*We have been given admission to this event to help facilitate our review. All thoughts are 100% honest and ours!
I have loved the Big Island Rendezvous from the first time my family camped at Helmer-Myre state park and went to the very first one in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Maybe it was the prairie bonnet my mom made me, the Little House on the Prairie TV show, or maybe it is the sense of adventure I was born with. Whatever the reason, I have always loved every single thing about the Rendezvous. I remember always feeling so lucky to have it almost literally in my own back yard!
The first two years it was at our local state park, we camped both of those years. Then when I was in fifth grade I got to attend with my class. It has been a long, beautiful relationship with the rendezvous.
When I was a junior in high school I had Dave Rambo (Mr. Rambo to me) for my history teacher. Dave has been involved in the rendezvous for years. Even with street clothes on, you could tell he was a mountain man at home. He may even have felt more at home in his mountain man clothes than he did his street clothes. He half intimidated me and half intrigued me. All the years I had attended the rendezvous I had secretly hoped I could run around in buckskin, bear feet, and also cook over the campfire. I wanted to be wild and free as they appeared to be.
The year I had Mr. Rambo they were looking for volunteers for lead groups around during the education days. I’m not sure if they were trying to leave a legacy or were desperate for help, but that year, Mr. Rambo told us if we volunteered as a tour guide we would get extra credit towards his class. Not having to be in class for two days, getting extra credit, AND running around the rendezvous sounded like heaven to me. I might have been the first one to sign up! After that year, I took as many of Rambo’s classes as I could, because I knew I would get to go to the Rendezvous!
Being a tour guide got me out of class, but it also taught me life skills. I learned history as I listened to the same stories over the two days of the educational days. I learned how to keep track of multiple students and how to be organized. My love of history was fed and my need for hands on learning was at the heart of the experience.
Volunteers for Education Days at the Big Island Rendezvous are needed every year. If they are to bring in the amount of kids they really want to, they need help. Every child is invited to the Rendezvous regardless of whether they have money for their tuition or not. Perry Vining works hard over the year to raise money specifically for scholarships to continue giving students a hands on look at history. Please consider volunteering this year! If you are interested in volunteering you can find contact information here. This would make an excellent job for a homeschool family or a homeschooled high schooler!
*We have been given admission to this event to help facilitate our review. All thoughts are 100% honest and ours!