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History comes alive St. Catherine’s Military Academy in Anaheim hosts its 12th annual Civil War educational weekend in March. By Susan BelknappPublished: February, 2010

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St. Catherine’s Military Academy will host its 12th Annual Civil War Educational Weekend on March 20 and March 21 at the campus in Anaheim. More than 200 professional re-enactors will stage famous battles and recreate life during the Civil War. Gates open at 9:30 a.m.   The reenactment is only the beginning of the fun and participatory learning experiences for the whole family. Free classroom presentations and a historical scavenger hunt put an emphasis on experiential learning and set this kid-friendly re-enactment apart.   Starting the first week in March, Mary Crowley, St. Catherine’s volunteer, history buff and former educator, will travel to local schools with a classroom presentation she has perfected over the last twelve years. Using PowerPoint, poster boards, and good old-fashioned story-telling, the 20 to 30-minute presentation includes an overview of the events that led up to the New Market Skirmish, the skirmish itself, and the key role of the VMI cadets. She also sets the stage for how the skirmish will be played out on the battlefield and what the students need to look for during the reenactment.   Free classroom presentations are provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. Interested schools and children’s groups can schedule a presentation by calling St. Catherine’s at 714.772.1363.   The most unique part of the St. Catherine’s re-enactment is the Trivia Challenge. This historical scavenger hunt sends students around the school’s 8-acre campus to find answers to questions regarding the Civil War and everyday life in the mid-19th century.  The re-enactors provide the questions and answers for each year’s Trivia Challenge when they arrive at the event the Friday before. St. Catherine’s then verifies the questions for accuracy and creates the final version, which can be picked up at the event or downloaded from the school’s Web site beginning Saturday morning.   Questions from the Trivia Challenge will help engage the students in a dialog with the re-enactors who remain in character at all times. The Trivia Challenge may have students ask a soldier what he carries in his haversack, watch a surgeon comfort a wounded man at the field hospital, or even learn the lingo of 1860s baseball.   Students from all over Southern California, as well as the general public, are invited to attend the event. Educational resources, event information, and video from previous years can be found here. Tickets are $7 for adults, $4 for students and seniors.   For additional information about the event or St. Catherine’s Military Academy contact director of Advancement/Marketing at 714.772.1363 or email: development@stcatherinesmilitaryacademy.org.

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