Area Experts to Teach About Historic Trails in Region

Three historic trails lead to a workshop for teachers on May 15 — the Butterfield Trail Stagecoach route, the Trail of Tears traveled by the Cherokee Nation and Civil War troop routes through Northwest Arkansas.

The Professional Development Academy in the College of Education and Health Professions at the University of Arkansas has teamed with the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks to bring Arkansas teachers student-based, hands-on access to natural resource learning.

In recognition of May as Arkansas Heritage Month, “The Heritage Trail: One Route, Three Histories of Arkansas” will be presented from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15. It will take place at the garden at 4703 N. Crossover Road in Fayetteville.

The Department of Arkansas Heritage sets aside the month of May each year as a time for Arkansans to recognize and appreciate their heritage.

“We wanted to offer this workshop as a way for teachers to help their students appreciate the unique heritage of Northwest Arkansas and to learn more about the people who came before us,” said Judith Tavano, director of the Professional Development Academy.

Program presenters for the workshop are experts in their fields:

Butterfield Trail: Marilyn Heifner, director of the Fayetteville Town Center and the Fayetteville Advertising and Promotion Commission, and Susan Young, outreach coordinator of the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History
Trail of Tears: John McLarty, vice president of the Arkansas chapter of Trail of Tears Association
Civil War routes: Dave Lewis, volunteer that works at the Elkhorn Tavern
The workshop is part of the Teaching Earth’s Lessons series. Teachers will learn why all three trail routes followed practically the same path. They will explore a curriculum guide to the Civil War in Arkansas and place themselves on each route and into life in 1850s northwest Arkansas.

Teachers can then take back lessons to use in their classrooms. They also receive three hours of professional development credit from the Arkansas Department of Education. The workshop is open to anyone with an interest in the topic.

The program costs $29, and registration is required at Professional Development Event Registration. Click here to register online.