Category Archives: Gold Panning Activity

Turning City Slickers into Wild West Heroes

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Lewis Events trick ropers in Kamas, UT

Not too long ago, in a town not too far away, busloads of folks descended on Kamas, Utah for a real live western experience. They came from all over this great country of ours to the High Star Ranch, as a reward for a year of hard work and dedication to their outfit. Lewis Events brought the old west alive.

Kamas Western Crowd

After a trick roping howdy welcome, guests got settled in socializing and relaxing. Then the camp cook served a plateful of mighty fine delectibles which kept guests busy for a spell. Then it was time to learn how to handle the Wild West.

Leather tooling Lewis Events
Trick roping in Utah

There were plenty of lessons to be learned by the city slickers. We taught guests the fine art of trick roping, how to lasso a wild virtual steer, the excitement of discovering gold, creating intricate designs on leather bracelets, and all they needed to survive the next cattle drive.

Western party Utah sunset

Bellies were full, cups were empty and the sun began to set in the west. We now have a whole crop of new wranglers who are ready to tame the Wild West.

Virtual Roping Steer Lewis Events

We can now hit the trail with confidence knowing our steers will make it safely to the end of the long dusty trail. We also have the confidence that Lewis Events can deliver your important guests the best experience ever!

Trick Roping at Veteran’s Home of California

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Lewis Events recently had the honor of providing entertainment for the residents and guests at the Veterans Home of California. Cowgirl Christy, Trick Roping

Guests had the chance to strike it rich in the gold panning activity, cheer for the trick roping stunt show and learn how to spin a genuine western trick rope.

Gold Panning Activity

Some of the cowboys and cowgirls even got a chance to make friends with the four-legged, furry, special guest.

 

Gold Rush and Colonial Era On-Campus & Virtual Assemblies

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Lewis Events has showcased on-campus school assemblies and special events for a wagon-load of years.  Students and staff have benefitted from the convenience and security on-campus educational programs offer.  Lewis Events now presents Virtual Assembly options for these programs, considering the health guidelines we are now experiencing.  Following is a brief list of options that will enable schools to choose an exciting program that will enhance the history curriculum.  Both the 4th grade Gold Rush and the 5th grade Colonial programs are included as part of the options.

The 4th grade Gold Rush is an exciting, interactive showcase where the rugged and exciting life of the Wild West Cowboy, and the thrill of the Gold Rush are brought to life. Two performers, dressed in period wardrobe along with unique sets or green-screen backdrops are utilized to establish the colorful historic theme. Presenters will utilize tall tales, audience participation, music, interesting props, and visual examples during the showcase. The presentation will include a world champion trick roping performance, game show, student participation, and a variety of other exciting show features.  Performers will lead guests through the great plains cattle drive era, into the 1849 Gold Rush, one of the most fascinating periods in United States history.

Gold Rush School Assembly

Gold Panning Field Trip

The 5th grade Colonial Experience will take students back in time for a visit to the early American colonies.  The colonists’ mindset will be portrayed, daily life in the colonies, the westward expansion, patriot hero showcases, student participation, and Bessie the virtual cow are a few of the show highlights.

Colonial History Field TripColonial History Assembly

The following lists the presentation options:

-In-person presentation at the school site.  Two costumed, historical characters present an educational and entertaining assembly.  The assembly is followed by a variety of hands-on activities through which students rotate such as gold panning, virtual cow milking, and exciting frontier games.  Lewis Events will work with the school to ensure that necessary health safety guidelines are followed.

-Online presentation to school with “History Delivery” activity package.  Two costumed, historical characters present an educational and entertaining assembly online from the Lewis Events studio located on a 5-acre ranch.  The assembly is followed by a variety of hands-on activities through which students rotate.  Prior to the day of the presentation, a package is delivered to the school containing materials necessary for the student activity rotations.

-Online presentation to students at their homes through school administrators.  Two costumed, historical characters present an assembly online from the studio.  The presentation is monitored and initiated through the school staff.

