New volunteers invited to join Trail of History

McHenry County Conservation District is looking for fun and energetic staff to make the Trail of History come to life for thousands of visitors the third weekend of October. This "living history" event portrays life from 1670-1850 in the former Northwest Territory.

Interested individuals and families are invited to learn more and attend one of the Trail of History Volunteer orientation meetings, from 2 to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 22, at Prairieview Education Center, 2112 Behan Road, Crystal Lake; or from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 26 at Wiedrich Education Center in Glacial Park, 6316 Harts Road, Ringwood.

Volunteers are needed to dress in period costumes and demonstrate everyday activities of settler life, such as cooking meals over campfires, teaching in a one-room schoolhouse, or chopping wood. Costumed volunteer positions are available in: Frontier Schoolroom, Cornhusk Dolls, Candle-making, Military Tactics, Apprentice Servants, Children's Games and Dress Up, Historical Kitchen, Town Crier, Two-Man Saw, Drop Spindle, Log Cabin-Family Life, and Metis Village.

Non-costumed volunteers also are needed in the following positions: School Day Greeter, Welcome Tent Greeter, Geological History Docent, Groundskeeper, and First Aid Tent.

The Trail of History will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 18 and 19 at Glacial Park, 6316 Hart Road in Ringwood. For more information about becoming a Trail of History volunteer, call Volunteer Coordinator Denice Beck at (815) 338-6223, Ext. 229.