• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Shop My Home
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

November 13, 2014

A Lewis and Clark Birthday

Lewis and Clark themed birthday party from atthepicketfence.com

Last year, while on a family vacation near Astoria, Oregon, we stopped by Fort Clatsop where Lewis & Clark spent the winter months after reaching the Pacific Ocean. It didn’t take long for my kids to get hooked on Lewis & Clark–wandering the grounds with historical interpreters, getting to dress up in replica clothing, writing with quills, and the one that sealed the deal for my son: a live musket loading and firing demonstration.

Lewis & Clark title photo2

That Christmas all he wanted was a replica musket like the one from Fort Clatsop and a coonskin cap. When it came time to choose a theme for his 6th birthday, Lewis and Clark was the perfect fit for this Oregon boy and his adventure-seeking friends.

Camping and adventure birthdays are a popular theme this year so there was no lack of inspiration when it came to planning. What was lacking in the busyness of back to school schedules and fall sports, was time. So with a few simple decorations and store bought treats we enjoyed a fun afternoon adventuring, discovering, and learning about history.

fort haworth

The birthday invitations, which set the theme for the party, were made a little more special by printing out a map of Oregon and using it to line the envelopes.

invitation

The bunting above the table was made from a digital art print, which I resized and printed on photo paper at Costco. I wove that slogan into other elements of the party by printing it on the place cards, trail mix bags, and as a little print-out card in the favor pouches.

banner

trail mix

A few bags of pine-cones, a framed print of evergreens borrowed from the birthday boy’s bedroom, and a large lantern kept the décor simple but outdoorsy and foil pie pans from the dollar store made the table setting, cheap, easy, and rustic.

treephoto

lanterntable

I’m a huge fan of scouring the internet for beautiful, free printables and there were many featured at this party. A Costco enlargement of a “Let’s Be Adventurers” print welcomed guests at the front door and connected the theme of the Lewis & Clark expedition with its graphic U.S. map.

door sign

A beautifully illustrated nature scavenger hunt became an easy party favor as did a sweet print out of America the Beautiful where you could color the entire country or map out the expedition.

scavenger hunt

america coloring

Blank journals from the school supply store were easily personalized and Oregon pencils were a perfect addition.

pencils

The birthday boy’s number one request was for a piñata at his party and since I was pretty sure I wouldn’t find one to fit our theme, I decided to try out a diy piñata tutorial and designed one that was supposed to resemble the state of Oregon (luckily the birthday boy thought it did!)

pinata

Inside the piñata were mini flashlights and pouches of candy rocks.

pinata goodies

All of the food at this party was store bought and it was for sure the way to go.  It saved so much time and energy and nobody noticed the difference! The kids loved the Costco chocolate cake and once I spruced it up with a few rosemary evergreen trees and a plastic bear, it looked perfectly celebratory.

cake

A platter of chocolate covered s’more bites from Trader Joes went with the outdoors theme along with a make-your-own trail mix bar. The kids roasted marshmallows during the party and with all the sugar coursing through their systems we made sure to plan a few activities to wear it off.

smore bites

After cake, we divided the guests into teams: the Corps of Discovery team and the Native American team. The Corps of Discovery, led by Sacagawea, took off immediately for their adventure, uncovering hidden packages along the way that pointed them to a mystery destination.

sacagawea

Each package that they uncovered contained an item that Lewis and Clark may have used on their expedition or may have carried with them to trade/exchange with the Native American tribes.

clues

I’m pretty sure the highlight was discovering a cap gun rifle and taking turns shooting it.

explorers

zac & william

The Native Americans, who decided to be the Nez Perce tribe, worked on a few crafts before heading out on their adventure.

arrowhead

bracelets

Their hunt had them finding artifacts, tools, or re-enacting Native American traditions. Some of their discoveries included beaded necklaces, woven fabrics, arrow heads, reading animal tracks, uncovering faux animal pelts, and finding food that may have been shared with the Corps of Discovery to aid them in their survival.

indian walk

indians

Their destination was a thicket of evergreen trees where they quietly hid awaiting the arrival of the adventurers.

hiding

The adventurers arrived eager to exchange peace medals, American flags, and other items with the Nez Perce. With the boys running at full speed through the trees, guns waving in the air, it looked more like a war party than a peaceful one but it was so much fun to see a little piece of history come to life for them.

After returning home we made bows and arrows out of branches, roasted marshmallows and shot arrows at targets.

roasting smores

s'mores

And after successfully destroying the piñata, it was time for the adventures to end.

pinata bash

The guests left outfitted for their next adventure with their own coonskin cap along with a pouch holding a compass and a few arrowheads.

favor pouch

All in all it was a perfect day for discovering, learning, and celebrating our Oregon boy!

oregon boy

 

Thank you for letting me spend time with you today at the Fence,

Julie Signature

If you like this party idea we think you might also like these!

