Campfire Planning Sheet

PROMOTE PARTICIPATION, FUN & FRIENDSHIP

 

Date:	June____, 2014
Campfire Leader:	___________________________________
Campfire Theme:	Pioneers
Time Allowed:	45 - 60 minutes
Official Opening:	A Letter From An Alberta Pioneer
	Tall Trees (4-Part Round) – Bev Dickson
Well Known Songs:	Ha-la-la-la (Grab Another Hand) – David Graham
	Walk Around – Marion Kay
	When I First Came To This Land
Round Song:	Sarasponda (Spinning Song) (2-Part Song)
Part Song:	Horsey, Horsey (2-Part Song)
Fun Songs:	Hole In My Bucket
Action Songs:	Little Cabin In The Wood
Storytime:	Story Circle
Quieter Songs:	Inch by Inch – David Mallett
	Rain Song – Navajo Indian
	Home On The Range
	Golden Prairie Land
Reflection:	Sing Hosanna
	Peace, I Ask Of Thee O River
Vespers & Taps:	With The Scent Of Wood Smoke (Tune: Lilli Marlene)
	An Alberta Pioneer Letter Closing
	Taps

 

 

                         

To:                   Peter and Catherine Simpson

                        3 Broadhatch Cottage

                        Wilforshire, England

 

Dearest Mother and Father:

 

I have not written in a long time because it is only now that the fall harvest is in that we have enough hours to allow time from work.  With winter here, the deep snow will lay heavy upon us until spring.

 

This Alberta land is rich and good.  We have just made our first major purchase and it has taken most of our savings.  We have spent $75.00 for 200 acres of land, which we now own.  It promises to give us some marvelous new adventures, and new foods, too.  Corn, potatoes and squash would make delightful additions to your table back home, venison is a delicious feast and we sweeten our food with sugar that comes from a tree!

 

Our home is made of logs inside and out, lit with homemade candles.  I have learned the arts of spinning, weaving, soap making and churning.  And to think that I have only been here for a few months!

 

To visit our nearest neighbors, the McLintocks, we must travel for half a day but tomorrow we will make the trip and help them raise a much-needed barn.  All the neighbors in the district will be there and when the work is all done there will be good reason for singing, dancing, games, feasting and fellowship.  We are all so happy to be able to share the time together!  Let me tell you about some of the songs we song………

 

Tall trees that reach the sky,

Mountains and lakes near by.

Draw near my friends,

Come sing my friends,

Our campfire time is nigh.

 

 

Grab another hand; grab a hand next to ya,

Grab another hand and sing this song.

Grab another hand; grab a hand next to ya,

Grab another hand and sing, sing this song.

 

Chorus:

Al-la, la, al, la, la la, le-lu-ya,

Al-la, la, la, la, la, la le-lu,

Al-la, la, la, la, la, la-le-lu-ya,

Al-la, la, la, la, la, la,

Al-le-lu-ya.

 

Shake another hand; shake a hand next to ya,

Shake another hand and sing this song.

Shake another hand; shake a hand next to ya,

Shake another hand and sing, sing this song

 

Clap another hand; clap a hand next to ya,

Clap another hand and sing this song.

Clap another hand; clap a hand next to ya,

Clap another hand and sing, sing this song.

 

Raise another hand; raise a hand next to ya,

Raise another hand and sing this song.

Raise another hand; raise a hand next to ya,

Raise another hand and sing, sing this song.

 

 

 

Rivers that sparkle and rush along free

Forest so tall and green;

Dressed in her finery Canada fair,

None are as lucky as we.

 

Chorus:        

Ah-h-h walk around, look around.

Take the time to say:

How lucky I am that I live in this land

Of Canada today.

 

All kinds of people from far-away lands

Blended into one.

Customs and cultures we’re willing to share

As true Canadians.

 

Pioneers suffered to settle this land;

The New World was its name.

Fairness and freedom they wanted for all,

Let’s live up to want they claim.

 

Miles of highway are ours to explore,

An ever-changing view;

Four different seasons we know and enjoy,

Whether rich we be or poor.

 

When I first came to this land I was not a wealthy man.

So I got myself a shack and I did what I could.

And I called my shack, break my back.

But the land was sweet and good, and I did what I could.

 

When I first came to this land I was not a wealthy man.

So I got myself a cow, I did what I could.

And I called my cow no milk now.

And I called my shack, break my back.

But the land was sweet and good, and I did what I could.

 

When I first came to this land I was not a wealthy man.

So I got myself a duck, I did what I could.

And I called my duck, out of luck.

And I called my cow, no milk now.

And I called my shack, break my back.

But the land was sweet and good, and I did what I could.

 

Wife …… run for your life.

 

Son …… my work’s done.

 

 

 

I like to take a horse and buggy

As I go riding through the town.

I like to hear old Dobbin’s clip-clop,

I like to feel the wheels go ‘round.

