Attended a militia muster couple months back at a "genuine historical" site; and the lady who usually does the Loom in a separate cabin near the house was out ill. I ended up doing the tour to family and strangers; explaining how to work the loom, spin, card, etc. Yep.. long ago I did get my own wool, cleaned, carded, spun, and loomed. I had a gas. I felt a bit self-conscious as it had been so long ago that I'd done these -- but it all came back.
I'm going to ask questions up here next event I take family to to find out if there's civil war camps up in my neck of the woods. My son and grown children would all be begging to take part! We've done so many things "old style" -- candles, cooking in pits, weaving, canning, dehydrating, smoking meats in an old barrel; but there's so much more I learn every single time I go to one of these. THESE PEOPLE OF THAT GENERATION WORKED REALLY HARD!
How long does the camp run?
This camp is 4 days, 9:00 - 3:00. It's the first year they've had it here; the director at the local historic site came here last year from the Upper Peninsula of Virginia, and he's introduced a lot of new programs. They had a Civil War Ghost Trail at Halloween that was terrific; I felt quite a chill when the Yankee soldier collapsed at my feet and said, "Oh, mother! I'm shot!"
I have a friend in Missouri who does "Primitive Rendezvous" (1840's) with her family - husband, kids, grandkids - but I don't think I'd have the guts!