Wednesday, May 17, 2000
Wednesday, May 17, 2000 |
| Girls
experience "Life in the 1800s" with Victorian
day camp BY MICHAEL BOYLAN Some would say that the kids today are out of touch with this country's past. That is not true about the girls between 8 and 12 that attend “A Girls Life in the 1800s Day Camp” in Fayetteville. This unique camp, now in its fourth year, offers a glimpse into the life of a girl in the mid 1800s. Each day the campers dress up in hoop skirts and participate in activities that will carry them back to days of old, such as making their own bonnets, writing in caligraphy, learning the Victorian “language of the fan,” having a tea party, doing needlework, learning old-style dancing, and much more. This year, the girls will learn about the famous and not-so-famous, but heroic nonetheless, women of the Civil War. The camp, which is sponsored by Main Street Fayetteville, has been conducted the past three years at the Holliday-Dorsey-Fife House in downtown Fayetteville. Since the Holliday House is slated to be under restoration this summer, the day camp will be at the historic Old Depot this year. The Depot, which was built in 1902, is a newly renovated special events facility available for public use, which can be rented through Main Street. It is also within the historic Main Street district. According to camp director Michele Cox, “The Depot will be a great place to hold the camp this year — it has plenty of room for us to practice our 1800s dancing, set up craft tables and “have tea.” I know the girls will enjoy the historic atmosphere of being in a structure that has been a part of downtown Fayetteville for nearly 100 years. Plus, it has great air conditioning.” Cox got the idea when she took a Girl Scout troop to the Juliet Lowe House in Savannah. The girls enjoyed the one day so much that Cox got an idea to plan a full week of activites centered around life in the 1800s. Cox started the camp with the Holliday House Association three years ago as a way to raise money for the house. Last year, Fayetteville purchased the Holliday House, which is now operated through Main Street Fayetteville. Cox also operates Petite Par-Teas, an operation that puts on Victorian tea parties for girls and ladies. She has also started an educational program for elementary school children called Victorian Adventures. Her desire to learn more about the period is effectively passed on through her activities. The camp, which hosts more than 100 girls a summer, is fun and educational. The girls learn about the fashions, traditions and etiquette of the period. They participate in games, dance and make crafts and many girls come back every summer. “It's a fun summer for the girls,” Cox said, “because it gives them something different to do.” The day camp will be the following weeks: June 12-16, June 19-23, June 26-30 and July 10-14. Registration will be at the Hollingsworth House, 250 W. Stonewall Ave., next to the Board of Education building in Fayetteville, Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Each camp session is one week long, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, with a program for the parents Friday evening of each camp week. The cost is $115 per session. For information phone Michele Cox at 770-487-6796 or e-mail her at Victorianlady@mindspring.com.
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