 

Horsey, horsey, on your way;

We’ve been together for many a day,

So let your tail go swish as the wheels go ‘round;

Giddy up!  We’re homeward bound!

 

Horsey, horsey, don’t you stop;

Just let your feet go clippety clop;

And let you tail go swish as the wheels go ‘round;

Giddy-up!  We’re homeward bound!       

 

 

 

Boomda, Boomda, Boomda……..

Sarasponda, Sarasponda, Sarasponda Ret-set-set!

Sarasponda, Sarasponda, Sarasponda Ret-set-set!

Ah-do-ray-oh!  Ah-do-ray-boom-day-oh!

Ah-do-ray-boom-day-ret-set-set!

Aw-say-paw-say-oh!

 

 

Boys:              There’s a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza,

                        There’s a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, a hole.

Girls:               Then mend it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry,

                        Then mend it dear Henry, dear Henry mend it!

 

Boys:              With what shall I mend it, dear Liza, dear Liza?

Girls:               With straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry.

 

Boys:              The straw is too long, dear Liza, dear Liza?

Girls:               Then cut it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry.

 

Boys:              With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, dear Liza?

Girls:               With an axe, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry.

 

Boys:              The axe is to dull, dear Liza, dear Liza

Girls:               Then sharpen it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry

 

Boys:              With want shall I sharpen it, dear Liza, dear Liza?

Girls:               With a stone, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry

 

Boys:              The stone is too dry, dear Liza, dear Liza

Girls:               Then wet it, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry

 

Boys:              With what shall I wet it, dear Liza, dear Liza?

Girls:               With water, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry

Boys:              With what shall I fetch it, dear Liza, dear Liza?

Girls:               With a bucket, dear Henry, dear, Henry, dear Henry

 

Boys:              THERE’S A HOLE IN MY BUCKET, DEAR LIZA, DEAR LIZA!    

 

 

 

Little cabin in the wood

(with fingertips together; make a roof of a cabin with the hands)

Little man by the window stood

(shade the eyes with the palm of the hand as if looking intently out of the window)

Saw a rabbit hopping by

(with two fingers forming a V, make hand appear like rabbit ears and have hop along in front of the body)

Frightened as can be.

(hug self and shiver at the shoulders)

“Help me, Help me, Help” he said,

(throw hands in the air with each “help”)

“Ere the hunter shoots me dead.”

(with the forefinger of each hand, demonstrate a pistol shooting)

“Come little rabbit, come inside

(draw hand towards self)

Safely to abide.”

(stroke arm gently from wrist to shoulder with opposite hand)

Each time this song is repeated, the words from two more lines are eliminated and only the actions are used, so that you sing 8 lines the first time, 6 lines the second time, 4 lines the third time, 2 lines the fourth time and, finally, the whole song is done with actions and no singing.

 

 

 

One person begins a tale and stops after a few sentences. The next person picks up the story thread and continues it, then stops. Next person adds to it and so on until the tale comes to a resolution.

 

One year a brave little company of people traveled across the plains in big covered wagons with many horses, and finally succeeded in climbing to the top of the great Rockie Mountains and down again into a river valley in the very midst of the mountains.  It was a valley with rich and fertile land.  A land where grain could be grown and cattle could graze.  There were snow peaks on the mountain-tops which sent down streams of pure water, the winds were gentle, and lying like a blue jewel at the foot of the western hills was a marvelous lake.  So the pioneers settled there and built their cabins for the first winter in the foothills of Alberta.

 

It had taken them many months to make the journey to Alberta; many had died of weariness and illness on the way; many died of hardship during the winter; and the provisions they had brought in their wagons were so nearly gone that, by spring, they were living partly on roots, dug from the ground.  All their lives now depended on the crops of grain and vegetables, which they could raise in the valley.  They made the land good by spreading water from the little streams over it, what we call "irrigating;" and they planted enough corn and grain and vegetables for all the people.  Every one helped, and every one watched for the sprouting, with hopes, and prayers, and careful eyes.

In good time the seeds sprouted, the rich fertile land was covered with a carpet of tender, green, growing things. No farmer's garden at home in the East could have looked better than the great gardens in the foothills of Alberta.  And from day to day the little shoots grew and flourished till they were all well above the ground.

Then a terrible thing happened.  One day the men who were watering the crops saw a great number of crickets swarming over the ground at the edge of the gardens nearest the mountains.  They were hopping from the barren places into the young, green crops, and as they settled down they ate the tiny shoots and leaves to the ground. More came, and more, and ever more, and as they came they spread out till they covered a big corner of the grain field.  And still more and more, till ……………………………… (it's your turn)

 

 

 

Inch by inch, row by row, gonna make this garden grow,

All it takes is a rake and a hoe and a piece of fertile ground.

Inch by inch, row by row someone bless these seeds I sow,

Someone warm them from below till the rain comes tumbling down.

 

Pullin’ weeds, pickin’ stones, we are made of dreams and bones,

I feel a need to grow my own for the time is near at hand.

