Chris Gmyr

If you do not want your kids to hang around the house all summer putting off their chores, or hanging out at their friend’s pool like every other summer, and you would not mind a little education and history too, why not pack up the kids and take a trip to Fort Stanwix, it will make for great summer fun and experience that everyone will enjoy.

You can learn about how people how to endure harsh conditions and that this fort contributed to the British defeat at Saratoga in 1777 setting the stage for expansion throughout New York. You and your family can follow along the paths of people who made history during the Revolutionary War. You can start your visit at the Marinus Willet Collections Management and Education Center, which includes an exhibit timeline, audiovisual presentations, a public event space, a bookstore and a museum of 450,000 objections. There are also living history programs and a chance to experience 18th century military life (http://www.nps.gov/fost/planyourvisit/index.htm).

There is no entrance or admission fee and passes can be purchased to visit again sometime. They are open from 9-5pm weather permitting.  Let your children become junior rangers and explore history in a fun and educational way. It will be a fun summer day trip and maybe they will learn something for school later on. So what are you waiting for, drag them away from that pool and into the car and visit Fort Stanwix today, you will not be sorry you did!