My 5th Grade Field Trip

[Snaggletiger]

Yep, spent many hours on a bus with Mini-Snags and his 5th grade class on a field trip to American Village in Montevallo.  Had never heard of it and no idea what it was about.  Actually a pretty cool place.  First off, beautiful country around there.  American Village is a whole series of buildings around a complex where they teach about America in the 1700's and all the events surrounding our break from bloody old England.  Appears to be geared towards just what happened yesterday, which was taking about 150 school kids through a series of reinactments.  I think I liked it better than they did.

They divide the kids into groups and assign them as representatives of different states.  The kids carry that flag everywhere they go and each building is of course, a different reinactment that they participate in.  The workers there dress in the authentic apparel from that time and they stay in character the whole day, no matter what.  I tried talking to one of them off to the side and he kept the British accent and stayed in character.  They started by announcing the Stamp Tax on the front steps and getting the crowd riled up to oppose it.  One building was set up as a big meeting hall where the kids would participate as delegates from different states and vote to break from England.

Another area had tents like an encampment and the host taught them how to reload and fire a musket, stand in line to march and fire etc.  I know several of you on here are history buffs and into that type thing.  I just thought it was really well done and worth the trip. PLus there were a lot of hot moms on the bus too, which never hurts.   

[Kaos]

Yep, spent many hours on a bus with Mini-Snags and his 5th grade class on a field trip to American Village in Montevallo.  Had never heard of it and no idea what it was about.  Actually a pretty cool place.  First off, beautiful country around there.  American Village is a whole series of buildings around a complex where they teach about America in the 1700's and all the events surrounding our break from bloody old England.  Appears to be geared towards just what happened yesterday, which was taking about 150 school kids through a series of reinactments.  I think I liked it better than they did.

They divide the kids into groups and assign them as representatives of different states.  The kids carry that flag everywhere they go and each building is of course, a different reinactment that they participate in.  The workers there dress in the authentic apparel from that time and they stay in character the whole day, no matter what.  I tried talking to one of them off to the side and he kept the British accent and stayed in character.  They started by announcing the Stamp Tax on the front steps and getting the crowd riled up to oppose it.  One building was set up as a big meeting hall where the kids would participate as delegates from different states and vote to break from England.

Another area had tents like an encampment and the host taught them how to reload and fire a musket, stand in line to march and fire etc.  I know several of you on here are history buffs and into that type thing.  I just thought it was really well done and worth the trip. PLus there were a lot of hot moms on the bus too, which never hurts.

Was there a section filled with really creepy dolls? 

[Snaggletiger]

Was there a section filled with really creepy dolls?

Yes.  You've been there?

[Townhallsavoy]

We've taken our students there before.  Nice place.  They have a great fireworks show on July 4th. 

[JR4AU]

Yep, spent many hours on a bus with Mini-Snags and his 5th grade class on a field trip to American Village in Montevallo.  Had never heard of it and no idea what it was about.  Actually a pretty cool place.  First off, beautiful country around there.  American Village is a whole series of buildings around a complex where they teach about America in the 1700's and all the events surrounding our break from bloody old England.  Appears to be geared towards just what happened yesterday, which was taking about 150 school kids through a series of reinactments.  I think I liked it better than they did.

They divide the kids into groups and assign them as representatives of different states.  The kids carry that flag everywhere they go and each building is of course, a different reinactment that they participate in.  The workers there dress in the authentic apparel from that time and they stay in character the whole day, no matter what.  I tried talking to one of them off to the side and he kept the British accent and stayed in character.  They started by announcing the Stamp Tax on the front steps and getting the crowd riled up to oppose it.  One building was set up as a big meeting hall where the kids would participate as delegates from different states and vote to break from England.

Another area had tents like an encampment and the host taught them how to reload and fire a musket, stand in line to march and fire etc.  I know several of you on here are history buffs and into that type thing.  I just thought it was really well done and worth the trip. PLus there were a lot of hot moms on the bus too, which never hurts.

