Photo: Julia Ozab
Anna has earned her first Girl Scout badge! As I typed that sentence I realized that I will never type it again. Yes, she will likely earn many more badges for as long as she’s a Girl Scout. But she will only have one first and this is it.
The Oregon Trail Brownie Badge.
We visited the End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center on our way up Portland on July 5th, the first day of our family vacation. Anna took a lot of photos and learned about some of the hardships of the trail first hand.
People who traveled west along the Oregon Trail had to leave their whole lives behind. If it couldn’t fit in a wagon along with the necessary supplies it had to stay behind.
Examples included a china cabinet with a full set of beautiful dishes …
Photo: Anna Ozab
A lovely handmade rocking chair …
Photo: Julia Ozab
And, saddest of all, children’s toys.
Photo: Anna Ozab
Photo: Julia Ozab
Anna spent a lot of time examining the dollhouse. She was fascinated by the exquisite handmade doll furniture.
Photo: Anna Ozab
But the kids didn’t just leave toys behind. The left their one-room schoolhouses behind too.
Photo: Julia Ozab
And set out with only as much as they could carry. We got a look at a provisions list …
Photo: Anna Ozab
And tried our hand at loading a wagon using weighted bags to stand in for supplies.
Photo: Julia Ozab
Whew, that was hard work!
Photo: Julia Ozab
While we were there, she also made another candle—this one a dipped taper—and thoroughly explored the gift shop. By the time we left, she knew a lot more about the Oregon Trail than most soon-to-be third graders, and she even looked the part.
Photo: Julia Ozab
Great job, Anna!
For the next few posts, I’ll be sharing some of the fun we had on our recent coast trip. Check back tomorrow for more.
Fatherhood Etc. 