Constanza Flores | Staff Reporter
Posted June 12, 2014; 9:00 a.m.

The Historic Daniel Boone’s Osage Expedition Day Camp is being held from June 9 until June 13, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the Historic Daniel Boone Home & Heritage Center in Defiance, Missouri.

This camp was designed for young adults with a goal for them to learn how to survive on Missouri’s frontier. Kids and students from 10 to 18 years-old are welcome to participate; the cost of the event is $175.

This year, 27 people are in attendance. According to Patricia Fulhorst, the Marketing Coordinator of The Historic Daniel Boone Home, this is the largest attended camp to date. The camp is directed by Christi Mitchell and Sarah Pair.

The main purpose of the summer camp is to educate the students and kids about life on the American frontier during the early settlement period.

“Our camp teaches the youth of today what it was like to live on the Missouri Frontier in the 1800s,” Fulhorst said.

What is unique about the camp, according to Fulhorst, is that it takes a hands-on approach, allowing the members of the camp to truly experience frontier life.

“The camp gives greater understanding to children on what it took to survive in the early 1800s. They realize life was not always considered ‘The good ‘ole days’,” Fulhorst said. “Everyone, including children, had to work hard as a family and community to survive.”

Some of the skills that participants will be able to learn during this experience include blacksmithing, Tomahawk throwing, military drills, black powder rifle firing, fire starting, Dutch oven cooking, pottery, carpentry, spinning, map reading, cloth dyeing, knot tying, soap making, animal tracking and Native American cooking.

“Participants will also have fun playing frontier games such as ‘Graces and Chore Relays,’ taking nature walks and creek exploring. They will see special presentations on slavery and Native American culture, as well as conservation and preservation,” Fulhorst said.

June 13, the last day of camp, will be a special day for the participants. They will conclude this new learning experience with a theatrical performance that they will preform themselves.

Christi Mitchel, director of the camp, said that the Historic Daniel Boone Day Camp would not be possible if not for the many staff and volunteers that bring their expertise and experience to camp each day. Mitchel said that she believes their willingness to teach and share their knowledge is what makes the camp so successful every year.

Daniel Boone’s Osage Expedition Day Camp is offered every year and participants are able to register up to one week prior to the camp.

For further information please contact Meredith Rau at [email protected] .