Pirate Tales Told at Summer Camp for a Day

A day filled with fun and pirate crafts capped the ' popular Summer Camp for a Day program Thursday. The camp is four hours with museum staffers learning about history through stories and crafts. This summer, the museum is in the midst of hosting eight camp events, most on the pirate theme.

Twelve Pirates, er, campers, from around the region came to fashion their own pirate tale, guided by museum educator Kati Brower and assistants Grace Johnson-DeBaufre, 16, of Madison, and Lockett Reed, 17, of Summit.

"I was looking for a volunteer job and I am a history buff," said Reed, whose duties today included penning a pirate tale with several elementary-school-aged boys.

The day began with a talk about pirate code, with campers suggesting rules that might have flown during the days out running the East India Trading Company (such as "no fighting among the crew") and some that were just common sense ("don't jump off the ship").

Campers then began to create their take-home for the day, a book that included their own pirate-inspired story, a glossary of pirate terms, and a portrait of themselves as a pirate. The kids were even encouraged to go by pirate names, which ranged from Puppy Pirate to Captain BB.

"I'm really proud that I wrote a book about pirates–I have Jack Sparrow in there!" said Concetta "Elizabeth Swann" McCole, 6.

Over snacks and lunch, the merits of the Pirates of the Caribbean series were discussed, as well as proper use of pirate terms, like the dreaded cat o' nine tails (nine whips in one) and a hornswaggle, or cheater.

While no one had to walk the plank, the campers did don self-made pirate hats and take turns at the ship's wheel the museum has on display as part of the current exhibit, "Mariners, Merchants and Pirates."

The Museum of Early Trades & Crafts' Summer Camp for a Day continues Tuesday with Caleb the Carpenter.