HIST 2215 Oregon Trail Field Experience
This outdoor, experiential learning course is a living history reenactment of mid-1800s covered wagon train life on the western trails. This quintessential American experience consists of multiple days traveling and tent camping along the actual historic Oregon, California and Mormon Trails near South Pass. Students travel with saddle horses and covered wagons and/or handcarts to numerous nationally significant historic and archaeological sites, prepare maps and written records of their experiences, help with camp chores, attend lectures and participate in discussions of history, geography, political science and other disciplines. Learning how to travel as safely as possible with livestock and nineteenth century technology is a major emphasis of the course. This is a physically demanding field course, unless special arrangements are made all applicants should be in good physical health, able to walk long distances over rough terrain, carry heavy objects and sleep on the ground. All participants must have health insurance. Prerequisites: Completion of at least two of the following:
HIST 1290,
HIST 1210,
HIST 1220,
HIST 1250,
HIST 1270, instructor-guided independent readings and instructor's permission. (3 lect.)