Kids witness a Civil War reenactment.

WARSAW — Warsaw Community School has received two grants from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation in support of the 2018 Back to the Days event. The grants include $3,000 from the Jerry and Norma Ferguson Community Fund and a $3,214 grant from the Kosciusko REMC Operation Round Up Fund, both component funds of the Community Foundation.

Back to the Days celebrated its first year in the fall of 2016. The event invites all WCS fourth grade students to travel back in time to the early settlement of the Hoosier state. In 2016, a total of 472 fourth grade students were invited to visit 15 unique stations filled with local experts, historians, reenactments and demonstrations. Students were able to listen to tales from a fur trader, WWII soldier, blacksmith and even Abraham Lincoln himself.

In addition, students were able to visit the Harrison Elementary historic school house, study the many uses of cattails, discover how waste was processed in the past and learn the history of farm equipment and tractors. Guests also participated in numerous group activities such as building a cabin, firing a cannon, making a rope and numerous prairie games.

The funds from the two grants will assist Warsaw Schools in providing fourth grade students with a quality, living-history experience during this year’s event. The event allows WCS to further its mission of “equipping all students to continuously acquire and apply knowledge and skills” through hands-on, innovative learning opportunities.

The 2017 Back to the Days event will take place on Aug. 25. For questions or information on the event, email [email protected]

Students surround an actor at last year’s Back to the Days.