Today we took Maddie to the Saratoga Battlefield which is part of the US Parks Service. They were having an artificer's weekend. This means they had some people there making things in the style of craftsmen in the 1700s. While Maddie was interested to see them and learn some more about the Revolutionary War she was more interested in meeting a REAL RANGER! After we watched the introduction film and did a little tour of the visitor center we took a peek at the gift shop area. This is where we found THE HAT and many other things. There was a whole Junior Ranger section with hats, t-shirts, adventure vests, spyglasses and a Jr.Ranger activity book. Maddie chose the hat which we said was OK as it was the last one there. She wore it all over the park and took great delight in the introduction it gave her to the rangers. They were all very excited when Maddie said she wanted to be a ranger when she grows up. Ranger Bill at the Schuyler House even asked her if she would come back and volunteer in a few years and told her about 2 other homeschool kids who volunteer.
This is the Junior Ranger activity book they give for free at National Parks. The child gets a Junior Ranger badge for completing a certain number of activities. Maddie got started before we even left the visitor center!
Dress up in the Visitor Center!
The Artificer's tents
Tinsmith
Tailor
Blacksmith taking a turn at the Woodworker's bench
There were mushrooms everywhere! A sign of all the rain we've had we thought.
Photo by Maddie!
Photo by Maddie!
And wildflowers too of course...
And out of the corner of my eye I spotted a deer! We were very still watching until she took off.
It was a wonderful although hot day! We finished off with some ice cream on the way home. Maddie discovered that she can earn a "Behind the scenes" tour by finishing 4 different Junior Ranger booklets at the Battlefield so we will be back...and soon!!
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