A Learning Tour: Civil War Camp Cooking Tour

Camp Cooking Tour meets at the information tent at 11:30 am.
All day event from 10 am until 5 pm
Saturday, June 30th, 2018

Event cost: $10. adults, $5 for children (4-17) and Senior Citizens (62+), and
Weekend pass: $15 (Saturday and Sunday)
One dollar discount by purchasing online or print a coupon:
Lakewood Forest Preserve
27277 N. Forest Preserve Road – Wauconda, IL 60084
More information here

Hear the crack of gunfire and the boom of cannons at the Lake County Forest Preserves’ 25th annual Civil War Days. Visitors of all ages are invited to explore the military and civilian camps to learn about life in the 1860s. Visitors can meet historical figures including Abraham Lincoln, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, General Grant and more. Kids will enjoy special period crafts and games, and complete a scavenger hunt around the site. Visitors can also experience a recreation of the 1863 Agricultural Fair, which features public amusements and horticultural and domestic arts exhibitions.

View large-scale battles on both Saturday and Sunday to see artillery, infantry, cavalry and medical units in action. A large Civil War era shopping area, period music, and food vendors round out the event

Of special interest to us is their Camp Cooking Contest. Reenactors enter the contest and visitors take a tour of all the camps which entered to judge on the accuracy of their camp cooking interpretation. These are the guidelines the reenactors are given:

CAMP COOKING CONTEST
This contest is designed not just to test the culinary skills of the reenactors, but to emphasize authenticity. Each camp wishing to participate should register at the event. Materials for cooking will not be provided. Each camp will be responsible for their menu and should bring whatever material they deem correct to their impression. Emphasis will be placed on the accuracy of the meal to the overall camp impression.

The judges will visit each camp to learn about the camp impression. They will take notes on such aspects of the meal as how the food was obtained, what implements are used in the preparation, what the camp is representing and the consistency of the meal to that impression. Each camp should be able to explain what their impression represents, where they are camped, and any other information requested consistent with your impression.

Our goal is to provide the public with another aspect of life during the Civil War. We take for granted the ability to walk into a grocery store and purchase fresh fruits and vegetables regardless of season. This was not how life was lived 150 years ago. When preparing your meal please consider what would reasonably be available to your camp. Our desire is to help educate the public on everyday life and would appreciate your help with this project.

So, there will be a guide that leads interested members of the public on the judging tour, and you are all the judges. This takes place on the Saturday of the event. You will get a program when you enter the event with a schedule and map. The Camp Cooking Tour meets at the information tent at 11:30.

No registration is necessary, since this is open to the public. However it will be wonderful to know whom to look out for. Please e-mail: culinaryhistorians@gmail.com.