Cook Forest State Park will conduct a three-day Clarion River history educator workshop from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 28, through Friday, July 30, at the new park office at Cook Forest State Park.
The workshop is considered both an advanced watershed education course and a Pennsylvania land choices workshop.
Educators will receive a copy of the land choices curriculum as well as several local history books.
Teachers will also have the option to earn 23 ACT 48 hours.
The workshop will emphasize the history of the Clarion River through various first-person living history character portrayals during the mid-1700s French and Indian War and mid-1800s lumber boom era.
The workshop will also investigate and document various lumber ghost towns and raft fabrication sites along the Clarion River via car and canoe, as well as gain valuable insight into how local history can be incorporated into the classroom.
The first day will mainly deal with learning history through “living history.”
The second day will be focused on historic site investigation from land, and participants will investigate historic sites via canoe on the third day.
Participants are asked to wear sturdy river shoes such as old sneakers and prepare to be in the river and be wet and muddy on days two and three.
Participants are also encouraged to wear modest swimming gear, and they must be able to traverse slippery footing conditions and steep river banks.
All boating gear will be provided. A sturdy river walking stick may be useful.
Participants are asked to take a lunch, but refreshments will be provided.
Attendees must register by Friday with a check for $125 written to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and sent to Cook Forest State Park, ATTN: Clarion River History.