Grain for grain, sun and rain, find my way thru’ nature’s chain

As I tune my body and my brain to the music of the land.

 

Make your rows straight and long, temper them with warmth and song,

Mother earth will make you strong if you give her love and care.

See that crow watching hungrily from his perch on yonder tree,

In my garden I’m as free as that feathered thief up there.

 

 

 

Oh give me a home where the buffalo roam,

Where the deer and the antelope play,

Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,

And the skies are not cloudy all day.

 

Chorus:

Home, home on the range,

Where the deer and the antelope play,

Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,

And the skies are not cloudy all day.

 

Where the air is so pure, and the zephyrs so free,

The breezes so balmy and light,

That I would not exchange my home on the range,

For all of the cities so bright.

The Red man was pressed from this part of the west,

He's likely no more to return,

To the banks of the Red River where seldom if ever

Their flickering campfires burn.

 

How often at night when the heavens are bright,

With the light from the glittering stars,

Have I stood there amazed and asked as I gazed,

If their glory exceeds that of ours.

Oh, I love these wild flowers in this dear land of ours,

The curlew I love to hear cry,

And I love the white rocks and the antelope flocks,

That graze on the mountain slopes high.

Oh give me a land where the bright diamond sand,

Flows leisurely down in the stream;

Where the graceful white swan goes gliding along,

Like a maid in a heavenly dream.

Then I would not exchange my home on the range,

Where the deer and the antelope play;

Where seldom is heard a discouraging word,

And the skies are not cloudy all day.

 

Many years ago they say, ‘Long came the Hudson’s Bay,

Built their little forts along the rivers

Those forts grew and grew

And I’m telling you

They’re still growing bigger and bigger.

 

Chorus:        

Golden Prairie Land,

Grandest mountain land

Sing for all you’re worth.

Sing ‘ cause you’re proud of it,

Right out loud with it,

Finest country on earth.

Bright blue skies above,

Home towns we dearly love.

Sing with might and main.

Golden Prairie Land,

Grandest mountain land.

Sing it again and again.

 

Honor to the pioneers,

Heroes of bygone years,

Built their little shacks along the rivers

They prepared the way

So we find today

We’re still growing bigger and bigger.

 

Come along a thousand fold,

Oil wells with liquid gold,

Gas and coal miners all along the rivers,

Pay us a friendly call

Welcome one and all

And help us grow bigger and bigger.

 

 

Give me oil for my lamp to keep it burning

Give me oil for my lamp I pray.

Give me oil for my lamp to keep it burning

Keep it burning ‘till the break of day.

 

Chorus:

Sing Hosanna Sing Hosanna

Sing Hosanna ‘till the break of day

Sing Hosanna Sing Hosanna

Sing Hosanna ‘till the break of day.

 

Give me strength in my arms to keep me working

Give me strength in my arms I pray.

Give me strength in my arms to keep me working

Keep me working ‘till the break of day.   

 

Give me joy in my heart to keep me singing

Give me joy in my heart I pray.

Give me joy in my heart to keep me singing

Keep me singing ‘till the break of day.

 

 

 

Peace I ask of thee, O river, peace, peace, peace.

When I learn to live serenely, cares will cease.

From the hills I gather courage, vision of the day to be,

Strength to lead and faith to follow, all are given unto me.

Peace I ask of thee, O river, peace, peace, peace.

 

 

 

With the scent of wood smoke drifting on the air,

And the glow of firelight we always love to share,

Visions of campfires all return,

And as the logs flame up and burn,

We dream of bygone campfires and long for those to come.

 

Tongues of yellow fire flickering up on high,

Reaching twisting fingers up to starlit sky,

Voices recall songs old and new,

Songs once dear to our mothers too,

Who dreamed of bygone campfires and longed for those to come.

Gently dying embers cast a rosy glow,

Voices slowly sinking to tones so soft and low,

Slowly upon the still night air,

Fall faithful voices hushed in prayer,

That dreamed of bygone campfires and long for those to come.

 

 

I have trimmed the lamp to give me a few more moments.  I want to tell you of our new home here in Alberta.  We all share this one room but the children’s bed is in the corner furthest from the light and with a curtain across it.  As Charles mends his harness near the fire, I am rendering some lard for soap, brewing tea for the two of us, simmering a stew, which I will take to the McLintock barn raising and writing these lines.

 

What you cannot appreciate from so far away is the freedom we feel.  We are tied to this land, but it is our land and it grows better through our efforts.  Our satisfaction is in knowing that every day we grow stronger in our minds and bodies and closer to one another.

 

As the light burns low, I must put this pen to rest.  The chores begin before dawn so I’ll close now and send you warm thoughts and love from faraway.

 

God bless you.

 

Love,

Anna

 

 

 

Day is done,

Gone the sun,

From the lake,

From the hill,

From the stars.

All is well,

Safely rests,

God is nigh.