Thanksgiving Point Institute is a quality of life, education based charity based in Utah. Created in 1996 by Alan and Karen Ashton, Thanksgiving Point is the gathering place for the rapidly growing communities along the Wasatch Front and throughout the state. They offer educational courses, day camps and field trips.
They also host an Eat Like a Pilgrim Event. Each November Thanksgiving Point transforms the Show Barn to recreate the historic harvest feast of 1621. You’ll be swept back in time as you are greeted by your hosts, prominent historical figures played by Colonial Heritage Foundation re-enactors, dressed in period breeches and petticoats. You can get up-close with remarkable artifacts and armament from Colonial times, provided by Alpine School District educators.
Traditional Pilgrim and Wampanoag games and activities are available to try, while you are served period food and entertained by the music of Idlewild. Dancing, tug o’war, and “fear factor” food sampling are all part of the festivities.
MENU
Apple Cider or Water
Assorted Whole Mixed Nuts
Cheate Bread with Butter
Mixed Greens Salad with Oil & Vinegar
Corn Pudding
Stewed Pumpkins
Roast Pork
Turkey
Mixed Berry Cobbler
Warm Goats Milk (sampling)
Raw Oysters (sampling)
Examples of some of their other expeditions below:
- First grade students on a field trips grind and plant wheat, discovering that bread comes from a plant. They go home with a living necklace of wheat seed; sharing the discovery with their families and watching the seed grow.
- Students in the Children’s Discovery Garden explore the web of life, learning that they are uniquely connected to their environment. Climbing on the Mineral Mound, peeking into the Eco-Pond, and exploring the bear caves foster the sprit of exploration and curiosity, creating attitudes that will stay with them for a lifetime.
- At the Erosion Table in the Museum of Ancient Life, fourth graders build dams, create flash floods and discover how dinosaur remains are fossilized.
- Junior High students, as part of their TLC (Technology, Life and Careers) courses discover a myriad of career options demonstrated in everyday business operations.
- Women and men, attend a cooking class to learn the art of fondue, Chinese cooking or how to indulge their chocolate fantasies.
- Horticulturists are educated, enlightened and entertained as they learn to become Master Gardeners under the tutelage of Larry Sagers, the state’s premier Master Gardener.
- Aspiring painters, glass artists, potters and stained glass artists are engaged in the process of learning and perfecting their craft at the Art Institute.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