These entertaining and educational presentations are ideal for a 4th or 5th-grade end of year celebration, as a beginning of the year kick-off or any other time during the year to complement the in-classroom curriculum.

 

Contact Lewis Events to chat about how an exciting trip back in time will create a memorable edutainment experience for your students! Email info@lewisevents.com or call 626-536-8091.

Happy Birthday Pasadena . . . Western Style

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Happy Birthday Pasadena California!  For their official 145th birthday celebration, a western theme was chosen for the big event.  Lewis Events was honored to be chosen to assist in making their birthday extravaganza a huge success. 

Happy Birthday Pasadena Sign

Crowds gathered throughout the day for the trick roping show with the beautiful Fenyes Mansion serving as the perfect backdrop.  Featured performers in the show were Cowgirl Christy, Cowboy Brett, and Cowgirl Emily spinning their trick ropes and cracking the bullwhip.  Guests kicked up their heels with some western line dancing as part of the entertainment.

Trick Roping in Pasadena

DJ Brett played the best in contemporary and classical country-western foot-stomping tunes .

DJ Brett provided music

Cowgirl Emily taught the fine art of steer roping on the lawn.

Cowgirl Emily roping the virtual cow

One of the more popular activities was gold panning with crowds gathered all day long.  A few miners struck it rich as yells of eureka could be heard all the way up in the north forty.

Gold Panning Activity

Dignitaries gave speeches and presentations just before the massive birthday cake was served to all the guests.  

Pasadena City Birthday Celebration

The wild west did come alive once again in Pasadena even if it was just for a day.  See you next year.Trick Roping in Pasadena

4th Grade Gold Rush Field Trip . . . Ideas

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The school year is flying past.  And if it hasn’t already been done, it’s time to decide what to do this year for the 4th grade’s grand finale.  A year of California history and the gold rush deserve  a big finish.

 

Questions . . .

So, do we load the students on buses and take them off campus for a few hours of activities?  Is it worth the cost for the location and the transportation?    Is the travel time worth the hours spent on the bus?  Are we locked into a location’s program? Will be be sharing the space with other schools?

or . . . .

Do we host an on-campus event?  Is it economical, safer and more productive from a time saving standpoint?  Does it gives the students more time for activities and learning? 

Bringing the experience to the campus as an on-campus field trip is becoming the popular choice for many districts and schools.  The activity can be planned, organized and carried out by the staff and parents, but it takes a fair amount of effort.  Or it can be brought to the school by an outside source.  This option is more economical than taking the students off-campus, and easier than doing it yourself.  On-campus programs are designed to be flexible to meet the specific needs of the particular school and offer a host of other advantages.

Lewis Events, offers a 4th grade California History program that focuses on the Gold Rush era.  The program generally begins with an assembly that covers topics such as: Merchants versus prospector’s success, types of mining and tools, western trick roping performance, brief historical overview, student participation, props and all presenters in historical wardrobe.  Assemblies can be held indoors or outdoors.

In addition to the assembly, students also have the opportunity to rotate among a variety of exciting hands-on activities. These experiences may include:  Gold panning, virtual calf roping, ink quill writing, rope making, frontier photo scene,  trick roping, old time games, square and social dancing and leather crafting, all in a setting accented with unique western decor (there are many more rotation choices available not listed here).  Lewis Events works with educators to determine the  rotation choices, schedule and appropriate number of activities for the amount of students.

Occasionally, schools choose to add to the program utilizing their own resources. Schools have put on frontier style lunches serving fried chicken, biscuits, baked beans, corn on the cob and cobbler all served on a tin plate.  One school awarded points based on how many rotations each student visited.  The points were cashed in for prizes of varying value at a general store.  

Give us a call or email us at Lewis Events and we’d be happy to talk to you about your assembly and activity ideas.  Whether you bring us to campus for a program or just need some ideas to do it yourself we’d love to hear from you.  Call us at 626-536-8091 or email us at “info@LewisEvents.com“.  You can also contact us through this website.

Happy trails!