Taking A Trip On The Oregon Trail

A few years back, I moved from the heartland of America to the Pacific Northwest--thus taking a trip on my very own Oregon Trail. Sure, it took me only one day of travel, but I was flying in in a big metal box with three kids ages five, three, and one-fit-right-after-another.

So I know a thing or two about hardships. Yes. Yes I do.

Speaking of hardships, putting a group a kids through an "Oregon Trail" experience sounded right up my alley. So I shooed the kids outside and directed them to collect "buffalo chips."

Now, if it so happened the the only buffalo chips I had around were leaves in the yard--who's to care? They got the idea and I got my front yard cleaned.

That's a good enough reason to host an Oregon Trail party every year! Never mind that all five boys were hoopin' and hollerin' about "poop" the whole time they were playing the game. ("playing the game")

The next chore was for the kids to tote water from the "stream" back to a bucket at the "campsite."

And then they got busy eating prepping some apples to dry:

And making butter the old-fashioned way, which involves shaking a bit o' heavy cream until it becomes butter, or until five boys are worn out from the task--whichever comes first.

Along with all the boy-friendly games, which involved gargantuan doses of movement and noise--I also had the kids color a picture, trace the route on a map, and listen to the story of the folks moving Westward.

All in all a fun way to learn about the Oregon Trail.

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