The Battle Creek Outdoor Education Center is hiring an outdoor educator to work for the Pioneer Cabin 3rd grade day program. A class will spend a whole day at the Merrill homestead making lunch, eating lunch, helping with chores, and learning about early 19th century daily life in Michigan. Staff portary Ada 'Ma' and Harlow 'Pa' Merrill. We are looking for one male with preference given to those who can commit to multiple seasons.
Spring season is mid April – end of May. Staff training is late March.
Responsibilities:
• Portray Harlowe "Pa" and Ada "Ma" Merrill, the first homesteaders in the local township in the year 1838. Stay in character the entire 5 hour long program.
• Describe how your characters journeyed to Michigan, their reliance on the natural world, and the development of the local government.
• With assistance from the students, prepare lunch consisting of stew, apple sauce, corn bread, homemade butter and water. Make sure chaperones supervise student’s knife use.
• Describe common household tasks and explain the uses of day to day items. Supervise students working on house chores.
• Demonstrate the use of common period tools (2 man saw, auger, draw knife, hatchet) and then supervise students using the tools.
• Demonstrate candle and soap making.
• Describe food preservation while visiting the smoker and root cellar.
• Tell stories about pioneer life to engage students, parents, and teachers. Convey information from these stories which relates to the appropriate GLCEs.
• Clean up dishes and homestead after group departs. Reset for the next day.
