Ninety Six NHS BARK Ranger

 

“I only have to lament that such brave Men fell in such an unsuccessful attempt.”- General Nathanael Greene

Painting by Robert Windsor Wilson, 1981

NIBBLES TO KNOW before you start your adventure

• Pets are not allowed in the visitor center, except for service animals. Knock on the door and a ranger will be glad to help you.

• Visitors with dogs should NOT use the equestrian paths for safety of pets, horses, and riders.

• The only available water is at the pet water fountain near the Visitor Center and Restrooms.

• The mile loop trail is paved. Be aware the black asphalt can be especially hot in the summer for dog feet.

• There is little shade from the Siege Trench to the Village and Jail sites. Be mindful of heat and consider sticking to the shaded areas during summer months.

• These activities can be completed with a moderate one-mile walk.

For an easier stroll and more shade complete steps 1 to 5. Return to the visitor center before walking to the stockade fort to pick up at step 12.

What does it mean to become a BARK Ranger?

As an owner, it means that you not only enjoy sharing adventures with your dog but also that you want to do it responsibly. Taking this adventure means you are setting an example for everyone with you, and everyone you meet on your walk! Traveling with a BARK Ranger means you’re the best of both worlds- a fabulous dog owner that also appreciates and wants to protect our wild natural spaces on National Park Service lands.

BARK Rangers are dogs who take adventures and also protect the world around them! They take their owners to national parks all over the country and show others how to do it the right way. We BAG our waste and ALWAYS wear our leash. We also promise to RESPECT the places we visit, and KNOW where we can safely go with our humans. To be a BARK Ranger means I’m a good dog, and my owners are special too!

Let’s be BARK Rangers!

Start at the walkway from the parking lot.

1. “B” stands for BAG and BOTTLE. Make sure you have bags for waste and enough bottled water for both you and your pup. You will find a free bag station in the parking lot near the trash cans, and a water station at the beginning of the trail.
2. Start down the path toward Star Fort. You will meet many other travelers along the way- this was a busy place! Find the Trader and his trusty Pack Horse, and take a selfie with your pup when you say hello.
3. “A” stands for ALWAYS. The path before you seems like a great place to let your pup wander and explore around you. Remember what the pledge stands for, and be a good canine visitor by always keeping your dog on leash.
4. You will come to a wonderful split rail fence and bench with a nice view of the fort installations. Take a portrait of your pup with the fence and battlefield behind them.
5. Continue on the black path, crossing a bridge over a very old road with a very interesting story. Continue on the path until you come to a soldier waiting for you near the Observation Tower. Stand in is footprints and look out across the battlefield. Your dog companion can see much farther than you, all the way to the village we will soon visit!
6. Stay safe and aware of your dog’s comfort. If someone in your party doesn’t tolerate heat or hills, consider returning to the Visitor Center now. Jump to Step 12 for an easier shaded walk.
7. The winding path forward will lead you through the story of the battle and into the remains of Star Fort. Be mindful of the heat and comfort of both you and your pup.
8. “R” stands for RESPECT. Wind your way around the fort to the bench and the nice shade tree. Here we will take a moment to respect a place where
   the most profound engagement happened. Glance to your left and see the wooden tower, then visually follow the trench between you to where it meets
   the earthenworks walls of Star Fort. This is the exact place where the final assault by the Forlorn Hope took place on June 18, 1781. We encourage you to read the sign with the full explanation of that engagement and what happened on that fateful day in this spot.
9. “K” stands for KNOW. Continue following the trail where it leads you to the fort entrance. It’s important to know where your pups can go. In this park you CAN leave the trail and walk into the remains of the fort! You CAN’T walk up onto the earthen walls.
10. Next you will soon see the village boundaries marked on either side of the path. No doubt the area had many dogs owned by a wide range of people in the community. Try to think of three different reasons why dogs would have been important to the town.
11. As you enjoy the hilly walk and gorgeous old oak trees, watch for an indication that members of another culture in the 1700’s frequently visited the area with their dogs! There is only one in the park- can you find it?
12. Light Horse Harry Lee has captured the stockade! Join in the victory by finding the wooden structure and view of the surrounding land below it. Take a celebratory selfie with your pup inside the Stockade Fort fence.
13. On your right you will find a memorial to the first South Carolinian to die in the Revolutionary War. The events here changed history and helped shape the fight for our freedom. Stop for a moment to pay respects on your journey.
14. Ahead you’ll see the log cabin and we’ve come full circle. Bring your pup up to the porch, then sit down on the top step to take a fabulous selfie with your companion.
15. Your final photo op is the park sign out front! Standing in the correct spot, you can see the cabin, woods, or stockade in the background for a perfect photo memory with your pup.
16. Congratulations on your historical visit together! Return to the Visitor Center to take your oath, plus receive your free certificate and dog tag for your BARK Ranger! Don’t forget to take photos!
17. Memorialize the day with a free dated stamp from the Passport Program found inside the Visitor Center or outside at the Water Fountain. Don’t forget to stamp your own passport books too!