Cumberland Gap National Historical Park has been awarded the National Park Service Southeast Region’s prestigious “Keeper of the Light Award” for Educational Outreach. The award was based on the park’s October 2004 “America’s First Frontier” Colonial Trade Faire and Living History Event, co-hosted with park partner Wilderness Road State Park and for the its Parks as Classrooms “Within the Shadows of Cumberland Gap” CD-ROM on westward expansion.
A cast of historical figures came to life during “America’s First Frontier.” 18,000 visitors, including 2000 school children, attended the re-enactment extravaganza. Visitors experienced firsthand life on the frontier through contact with re-enactors, demonstrators, and vendors who dressed in period clothing and represented the diverse people who traveled the Warrior’s Path and the Wilderness Road – the Shawnee, the Cherokee, the longhunter, the pioneer, the slave, and the indentured servant. Highlights of this educational affair included a Heritage Walk along Boone’s Trace. Dressed and equipped with the accoutrements of the 18th century, re-enactors answered questions and shared with visitors in first person personas about what they had left behind, the hardships of the trail and the hopes they all had for a better future in “Kentucke.”
“Within the Shadows of Cumberland Gap” CD is a living workbook developed for educators. While the complete teaching tool is geared towards fifth and sixth graders, components of the program are appropriate for other age groups. The CD is aligned with current curriculum standards for Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. Worksheets connect five of the main themes highlighted in the CD in geographic, cultural, and economic frameworks to other countries, thus making this a global learning medium.
National Park Service Director Fran Mainella presented the award to Park Superintendent Mark Woods at a recent National Park Service Superintendent’s conference in Orlando, Florida. Woods enthusiastically remarks that “the park is very honored with such recognition.” “I’m very proud of the staff here at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park. Programs and services offered to park visitors by all staff are indeed of Rolls Royce caliber.” Woods further explains that support for the park and its programs from park volunteers and local communities has been tremendous.
The “Keeper of the Light Award” is an annual award presented to parks in the National Park Service’s Southeast Region. The award was established by the Southeast Region’s Chief of Interpretation Don Wollenhaupt in 2001. Cumberland Gap was also the recipient of the award that year. The award recognizes the critical role education plays in cultivating an understanding and appreciation for our national parks. In addition to an attractive deck prism mount similar to the prisms used on sea ferrying vessels in the 1800’s, the park will receive $1000.00 from Eastern National. This non-profit organization provides quality educational products and services to visitors to America’s national parks and other public trusts. According to Woods, the $1000.00 will be used for the park’s October 7th, 8th and 9th, 2005 “Wild Mountain Mania” A Weekend Celebration of Nature at Cumberland Gap.
