Huron Expositor, 2007-05-02, Page 3News
Van Egmond volunteers have set -back
when offering Grade 3 pioneer program
EQAO testing presumed reason that no schools sign up
Despite an
opportunity to
learn about pio-
neer studies
hands-on in the
historic Van
Egmond House -
the preserved
home of some of
the original set-
tlers in the area -
no local schools
have signed up to
participate in the
new program.
Offered to
Grade 3 students
in the Seaforth
area, a half-day
educational pro-
gram focussing
on pioneer gar-
dening and medi-
cine as well as a
tour of the his-
toric house and
grounds, was cre-
ated by members
of the Van
Egmond
Foundation,
many of them
retired teachers.
But, what orga-
nizers are assum-
ing as a problem
..with timing -
especially since
the provincial
EQAO testing for
Grade 3 students
occurs in May -
has caused the
program to be
postponed from
its planned dates
of May 7, 8, 14
and 15.
Susan Hundertmark photo
Retired Seaforth Public School teacher Bill Farnell poses as
his alter ego Dr. Parsons, a pioneer doctor, with the pieces of
period medical equipment he plans to share with Grade 3 stu-
dents who participate in a pioneer program at the Van
Egmond House in Egmondville.
"It's really a great little program
and I have no worries that it'll catch
on. But, we may have to look for a
better time since we're running into
these tests," says organizer Peter
Spittal of the standardized provin-
cial testing.
He says his committee is still
exploring whether or not the new
program can be offered in June or
whether better timing might be in
the fall.
Pat Saundercock, Van Egmond
Foundation president who will also
be teaching the segment on pioneer
gardening, says none of the local
schools approached during the plan-
ning stage signed up by the dead-
line April 20.
"You think you're offering some-
thing good but we haven't heard a
peep out of them," she says of the
schools in Seaforth, Brussels,
Clinton, Londesboro and Brucefield.
"I'm kind of disappointed because
it is such a neat program and we
put a lot of work into it," says
Saundercock.
If the program is moved into the
fall, Saundercock says the garden-
ing segment would have to be
changed into one on cooking since
the season for planting will have
passed.
The pioneer gardening segment
would discuss common types of pio-
neer vegetables, fruits and herbs,
how they were planted, cared for,
harvested and used.
A hands-on activity would involve
planting seeds which students can
take back to their classrooms.
In the pioneer medicine segment,
students would get to handle, smell
and in some cases, taste, herbs and
plants used as medicine by pioneers
and learn about procedures such as
bleeding, purging, steaming and
poulticing. They'll also be able to
handle period medical instruments
and discuss how they were used.
The tour of the house and grounds
would include discussion about Col.
Anthony Van Egmond, who along
with his son Constant, supervised
the building of a road 45 miles long
between Guelph and Goderich
through the Huron Tract in the late
1820s.
He was also known as the mili-
tary strategist for the Rebellion of
1837 in Upper Canada when
William Lyon Mackenzie led a
revolt against the government of
Upper Canada.
Van Egmond died in the Don Jail
in Toronto in 1838, avoiding execu-
tion by hanging for his role in the
rebellion.
His son Constant built the Van
Egmond House in 1845.
The Van Egmond Foundation
received $20,500 in Trillium fund-
ing in 2005 to renovate a shed into
an interpretive centre for school
groups and community gatherings.
By Susan Hundertmark
The Huron Expositor • May 2, 2007 Page 3
HEALTF-f+JuLNLES
(part-time)
Personal Support Worker
Information Session
May 8.7 p.m.
Huronia Business Centre, 138 Main St.,Seaforth
GEORGI=AN Rh?!
EXCELLENCE
YOUR COLLEGE •YOUR FUTURE 1967.1007
(519) 376-0840, ext. 2003
osinquire@georgianc.on.ca
Mulch
$7.25/ bag
Peat Moss
$9.50/ bag
Black Earth
$2.99/ bag
3 -Way Mix
$3.50/ bag
Manure/Compost
$2.99/ bag
Potting Soil
$3.99/ bag
FREE DELIVERY In SEFFORTH
Prior to Garden Centre
Opening Call Greenhouse Girl
Tanis
VanderMolen
at 519-527-1750
Garden Centre
Opening Soon
at Freeze Ring
CaII Now for
Pick-up or FREE Delivery!
Purchase a Spa
Package For You and
Your Mom or give one
to Mom for Mother's
Day and ENTER OUR
DRAW TO WIN!
1st Prize -
10K White Gold Drop Pendant Diamond
(purchased from Seaforth Jewellers)
2nd Prize- Relaxational Massage
3rd Prize- Hanging Basket (purchased from Flower Magic)
Purchase any of our Spa Packages starting at $58.00.
TOTAL IMAGE II
Full Service Salon 59 Main St., Seaforth
www.totafmageii.com 519-527-0780