Some would

say that the kids today are out of touch with this

country's past.

That is not

true about the girls between 8 and 12 that attend "A

Girls Life in the 1800s Day Camp" in Fayetteville.

This unique

camp, now in its fourth year, offers a glimpse into the

life of a girl in the mid 1800s. Each day the campers

dress up in hoop skirts and participate in activities

that will carry them back to days of old, such as making

their own bonnets, writing in caligraphy, learning the

Victorian "language of the fan," having a tea

party, doing needlework, learning old-style dancing, and

much more. This year, the girls will learn about the

famous and not-so-famous, but heroic nonetheless, women

of the Civil War.

The camp,

which is sponsored by Main Street Fayetteville, has been

conducted the past three years at the

Holliday-Dorsey-Fife House in downtown Fayetteville.

Since the Holliday House is slated to be under

restoration this summer, the day camp will be at the

historic Old Depot this year.

The Depot,

which was built in 1902, is a newly renovated special

events facility available for public use, which can be

rented through Main Street. It is also within the

historic Main Street district.

According

to camp director Michele Cox, "The Depot will be a

great place to hold the camp this year - it has

plenty of room for us to practice our 1800s dancing, set

up craft tables and "have tea." I know the

girls will enjoy the historic atmosphere of being in a

structure that has been a part of downtown Fayetteville

for nearly 100 years. Plus, it has great air

conditioning."

Cox got the

idea when she took a Girl Scout troop to the Juliet Lowe

House in Savannah. The girls enjoyed the one day so much

that Cox got an idea to plan a full week of activites

centered around life in the 1800s. Cox started the camp

with the Holliday House Association three years ago as a

way to raise money for the house. Last year, Fayetteville

purchased the Holliday House, which is now operated

through Main Street Fayetteville.

Cox also

operates Petite Par-Teas, an operation that puts on

Victorian tea parties for girls and ladies. She has also

started an educational program for elementary school

children called Victorian Adventures. Her desire to learn

more about the period is effectively passed on through

her activities.

The camp,

which hosts more than 100 girls a summer, is fun and

educational. The girls learn about the fashions,

traditions and etiquette of the period. They participate

in games, dance and make crafts and many girls come back

every summer. "It's a fun summer for the

girls," Cox said, "because it gives them

something different to do."

The day

camp will be the following weeks: June 12-16, June 19-23,

June 26-30 and July 10-14. Registration will be at the

Hollingsworth House, 250 W. Stonewall Ave., next to the

Board of Education building in Fayetteville, Saturday,

May 20 and Sunday, May 21 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Each camp

session is one week long, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, with

a program for the parents Friday evening of each camp

week. The cost is $115 per session. For information phone

Michele Cox at 770-487-6796 or e-mail her at [email protected] .

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