2005 Program Guide

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Summer 2006

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Program Guide

Weekly Programs

Pig War Story Guided Walk— Park Rangers and volunteers describe events leading up to and including the Pig War and the peaceful joint occupation of San Juan Island by British and American troops. Walks are scheduled at American Camp 11:30 a.m., Saturdays, June 3 to September 2.

Living History: Life at American and English camps — Park staff and volunteers recreate military and civilian life on San Juan Island during the joint occupation. Activities include blacksmithing,coopering, weaving and needlework. 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., Saturdays, June 3 to August 26.

reenactors demonstrate woodworking at English Camp

Wildlife in the San Juan Islands — Puzzled by an animal or bird? Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Education Coordinator Shona Aitken answers questions and uses a variety of media to talk about wildlife in the San Juan islands. 1 to 3 p.m., Fridays, June 9 to September 1, English Camp barracks.

Shona Aitken conducts her Friday wildlife talk.

Historical Songs at English Camp — Folk singer and musicologist Michael Cohen gathers visitors under the bigleaf maple (or in the barrcaks if it rains) for an evening of traditional songs. 7:30 p.m., Thursdays, June 8 to August 31, on the English Camp parade ground.

Special Programs

Ancient Visitors:Tracing the Pre-history of San Juan Island through Archaeology — University of Washington archaeologist, Dr. Julie Stein, traces ancient habitation of San Juan Island in this guided walk on the American Camp prairie. Meets in the main South Beach parking area, with a hike to Alaska Packers Rock. 10 a.m., Sunday, June 4, South Beach, American Camp.

The Birds of American Camp -- Join San Juan Island bird expert and former national park ranger Barbara Jensen for a colorful 90-minute walk through American Camp’s prairies. The program is suitable for beginning as well as veteran birders, providing startling insights into the park's rich flora and fauna. 7:30 a.m., Sunday, June 4, American Camp visitor center

Tide Pool Walk at Grandma’s Cove --Learn about plant and animal life, from algae to invertebrate animals, during this tide pool walk with biologist Bob Lemon and naturalist Annie Prevost. Bring rubber boots and an old towel for use as a knee –pad and hand wiper. Also bring sun screen, rain gear. Some agility is required for jumping around slippery rocks. 9 a.m., Sunday, June 11. Meets in the American Camp visitor center parking area.

Outpost of Empire: The Royal Marines on San Juan Island – Who were the Royal Marines that occupied San Juan Island from 1860 to 1872 and why were they on the Northwest Coast? Find out during this slide lecture by historian and author Mike Vouri.
2 p.m., Saturday, June 17. English Camp barracks.

Royal Marines in formation at English Camp.

Early Settlement on San Juan Island --Learn about daily life on San Juan Island from 1853 through the joint military occupation in 1872. Historian Boyd Pratt talks about settlers from Hudson's Bay Company employees to discharged soldiers to failed miners. 2 p.m., Saturday June 24, English Camp barracks.

Pickett’s Irish: The Irish in the U.S. Army in the 1850’s – Historian Mike Vouri and folk musician Michael Cohen present this new program that takes a closer look at the Irish in the U.S. Army in words and song.
2 p.m., Saturday, July 15, English Camp barracks.

Life and Times of General George Pickett— Park Ranger Mike Vouri and folk musician Michael Cohen join with the San Juan Community Theatre in presenting an evening of drama and song as George Pickett comes back to life to talk about his days on the frontier and Civil War battlefields. Friday, July 21 and Friday, August 25. All shows 7:30 p.m., San Juan Community Theatre & Art Centre. Tickets: $10.00 adults, $6.00 students.

In Concert: Sugar on the Floor— Folk singer Michael Cohen and the group “Sugar on the Floor" present a variety of songs from the 19th century and other genres. Cohen has worked with the Smithsonian Institution in searching for and cataloging American folk tunes. 7 p.m., Saturday, July 22, English Camp barracks

The People of the Cedar— Richard Vanderway, education coordinator for Bellingham’s Whatcom Museum, makes his seventh annual visit to the park with a stunning array of objects to provide a glimpse of Northwest Coast Indian culture. 2 p.m., Saturday, July 22, English Camp barracks.

Northwest Pioneer Folkways Demonstrations — Janet Oakley, education coordinator for the Skagit County Historical Museum in LaConner, demonstrates pioneer folkways from butter churning to Dutch oven baking and other tasks essential to the daily lives of pioneers in the Pacific Northwest. Noon, Saturday July 29, English Camp parade ground.

Soldier Games -- Are your competitive juices bubbling? If so join park staff and volunteers for the Second Annual "Soldier Games," an afternoon of competitions featuring the very events in which U.S. Soldiers and Royal Marines competed during the joint occupation. Records will be kept year-to-year. It's fun for all ages. 1 p.m., Sunday, July 30, English Camp parade ground.

A Weaving Legacy -- Join Cowlitz Nation weaver Judy Bridges and Fort Nisqually interpreter and storyteller Karen Haas for a fun afternoon of weaving with all-natural fibers, including wild reeds. Bridges is a direct descendent of Hudson's Bay Company pioneers. Noon, Saturday, August 5, English Camp parade ground.

Weaving and Wattle --In the first of the summer's weaving programs, Anita Barreca and Roger Ellison demonstrate the techniques that permitted Pacific Northwest pioneers to make use of their environments. 1 p.m., Sunday, August 6, English Camp barracks.

First nations Flute Concert -- Paul Wagner of the Saanich (Northwest Coast Salish) tribe comes from a lineage of Shneh'em, medicine people who in healing use many tools, including music. Paul also plays the mbira and Chipendani from Zimbabwe, digeredoo, guitar, bass and drum. He has performed extensively throughout the Pacific Northwest. 2 p.m., Saturday, August 12, English Camp barracks.

Gunsmithing on the Frontier – NPS volunteer Greg Hertel explains the attributes, use and repair of a variety of 19th century firearms. In addition to demonstrations of disassembling for cleaning he also will discuss how 19 th century development of arms spurred changed tactics during the American Civil War.
1 p.m., Sunday, August 13, English Camp parade ground.

Dresses, Drawers & More: The Importance of Dress and Style in the 1860s – Veteran Encampment participants Anne Lorgen, Sandra MacKinnon and Judy Leclercq will demonstrate first hand how complicated and time consuming dressing was for 19th century women. 1 p.m., Saturday, August 19, English Camp barracks.

Anne Lorgen assists a visitor try on a hoop skirt

Encampment 2006— Join park staff and volunteers as they host reenactors from Forts Langley and Rodd Hill, New Westminster and Esquimalt, B.C., and Forts Nisqually and Steilacoom in Washington State to recreate life on San Juan Island at mid-19th century. Encampment 2006 includes camp life, blacksmithing, woodworking, drilling and cookery. Highlight of the weekend is Saturday's Candlelight Ball, an evening of dancing and refreshments from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. The uniforms are dazzling and the company grand. You won't want to miss it! English Camp: Saturday, August 26-27. All day.

Programs, dates and times are subject to change.