Wednesday Recap
We had more great presenters today at Camp Freedom and learned so much!
Mary Catherine Goddard
Our campers met Mary Catherine Goddard, an extraordinary woman whose life was filled with unexpected challenges. She grew up in a wealthy, well-educated family, but everything changed when her father died while she was still a young teenager. Her mother purchased a newspaper and printing press, and together the entire family worked to make it a success. When Mary's brother moved away to start another newspaper, Mary and her mother continued running the business together. Then tragedy struck again when her mother passed away, leaving Mary to manage the printing press entirely on her own.
As tensions with England grew, Mary began writing articles that condemned the king's unjust actions. When it was finally time to publish the Declaration of Independence, the important responsibility was entrusted to Mary. She printed approximately 200 copies of the Declaration. At the bottom, where printers normally left only their initials, Mary boldly printed her full name and the location of her press. By doing so, she publicly identified herself with the cause of liberty, fully aware of the dangers involved. The 56 men who signed the Declaration—and Mary Catherine Goddard who courageously printed it—were risking everything. They were committing what England considered high treason, punishable by death.
Mary challenged the campers to do something that surprisingly few Americans have done: read the Declaration of Independence. It only takes about 11 minutes, yet today only about 1 in 10 Americans have ever read it. She ended by telling the children that they could not defend and follow the Declaration of Independence if they had never read it. She also encouraged the children to read God's words in the scriptures. You also cannot follow God if you do not know what He has said. "The Lord your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you." Deuteronomy 1:30. If you are following God, you can trust that you will not fight alone. But you have to be willing to make sacrifices. People like Mary were willing to make sacrifices so that their posterity could have liberty. Now the torch is passed to our generation. What can we do to continue to preserve liberty? Do what you ought, not just what you want to do. Speak the truth even when it’s not popular. Be courageous and stand for what's right.
Abraham Clark
The campers also learned about Abraham Clark, one of the signers of the Declaration.
Abraham wasn't known for physical strength. His father hoped he would become a surveyor, but Abraham found his passion in studying law. Unable to afford formal schooling, he taught himself by reading. He became known as the "Poor Man's Counselor" because he freely helped those who couldn't afford legal representation. He also believed that appearances mattered far less than character. While many lawyers wore expensive wigs and fancy clothing, Abraham chose to wear simple everyday clothes, believing money should be spent wisely instead.
Abraham and his wife Sarah raised ten children on their farm. While Abraham served his country, Sarah carried the enormous responsibility of caring for the family and farm during the hardships of war. Their home was often caught in the path of the Revolutionary War, forcing Sarah and the children to hide until battles ended. They also endured heartbreaking personal loss, including the deaths of two young children. Two of their sons, Thomas and Aaron, joined the Continental Army and were eventually captured by the British. They suffered starvation, disease, and terrible conditions aboard prison ships. At one point, one son was locked alone in a room and survived only because fellow prisoners pushed crumbs of bread through the keyhole.
The British eventually offered Abraham a terrible bargain: if he would remove his signature from the Declaration of Independence and renounce the cause of liberty, his sons would be released. He refused. Abraham Clark understood that liberty was worth any sacrifice.
We also reminded the campers that history isn't only the story of courageous men. Women like Sarah Clark, Mary Catherine Goddard, and countless others displayed remarkable faith,
strength, and courage as they sacrificed alongside their husbands, fathers, and sons.
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson taught our Campers about why and how he wrote the Declaration of Independence. He talked about many of the grievances against King George III. The colonies faced unfair laws, had little opportunity to govern themselves, couldn't make many local decisions, endured judges who answered to the king instead of the people, lived under the constant presence of British soldiers, and were forced into trade policies that benefited England while hurting American families.
Jefferson believed something revolutionary. "The God who gave us life gave us liberty." The Declaration of Independence introduced a completely new way of thinking. Instead of being merely subjects of a king, Americans would become citizens. People with both God-given rights and personal responsibilities.
He showed the children many documents including the Summary View of the Rights of America and The Declaration for the Causes and Necessity of Taking up Arms. Jefferson was a strong advocate for freedom and used his gift of writing to bring about our Liberty.
Snack Time
Today's snack connected right back to history as the campers enjoyed Thomas Jefferson's biscuits with delicious honey butter. Jefferson cultivated sweet potatoes on his estate, which were his favorite along with pecans. He developed a recipe for sweet potato and pecan biscuits, which gained great popularity. According to legend, these biscuits were served at the inaugural meeting of the First Continental Congress in 1774. Although the original recipe has not been discovered and we left out the pecans, the biscuits were still very tasty!
We want to give big thank you to Higbee Honey for generously donating a large jar of their honey! It was used to create the honey butter served with our biscuits, making today's treat even more special!
The Star-Spangled Banner
The campers also learned the story behind our national anthem.
During the War of 1812, the British burned both the U.S. Capitol and the White House before attacking Fort McHenryin Baltimore. Lawyer Francis Scott Key watched anxiously from a British ship as bombs and rockets lit up the night sky. Through the darkness, he couldn't tell whether the fort had survived. When morning finally came, he looked toward the fort and saw the American flag still flying. Inspired by that unforgettable sight, he wrote the words that became "The Star-Spangled Banner."
The campers proudly sang our national anthem together before celebrating with bottle rockets. A fun reminder of the "rockets' red glare" that inspired the song over 200 years ago.
Craft
Today, each camper created a message of hope in a bottle.
Inside, the jewels represent the priceless treasure of our freedom. The Declaration is in the bottle and remonds us that it is a gift. They also got to write a wish or a hope and include it in the bottle. The cork on top reminds us that these precious gifts must be protected. The key represents our responsibility to faithfully pass those blessings from one generation to the next.
We want to recognize and give a big CONGRATULATIONS to MILLIE BROWN! She is the 2nd to pass off all of the memorizations and is only 9 years old! Way to go Millie!!
We're so grateful to spend this week with your incredible children. They are learning that courage doesn't always look like winning battles—it often looks like quietly choosing truth, faith, and integrity day after day. We hope these stories inspire meaningful conversations in your homes tonight!
Tomorrow is the last day of presenters. On Friday we'll have our program and party! It's hard to believe how fast this week is passing by! We have enjoyed it so much! Thank you for spending it with us!
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