Susan Yark with Bartow History Museum explained the intent of
the two-day camp was to help children see how youth in pioneer
days created their own toys and games. The camp also involved
some modern aspects for participants. “We learned that kids in
the past played with sticks, so we painted a base coat on
[sticks] and put decorations and yarn wigs on them and, of
course, the googly eyes,” Yark said. Other activities included
weaving, candle dipping and a tour of the museum. “[It’s
important] to recognize the difference of what happens now and
what happened in the past,” Yark said. “And the chores they had
to do, like candlemaking — it’s fun for us, but [pioneers] had
to do it once a year for the whole year’s lighting of their
cabin.” Camp participants also played games, such as the
Cherokee bean dice game and a Cherokee game called “firekeeper.”
“[Firekeeper] uses craft sticks that are painted to look like
fire. We take a bandanna hankerchief and put it around the eyes
as a blindfold for the firekeeper,” Yar