Presenting Living-History Lyceums

Our lyceums are sure to spark anyone's interest in history. Research shows that people learn twice as much when learning interactively than in a traditional setting. Accordingly, Historical Experiences makes use of this knowledge by giving audience members an active role to play in historical events. Our presentations align with state social studies standards and work toward students achieving those standards in an entertaining and engaging way.

Historical Experiences is proud to offer you a new program for schools, libraries and other venues

LUMBERJACKS: LOGGERS
OF THE
NORTH WOODS

Logging was a dangerous business for the loggers who cut down and harvested the white pine trees of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and the upper mid-west. First called shanty-boys and later lumberjacks these men risked life and limb to satisfy America's insatiable appetite for lumber. Lumber used to build America. Arn Kind will come in authentic lumberjack regalia to bring to life the early logging industry of this region. Audience members will learn that logging was primarily a winter activity. Trees were felled, cut into logs, and transported to "banking grounds" on icy rivers and lakes. Lumberjacks, known as "timber beasts," used axes and two-man crosscut saws to fell massive trees, relying on camaraderie and immense strength to endure brutal conditions, isolation, and dangerous work. Work ran six days a week, from sunrise to sunset. Such hard labor for such long work days required 9,000 calories per day so lumberjacks' meals were huge, hearty, and provided by a specialized camp cook. Injuries were frequent and could be fatal, with few medical treatments beyond crude methods like balsam pitch, as workers dealt with falling trees, rolling logs, and freezing temperatures. Audiences will also learn about lumberjack life and culture. After a long hard day of work, evenings were spent on the "deacon seat" in the bunkhouse, where lumberjacks shared stories, played cards, and sang songs. The camps where the loggers stayed were temporary, often moving every few years. They consisted of rough wooden bunkhouses with loggers sleeping in shared bunks on hay mattresses. Many of these lumberjacks were New England men who followed the logging companies west to harvest new forests. Many others were emigrants to America looking for work. Cutting and harvesting was winter work, but Spring would bring the snowmelt allowing logs to be driven downriver to mills to be cut into lumber. Imagine riding logs for hundreds of mile down the streams and rivers to the sawmills. The men who did this work were called river monkeys and their work was just as, if not more, dangerous as the lumberjacks who felled the trees. Lumberjacks and their profession have been romanticized, even immortalized in the legendary folk hero PAUL BUNYAN. This presentation will cut through the myths surrounding the industry and tell you the real story of
LUMBERJACKS: LOGGERS OF THE NORTH WOODS.

The Presenter

Arn Kind has been an educator for 48 years bringing his educational and entertaining presentations to elementary, middle and high school students as well university lyceums. His presentations are popular with historical societies, libraries and festivals where organizers can choose from a variety of interactive programs that cover the history of our state, our nation and our world.

In 1995, Arn founded Fort Union Civil War Camp, a summer program where young people, ages 11 to 17, became recruits in the Union Army for a week. Over it's seven year run, roughly 480 campers lived the life of Civil War soldiers through drill and work detail, historical presentations and mock battles. The week culminated with "defending" an historical fort overnight.

Arn is a member of the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment; a reenactment group based out of Fort Snelling. Because this group is noted for its authenticity, they have appeared in many documentaries and historical feature films such as The Blue and the Gray, North & South, Glory, Gettysburg, Dances With Wolves, and Gods and Generals. Arn brings this authenticity to his presentations. His training and experiences as a teacher enable him to adjust and adapt the subject matter to suit different age levels.

A very important part of Arn's presentations are the artifacts, uniforms and equipment that students will be able to observe, handle, and interact with as part of their hands-on experience in living the history.