Chronicles of Narnia Party

Chronicles of Narnia Birthday Party

Super Science Party

A Super Science Party for girls (and boys) from At The Picket Fence

Mystery Detective Party

ideas for a detective birthday party

11 Comments Filed Under: Celebrations, Crafts, Good Ideas, Kids Tagged With: birthday parties, kids, kids parties, parties

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « French Country Christmas Mantel
Next Post: How to Add Decorator Touches to Your Home »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nancy Sharp says

    November 13, 2014 at 5:47 AM

    What a terrific idea for a birthday party. Thanks

    Reply
  2. Darrielle Tennenbaum says

    November 13, 2014 at 7:11 AM

    What a brilliant idea and I love all the details you put into it! Lucky Boy!

    Reply
  3. barbara says

    November 13, 2014 at 7:27 AM

    It is clear that the whole family is creative – how wonderful! I think that is always a reason to have a party and a birthday with this theme is extra special – thanks for sharing it with us. Kids seem to be having a good time too. A lot of work went into it as we here all know but it is was the great theme you produced!

    Reply
  4. barbara says

    November 13, 2014 at 7:32 AM

    PS: What a great looking kid, Birthday Boy! Also, I appreciated your bringing in the Native American history here too.

    It is a family that when my niece was studying about Lewis and Clark and just couldnt remember their connection for the explorations and trading, my brother helped her with this answer: for fur! or fer fur!

    Reply
  5. joanne roth says

    November 13, 2014 at 12:11 PM

    Hi! Great party! So good to see a really clever idea for a boy party! One question – I love love love the lighting fixture over the dining table. Can you share a source for where you found it or where there might be one like it?

    Thank you!

    Reply
    • Julie says

      November 13, 2014 at 1:46 PM

      thanks so much, joanne! i’m happy to share the lighting source…the brand is Quoizel and the model is called the Downtown. we had a local lighting store order it for us but it looks like it’s easily available online.

      Reply
      • joanne roth says

        November 13, 2014 at 6:09 PM

        Thank you so much — I really appreciate it!

        Reply
  6. Richella Parham says

    November 14, 2014 at 6:21 AM

    This is all kinds of awesome!!! Makes me wish I’d had the internet as a resource back when I was throwing birthday parties for little boys. Oh, wait, it’s probably good that I didn’t have the internet as a distraction back then. But when used well, what a great resource! I LOVE this! Pinning to my hospitality and entertaining board–maybe I’ll do this for a grandson one day! 🙂

    P.S. I love that the Native Americans chose the Nez Perce. Love Chief Joseph!

    Reply
  7. laura@lulasbasket says

    November 14, 2014 at 8:53 AM

    Love the idea! So original! Great for this time of year as well!

    Reply
  8. Judy Ramirez says

    May 24, 2016 at 7:01 AM

    Come September, our book club theme is The Corp of Discovery. Thanks for the inspiring ideas.

    Reply
  9. Megan says

    September 9, 2017 at 8:19 PM

    My boys, turning 6 and 4 in November, want a Lewis and Clark party! Love this post! Do you happen to remember where you got some of the printables?

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

  • A New Look for the Family Room

    A New Look for the Family Room
  • Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

    Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze
  • The Slow Exit

    The Slow Exit
  • Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

    Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

Sign Up and Never Miss A Post!

Must Reads

Latest Recipes

Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze

Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

Apple Bread Pudding

view more recent recipes

Recent Posts

  • Decorating a Sofa Table May 31, 2023
  • Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze April 19, 2023
  • Console Table Refresh March 24, 2023
  • Laundry Room Makeover February 23, 2023
  • Winter Decorating Ideas January 27, 2023

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

There’s nothing quite like enjoying the rewards There’s nothing quite like enjoying the rewards of your labor! The whole family pitched in to get our bark spread around the yard (I’m the master at raking it until it’s nice and even) and by the end of the day we were all done. Now we can head into summer with our big yard projects completed! 🙌🏻 Do you put in fresh bark every year?
Welcome June! I’m so glad you’re here! What’ Welcome June! I’m so glad you’re here! What’s your favorite thing about this month? Mind can be summed up in this quote…

“In early June the world of leaf and blade and flowers explodes, and every sunset is different.” John Steinbeck
“No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom “No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”
General Douglas MacArthur

Grateful today and every day for those who were vigilant to the point of death in the preservation of our freedom and the principles upon which our country was founded. May we honor their sacrifice by being vigilant too. #memorialday
I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables t I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables to pit next to our outdoor couch and when I spotted these plant stands at @walmart from their @betterhomesandgardens line I knew they would be perfect…and they are!! 👏🏻 This is not a sponsored post. I’m just happily sharing this great find and why we should always be open to thinking outside of the box when it comes finding solutions for our decorating dilemmas.

