Big Island Rendezvous Education Days 2013

The Midwest's Finest and Largest Hands-On Early American History Lesson

Thursday October 3rd & Friday October 4th 2013
Bancroft Bay City Park, Albert Lea, Minnesota

Possible presentations you can experience at the Early American History Lesson:

  • NEW 1880s Pioneer Town - Be sure to check out the Chuckwagon
  • Voyageur Encampment with birch bark canoe showing what the voyageur did in his daily life.
  • Military Camp with Civil War era teaches the lifestyles of the country's military.
  • Native American areas illustrate traditional teachings of Lakota and Sioux nations. Tipi tours and customs showcased.
  • Early American skills such as blacksmiths, woodworkers, farmers, candle maker, silversmith, and spinners and weavers teach how their skills helped make America grow.
  • Hands-on stations teach what our American heritage did to shape this country in its early stages.

  • When: October 3rd - 4th (Thursday or Friday)
  • Where: Bancroft Bay City Park, Albert Lea, MN 56007
  • Why: Have your students learn their own heritage with history coming alive.
    • Learn social and cultural heritage of America through a high impact and hands-on experience.
    • Recommended for 4th through 8th grade.
  • Costs:
    • $5.00 Promotional Rate for Schools New to BIR
    • $8.00 Early Bird Special *Postmarked by April 31st*
    • $9.00 per student from May 1st - September 10th
    • $10.00 after September 10th
    • Same fees apply for chaperones or parents

Special Needs:


Big Island Rendezvous and Festival, Inc. actively support the inclusion of all children into our programs. If you or your participant has any special needs, please contact Terri Hollingsworth at 612-250-2641 at least two weeks in advance or ASAP so we may accommodate your needs.


Registration and Scheduling


Public, private, and parochial schools, may schedule their visit for Thursday or Friday between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm. Home school groups may register beginning at 10am.


Please indicate on your registration form not only when you would like to start and end your classes, but also when you will arrive and when you must leave. Please take into account travel time and traffic concerns when deciding on your arrival and departure times. Registration will be on a first-received basis. Returning your registration promptly will better ensure that you get the day you prefer, therefore please return the enclosed materials as soon as possible.


“The best way to know where the country is going is to know where we’ve been.”
Admissions, Registration and Cancellation Policies - PDF
Admissions, Registration and Cancellation Policies - DOC
Registration Form - PDF
Registration Form - DOC
Home School Registration - PDF
Home School Registration - DOC
Change of Status Form - PDF
Change of Status Form - DOC


There are several ways to register:

Please call 1-800-658-2526 with any questions prior to regsitering.


Online: Complete the registration form and attach to e-mail for Teachers or Homeschools.
E-Mail: Complete and e-mail registration to Terri Hollingsworth or Perry Vining
Fax: 1-507-373-0344 attn: Terri Hollingsworth
Call: 1-507-373-3938 Speak with the Education Days Coordinator or leave a message through voice mail.
USPS Mail:Complete the form for Teachers or Homeschools

Send to:
    BIR Education Days 
    2580 Bridge Ave 
    Albert Lea, MN 56007
    Attn: Terri Hollingsworth

Please do not under-estimate the number of students attending the event - be as accurate as possible. You may always add a few students if your actual number is greater than the number noted on your registration form. If the number of students or adults change (either up or down), a 2012 Change of Status Form must be received before September 10th to avoid change fees.


Education Day Presentations


  • Black Powder Range
  • Blacksmithing
  • Campfire Cooking
  • Candle Making
  • Cannon Drill
  • Cordage
  • Courier du Bois
  • Fiber Arts
  • Fire Starting with Flint ' Steel
  • Folk Music
  • Food Preparation
  • Free Trapper
  • Hawk Throw
  • Hide Preparation
  • Homesteading in Early America
  • Benjamin Franklin
  • Log Cabin Building
  • Military Camp
  • Native American Lifestyles
  • New Ulm Battery Cannon Drill
  • Norwegian Immigrant
  • Pioneer Town
  • Pottery
  • Revolutionary War
  • Rope Making
  • Scottish Lifestyle
  • Silver Smithing
  • Spinning
  • Tipi Tours
  • Voyageur Camp
  • Voyageur Storytelling
  • Wilderness Survival Techniques
  • Woodworking

© 2013 Michael P Johannsen & Big Island Rendezvous and Festival Inc.