Indian Boarding Schools and Mountain Men: The California Trail Interpretive Center Announces May Programs
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ELKO, Nev. – Enjoy a children’s art walk, learn about local recreational opportunities on BLM lands, and much more at the California Trail Interpretive Center.
The Trail Center is presenting a variety of programs throughout May. The following programs are free and open to everyone:
May 5, 10:00 a.m.: Managing the California National Historic Trail
The California National Historic Trail traverses the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Elko District across hundreds of miles of public lands. But how does the BLM manage these portions of the Trail?
Join BLM Archaeologist Dayna Reale as she discusses the techniques and methods the BLM uses to identify, evaluate, and properly manage historic trails on public lands, from metal detectors to historic journals. Learn how this important resource is managed, and how you can be involved in preserving and understanding the California Trail.
This program is part of a series of programs that celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System. The National Trails System Act protects thousands of miles of trails and waterways. For more information visit www.trails50.org
May 6, 2:00 p.m.: Junior Ranger Program: Pioneer Art Walk
Join Volunteer Susanne Reese for a guided tour of the Trail Center. Kids will have the opportunity to dress up like pioneers, explore a wagon, build miniature log cabins, and learn about history through the Center’s beautiful, brilliant murals. Ages 4 and up.
May 12, 10:00 a.m.: BLM Elko District Recreation 101: Outdoor Adventures on Local BLM Lands
Want to get the most out of your public lands? Looking for a new place to go camping or fishing? Learn about the many recreation opportunities on local BLM lands. The program is presented by Kristine Dedolph, outdoor recreation planner for the Wells Field Office, and Mike Setlock, outdoor recreation planner for the Tuscarora Field Office.
May 12, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.: Voices from the Indian Boarding Schools
The Indian boarding schools of the 19th and 20th centuries took many different forms, giving way to a wide array of experiences. Many students found conditions at Indian boarding schools traumatizing, having been forced to speak a language and adopt a culture completely alien to their own. Others found the boarding schools more pleasant. To them, these schools provided a safe-space, where they were fed well and taught the skills they would need to survive on the outside of their culture.
The program includes a panel of former students, or family members of students that attended Indian boarding schools. The program is facilitated by Great Basin Institute Research Associate Jens Camp.
May 13, 2:00 p.m.: Junior Ranger Program: Tahwani: Western Shoshone Life in the Springtime
Spring is a time of change. It is a transition between the harsh cold of winter and the blazing heat of summer. Join Jens Camp, and learn how Western Shoshone people lived through this time of the year. Topics include foods, shelter, and other traditional lifeways.
May 19 and 20, 10:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m.: 15th Annual California Trail Days
California Trail Days brings history to life. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour the pioneer encampment and Shoshone summer camp. Young visitors can learn how to shoot a bow, pan for gold, play pioneer games, and much more.
This year’s theme, “Rhythm of the Trail,” will provide a variety of musical performances. For a program schedule, visit www.californiatrailcenter.org
May 27, 2:00 p.m.: Junior Ranger Program: Mountain Man Show and Tell
Join Nevada Outdoor School Interpreter Tim Burns, and learn about the bold explorers known as mountain men. In the wild, they often had to make their own gear. See what a mountain man kept in his “possibles bag,” and other tools he used as he explored the rugged West.
For more information about the California Trail Interpretive Center, call (775) 738-1849. Visit the Trail Center online at www.californiatrailcenter.org or https://www.facebook.com/californiatrailinterpretivecenter/.
The California Trail Interpretive Center is located eight miles west of Elko on I-80, Hunter exit 292. The Center is open Wednesday through Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.