Shared by Waverly Garner, AmeriCorps Volunteer at High Bridge Trail State Park, as Guest Blogger.

On June 24^th, 2013, I received a unique opportunity to interpret to several groups of children at the Central Virginia Regional Library in Farmville.

Ms. Southall, the Children’s Director, informed me their theme was “Dig into Reading.”  I thought about how to integrate this theme into a relatable topic that would include High Bridge Trail State Park, and decided to bring along my violin and a few neat songs.

Music helps get the message across to all ages  

The children sat very politely when I arrived and were a little shy to introduce themselves at first, but they soon opened up.  I first opened the traveling trunk (a trunk filled with Civil War themed clothing and other items), told them a brief overview of High Bridge’s history, and then asked them what war was being fought at that time.  A girl up front answered quickly and correctly “the Civil War”. 

“That’s right!” I passed around some curious items like kepis and travel sacks from both the USA and the CSA and asked why it would be important for a soldier to know how to read and write. 

A boy raised his hand and responded, “If you were a spy, you would be able to read the information you needed to give to the other side.”  This idea had never occurred to me, and I was astounded by his imaginative answer.  I agreed spying was a good reason and lead the conversation toward letter – writing.  Soldiers would have been very lonely on the march, and would have wanted to have sent word to their families.  I mentioned my great-great-great grandfather who fought in the war, and who was captured by the Bushwhackers.  He made a daring escape with a horse and a bag of gold and the first thing he did when he was free was to write a letter home saying, “I am not dead.”  The children got a kick out of that.

“What’s another way soldiers could express words and stories if they did not have books or did not know how to write or read?”  I asked.

The first group got it right off, “Music?”

“That’s right!” I described how the soldiers would sit around the campfire and spread stories orally through songs. I played them a few well-known songs like Battle Hymn of the Republic and Dixie to illustrate rousing, marching songs, and then played Ashokan Farewell (I explained the post war origins of the song) to remind them of the sadness of the war.

Showing kids how civil War soldiers communicated through words, reading and music

I pointed out that music can make you feel like written stories can make you feel, whether happy, sad, energetic, or courageous, and told them reading music is like reading a story, only music is made out of sounds that create thoughts and emotions instead of printed words. 

When the program started to wind down, I showed them a moth guide I had recently completed for the park and reminded them that reading is a great tool for learning about all kinds of beautiful things.  To cement the music and Lepidoptera appeal, I played two Irish tunes, the Swallowtail Jig and The Butterfly.  The kids clapped their hands, stomped their feet, and had a good ol’ time.

Once the tunes were done and the children had quieted down a bit, I left them with one, final message.  “Books are so much more than the pages, or the covers, or the ink, they are ideas and stories from people, not unlike yourselves, people living through times and ages like the ones you are living through now.  These ideas are important, and it is important to write them down, because one day, maybe in the near future, someone else may need the comfort of your words, or may be able to connect with the situations you are experiencing.  Reading books is like looking into the authors’ hearts and seeing their innermost thoughts.  So next time you pick up a book, think of what it means to you, and what stories you might be able to write; maybe your stories will even end up in this very library for others to read.  And if you don’t like the idea of books, you can still spread your stories through the joy of music.”

Ms. Southall signaled the end of the program and told the kids my age.  They were all amazed to find that I'm not much older than they are, and that they too could soon be volunteering for AmeriCorps and Virginia State Parks.  I described the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program, which caught their attention, and how much good they could do for the local community and the parks.  As they were filing out, chatting among themselves, I considered the incredible blessing of children’s imaginations, and the gift interpreters are given in having the opportunity to pass something meaningful on to the next generation.

Click here to view park events, festivals, workshops and interpretive programs. Directions and Google maps here.

High Bridge Trail is 31 miles long and is located in Central Virginia and runs through Cumberland, Nottoway and Prince Edward counties and the towns of Burkeville, Farmville, Pamplin City, Prospect and Rice.

Today, visitors of all ages walk across history at High Bridge Trail State Park