Ninety minute workshops start at 10 a.m. each day.  The daily themes include:

Monday, March 27: Pioneer for a Day – Dress up in pioneer clothing and work with other kids in an interactive overland simulation. Make decisions and explore the Trail as you tour the Center with Ranger Rachael. Try your hand at kneading hardtack and have a taste of dutch-oven grub.

Tuesday, March 28: Heirloom Gardening – Ranger Rachael leads this workshop about foods that pioneers grew. Hear the legend of the three sisters (“corn, squash, beans”) and make your own seed pellet to take home and plant.

Wednesday, March 29: Solar Eclipse – Ranger Cheri teaches eclipse legends of the Native Americans, and helps you build a model of the sun and moon, so you can show others how solar eclipses happen.

Thursday, March 30: Making a Fire the Old-Fashioned Way – Ranger Jeremy will help you make your own char cloth and practice safely starting a camp fire with a flint and steel.

Workshops are suitable for ages six and up. There is a charge of $5.00 for each workshop. All supplies included.  Entrance fees apply; all visitors 15 and under are always free. Space is limited, so pre-registration is encouraged. For more information or to register, call (541) 523-1852 or email ots1844@gmail.com.

Films for youth will also be shown daily in the theater at 10:00 a.m. and noon.  Junior Explorer Activities and the interactive children’s exhibit “Wagons Ho! Experience the Oregon Trail” are also open daily, with a puppet box activity for younger visitors.  On Friday, there will be pioneer themed hands-on activities for all visitors at no additional charge from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is located five miles east of Baker City, Oregon on Highway 86. Take Exit 302 from I-84. The Center is currently open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $5 and $3.50 for seniors; children 15 and under are admitted for free. Federal passes are also accepted.  Call (541) 523-1843 for updates on programs and events or visit oregontrail.blm.gov.

The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center is hosting several workshops and activities suitable for families during Spring Break, March 24 through the 27.

Trail Tenders is sponsoring workshops on tasks of our pioneer ancestors as they prepared for their Oregon Trail journey. Learn to dip a beeswax candle, concoct herbal teas, make simple toys, turn a goose feather into a quill pen, and bake hardtack. Costumed interpreters will guide each activity sharing facts and stories, and creating items to take home. On Tuesday and Wednesday of Spring Break Week, there is a pioneer luncheon, cooked in Dutch ovens using Oregon Trail-era recipes. Bring the whole family and make a day of it! Pre-registration is suggested; limited space availability. To register call (541) 523-1852 or email ots1844@gmail.com

Monday March 24; $5 per activity plus entrance fee; 10:30 a.m. – Make a Rag Doll and Handkerchief Doll; 1 p.m. – Sew a Pouch and pick out seeds, learn gardening tips and techniques of the pioneers.

Tuesday March 25: “Pioneer Family Package Deal”   $35; for two Adults (16 & over) and two Children (15 & under); includes entrance fees; 10:30 a.m. – Make Hardtack; noon – Pioneer Dutch Oven Lunch (Bison Stew, Fruit Cobbler, Biscuits, Lemonade); 1 p.m. – Dip Candles

Wednesday March 26: “Pioneer Family Package Deal”  $35; for two Adults (16 & over) and two Children (15 & under); includes entrance fees; 10:30 a.m. – Journal Making; noon – Pioneer Dutch Oven Lunch (Chicken and Dumplings, Apple Crisp, Lemonade); 1 p.m.-Carve a Quill and Make Ink

Thursday March 27; $5 per activity plus entrance fee; 10:30 a.m. – Make a Tin Lantern; 1 p.m. – A Pioneer Apothecary: Herbs as Medicine and make a paper pouch.

The interactive children’s exhibit “Wagons Ho!” is open daily throughout the month.

The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, operated by the Bureau of Land Management, is located east of Baker City, Oregon. Take Exit 302 from Interstate-84 onto Oregon Highway 86 and proceed five miles. The Center is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Admission for adults is $5; seniors are $3.50; and children 15 and under are free.  Federal passes are accepted.

Visit oregontrail.blm.gov for more information about the Center or call (541) 523-1843 for an update on programs and events.  For information on other events in Baker County, Oregon, call (800) 523-1235.

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