counselor and a student at Jefferson Community School.
Proceeds from the camps, which cost $125 per person, will go toward historical society programs.
“Basically, it covers the costs of the camps,” Tennent said.
The historical society offered some scholarships, he added.
For more information, check the society Web site at www.jchsmuseum.org or phone 360-385-1003.