Live just a 5 minute drive from there, only been once, but it was for a ceremony, not to see all the stuff.  That was 10 years ago, and it's gotten a lot bigger since.

[Kaos]

Yes.  You've been there?

Nope. But I know the dolls.  I think they tried to kill me once.

[AWK]

I go tubing down the Coosa near Montevallo.  Many a drunk summer days.

[CCTAU]

Nope. But I know the dolls.  I think they tried to kill me once.

You never learned the difference between good touch, bad touch...apparently!

[Saniflush]

Yep, spent many hours on a bus with Mini-Snags and his 5th grade class on a field trip to American Village in Montevallo.  Had never heard of it and no idea what it was about.  Actually a pretty cool place.  First off, beautiful country around there.  American Village is a whole series of buildings around a complex where they teach about America in the 1700's and all the events surrounding our break from bloody old England.  Appears to be geared towards just what happened yesterday, which was taking about 150 school kids through a series of reinactments.  I think I liked it better than they did.

They divide the kids into groups and assign them as representatives of different states.  The kids carry that flag everywhere they go and each building is of course, a different reinactment that they participate in.  The workers there dress in the authentic apparel from that time and they stay in character the whole day, no matter what.  I tried talking to one of them off to the side and he kept the British accent and stayed in character.  They started by announcing the Stamp Tax on the front steps and getting the crowd riled up to oppose it.  One building was set up as a big meeting hall where the kids would participate as delegates from different states and vote to break from England.

Another area had tents like an encampment and the host taught them how to reload and fire a musket, stand in line to march and fire etc.  I know several of you on here are history buffs and into that type thing.  I just thought it was really well done and worth the trip. PLus there were a lot of hot moms on the bus too, which never hurts.

This is a really cool place as well if you like the throwback stuff.....

http://www.westville.org/

[Snaggletiger]

Live just a 5 minute drive from there, only been once, but it was for a ceremony, not to see all the stuff.  That was 10 years ago, and it's gotten a lot bigger since.

I thought the countryside was beautiful in that area.  One not so beautiful thing was literally 5 minutes after we pulled out from the school and turned on 231 North.  Still dark at 5:30 in the morning and there were all the rescue personell at a wreck site.  Of course, they were routing traffic slowly by it so we all, kids included, got a long rubber-neck look.  Apparently, someone fell asleep at the wheel and left the roadway and into a tree.  O-frickin'-bliterated the truck and the body was covered up by the roadway.  It went from screaming kids to just silence.  That'll get your trip off to a great start.

[JR4AU]

I go tubing down the Coosa near Montevallo.  Many a drunk summer days.

So drunk you thought you were on the Coosa when you were on the Cahaba?

[JR4AU]

I thought the countryside was beautiful in that area. 

Yeah, it's a pretty area.  I drive through Montevallo every day on the way to work.  I work about 25 miles south of there.  I much prefer seeing the farm land, cows, deer and turkey every day rather than the interstate clogged with cars and high rise buildings.

[AWK]

So drunk you thought you were on the Coosa when you were on the Cahaba?

I never claimed to be a geographer. 

[GH2001]

This is a really cool place as well if you like the throwback stuff.....

http://www.westville.org/

I live about 45 mins from there. Also cool.

Snags, simp - this one is close to you.

[Snaggletiger]

I live about 45 mins from there. Also cool.

Snags, simp - this one is close to you.

Have not been.  Looks like a fine way to kill a Saturday. 

[Tiger Wench]

The workers there dress in the authentic apparel from that time and they stay in character the whole day, no matter what.  I tried talking to one of them off to the side and he kept the British accent and stayed in character. 

Am surprised no one has mentioned the South Park episode about this very thing.  It is HILARIOUS. Can't post it but worth a google.

[djsimp]

I live about 45 mins from there. Also cool.

Snags, simp - this one is close to you.

Been there once. I liked it but watch your step. My 6 yr old found a nice steamy pile of horse shit.