Now we’re ready to head into this beautiful weekend! ☀️
What do you do when you want to use a bunch of boo What do you do when you want to use a bunch of books in your decorating but it can cost $50 or more for just ONE brand new book? Head to the secondhand bookstore of course! I’m so excited about this new look in my family room and this easy, inexpensive decorating tip I’m bringing to you for this #tiptuesday
Today feels like one of those days that is worthy Today feels like one of those days that is worthy of a chef’s kiss. Blue sky with nary a cloud in sight, perfect mid-70’s temps, a gentle breeze blowing through my hair as I walk around my yard to see the status of my flowering plants.

This morning I was running errands and the weight of hard things that are happening in the world, the culture, my own community and even in our circle of friends just felt so heavy.

But, as I was exiting a store, I passed a couple who were in their late 60’s/early 70’s and holding hands as they walked through the parking lot. I happened to glance over just as the husband lifted his wife’s hand up and planted a kiss right on it. It was a moment that reflected such love and tenderness and it was made sweeter by the fact that they weren’t spring chickens. I felt honored that I had been the one to observe and appreciate that moment.

What an incredible thing it is that as humans we are able to hold so many emotions in our souls all at once. To feel sorrow for the pain a friend is enduring, grieve the decline of a culture drifting further from the Lord, ponder how to navigate a challenging school situation, marvel at and enjoy the beauty of creation right outside my door and feel joy at getting to see a tangible example of lasting love while walking through a parking lot.

I truly believe that as we mature in our lives and in our faith, we learn to embrace the tension that comes with the collision of different emotions and recognize that they can all coexist at the same time without one taking something away from another. Simple joys make the hard stuff a bit easier and hard stuff makes us appreciate those simple joys even more.

What’s a simple joy that you are thankful for today?
Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here are some highlights…

*Friday night I joined some wonderful ladies at church for a time of fellowship and yummy desserts. I made a strawberry lemon coffee cake and it was amazing if I do say so myself. ☺️ We are new-ish to this church and have just felt so warmly welcomed and folded in which has been very healing.

*Saturday was filled with getting our outdoor spaces spiffed up and my guys got our new table put together!

*Sitting outside for lunch with a yummy salad and iced tea felt like a little slice of heaven.

*Sunday we went to the iris gardens with my in-laws and then came home for naps and the most mouth watering ribs that my sweet husband had on the smoker all day.

*This glorious weekend ended with some ferocious rounds of UNO-corn (a hilarious version of UNO) and brownies my sweet daughter made for our dessert.

How was your weekend sweet friends? 🌸
I am absolutely and completely a better version of I am absolutely and completely a better version of myself when the sun is shining! Raise your hand if this is true for you too.

And, not only do I feel myself seeming to physically rise up from a slumbered state to greet the sunshine we've been longing for, I find that it seems like my house is rising up too. Every room, every nook and cranny (even though I now see dust bunnies that I missed during my cleaning on the dreary days), every leaf and flower outside...it's all coming to life and breathing fresh hope into my spirit. What a gift it is to be able to enjoy this home in all of the seasons of the year and of our lives. Now, I'm going to head outside and clean our deck and maybe there will be some time leftover for those dust bunnies!
I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispenser I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispensers! They come with pre-made labels for SO many different options and would make a great Mother’s Day gift! I love how they add a bit of pizzazz to my kitchen. And they go perfectly with some of my antique accessories like the little dish my mother in law gave me for salt and pepper and the tiny toothpick holder which belonged to my great grandmother. 

If you’d like the link to order them, just leave a comment with the word ‘bottles’ and I’ll send it your way. They’re even on sale right now! 🙌🏻
The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This is what I’m thinking (and sometimes saying out loud) every time I pass my dining room window and see my lilac tree bursting forth. I should probably just go full Paul Revere and ring a bell while I shout the news for all to hear. I’m sure my family would love that!

Lilac season is so bittersweet because it’s over way too soon but, fortunately, I’ve figured out how to capture the deliciousness of the fragrance by making my own lilac scented room spray. It’s SO simple!

Directions: Fill spray bottle with 50/50 ratio of water to vodka.

Add 12 drops of lilac oil. Give it a shake, spray and if the scent isn’t strong enough, simply add a few more drops of lilac oil.

This sweet little project was first featured in my book Life in Season and is definitely one of my favorites.

Have the lilacs started blooming where you live?
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 At The Picket Fence