Malakoff Diggins

A right of passage for the fourth graders at a Waldorf school is to, not just study the pioneers, but become pioneers. The girls' school goes up to Malakoff Diggins in the Sierra foothills where they used a water cannon to mine gold. The students all have to adopt old timey names, write a back story and dress the part. Parents who chaperone must go to a training and take on jobs. I got the candle dipping station and giving tours of the Skidmore house.

Here I am (Miss Camelia, "Candlestick Camelia") with Amira ("Samantha") and her friends dipping candles.






I made some fat candles as I got to dip and demonstrate all day ... And stke the fire under the big iron cauldron.




There's a snake in my boot! Actually, I had no pockets. That's just where I kept my tissues. It was a wee bit sneezy.



I had to keep that fire burning between groups of kids. They also had lantern making, bench making, rope making, black smithing and rag doll making. I was quite content with my wicks and hot wax.






Of course, candle making all day can make one tired. I was caught snoozing by the kitchen fire.





Here are the tents where we slept for two nights. Amira and I slept in the tent on the far left with Ruby (Lucy), Julia (Evelyn) and Kasey (Dahlia).




Here Amira helps Maggie (Miss Kitty) with the kitchen fire.



Amira and some classmates taking a well deserved break.




On the second morning we took a hike through the Diggins. We were like pioneers on the long hard trail.





Oh, weary travelers! Amira is wearing one of Great Grandma's old aprons in this photo.




I enjoyed the hike.



Here is Amira (next to her teacher, Miss Simons) and the rest of her pioneering class.



At the end of a long hike and scavenger hunt through town, we all gathered in the saloon for some piano music, root beer, peanuts and red licorice. The pony express came by and the pioneers received letters. You can see Amira's back in this photo. It was too hot to dress like a pioneer at this point so she stripped down to a tank top.
I kept the bonnet on all the time. It hid my "pioneer hair".



On our last night we had a wonderful old time entertainer/storyteller come. The kids sat on the benches they made while he played the part of a man who came out to mine gold in California. He played a modern and antique banjo as well as the jaw harp, saw and others. He taught us all a dance too.

Great way to wrap up the 4th grade year!