Friday, Sep. 25, 2009

Program puts focus on history, people

The entertainment in Congaree National Park is taking a rare venture beyond flora, fauna and ranger talks this fall in an effort to capture the excitement around Ken Burns' documentary "The National Parks: America's Best Idea."

Usually, South Carolina's only national park relies on its huge trees, impressive biodiversity and ethereal beauty to impress visitors. Congaree Campfire Chronicles will inject a new dose of history and humanity into the experience.

Actors in period costumes will set up at intervals along the low boardwalk and Sims Trail, depicting the variety of human uses of the flood-plain forest from the 1500s to present day, according to park superintendent Tracy Swartout.

There will be Native Americans, the Swamp Fox militia of the Revolutionary War, escaped slaves, church parishioners, loggers, moonshiners, hunters, environmental advocates, park rangers and researchers.

They will be staying in character, not interacting with the visitors, Swartout said. Rangers or longtime park volunteers will walk along with small tour groups and explain the impact and importance of each round of human interaction with the property.

Nearly 40 volunteer actors will fill the roles. Because the program requires so much manpower, Campfire Chronicles will be limited to four nights - today and Saturday, and Oct. 23-24. Like most programs at Congaree National Park, it's free.

Campfire Chronicles is funded in part by an America's Best Idea grant from the National Park Foundation. The foundation established the grants to reach underserved groups and create strong bonds with parks. Congaree National Park's grant also paid for a summer children's camp, Swartout said.

Burns' six-episode documentary on national parks debuts Sept. 27 on PBS stations nationwide. Congaree was elevated to national park status in 2003, after production on the documentary began. No video footage was shot in the park, though photos were taken there. The 403-page companion book features one photo of the park's Cedar Creek.

The book mentions Congaree as an example of national parks as "a last chance to do it right."

One of the last remaining large tracts of old-growth forest in the nation, the Congaree River flood plain was primed for logging in the 1970s. But a group of local advocates persuaded the federal government to protect the forest, which was designated as a national monument in 1976.

Some of those advocates will be among the guides for Campfire Chronicles.

Small groups will leave the visitors center every 15 minutes, starting at 5:30 p.m. The last group will leave at 7:30 p.m.

Clips from the PBS series will be shown in the visitors center to set the stage for the event, and to help visitors pass the time while waiting for the next group to leave.

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