NATCHEZ — New directions in interpretation and education programming at Natchez National Historical Park have been recognized with a “Keeper of the light” award for excellence from the National Park Service Southeast Region, with special acknowledgement to the park’s summer Junior Ranger history camps for children 8- to-12 years old first presented in June of last year.

The award criteria include use of local partnerships, linkage to critical resource threats to the park, staff collaboration, effective management, reaching non-traditional audiences and ability for the program to serve as a model for other national parks.

In 2006, the interpretive staff of Natchez National Historical Park under the direction of Supervisory Park Ranger Jim Heaney developed these special programs utilizing two grants from the National Park Foundation, a Junior Ranger Challenge Grant and an African-American Experience Fund Program Development Grant. These were matched with local funding and in-kind donations from over 75 Natchez-based businesses and organizations.

In addition to the summer camps, the grants underwrote a new color Junior Ranger booklet for children visiting the local park sites, as well as a new curriculum guide and audio CD on the life and diary of free black businessman William Johnson.

Other local support and assistance came from the Historic Natchez Foundation, the Friends of the Forks of the Road, the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians and Frogmore Plantation. Nearby national parks also provided support to the Natchez program via a field trip to Vicksburg National Military Park and blues musicians provided by New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park.

Park staff designed the individual program units to meet National Social Studies Curriculum Standards in addition to Mississippi and Louisiana standards for state history. The camps have been offered to the public free of charge on a first-come basis for registration. Over 60 local children participated in the 2006 summer camps, and 80 are registered for those which are currently ongoing during each week of June 2007 and which have been completely filled.

The individual units have continued to be presented on special “Junior Ranger” Saturdays and have also been taken into the local schools where they have reached over 1,000 students so far. These units include:

4Rangers on the River — an introduction to National Parks along the Mississippi River.

4Little Brother of War — an introduction to the rituals of the Natchez Indians, including battle preparations.

4Founding the Town — an exercise in community development with a focus on the colonial history of Natchez.

4Unearthing the Truth: Investigating William Johnson — role-playing as detectives, archeologists, historians and architects to explore resource-based clues to the life of William Johnson.

4Slavery: In the Fields and in the Big House — comparative tours of Frogmore Plantation and the antebellum Melrose estate with craft activities.

4Join the Army — Field trip to Vicksburg NMP and mock enlistment in the Army as members of the U.S. Colored Troops stationed in Natchez during the Civil War.

4Who’s Got the Blues? — A musical exploration of the history of American blues music from its African roots through slavery, Jim Crow and Civil Rights movement, to modern rock and roll.

River Wrap – A “sail” through Mississippi River history using model boats from different eras and history games.

“I am very proud of this recognition for all of our park staff – from Interpretation and Maintenance to Administration and Cultural Resources – who demonstrated tremendous teamwork and creativity in developing these programs,” stated park superintendent Kathleen Jenkins. “Their commitment to engaging children is a hallmark of the park’s new focus on educational programming.”

Park Interpretive staff who developed and presented these programs include Angie Lurz, Stacy Speas, Jessica Coffman, Tim Van Cleave, and Nathan Hatfield, with assistance from Tiffany Taylor and Kate Morris. A number of volunteers, including parents of campers, were also invaluable to the efforts.

For more information on the park’s Junior Ranger camps or other educational programming, contact Angie Lurz at 601-446-5790 or angela_lurz@nps.gov.