Anacostia Watershed Underground Railroad Expedition

On Columbus Day weekend in October 2007, the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) launched an innovative new outdoor education program designed to foster deep physical, mental and emotional connections between local youth and the Anacostia River. Known as the Anacostia Watershed Underground Railroad Expedition, the program combines exercises in environmental awareness with an intense series of lessons exploring the important role of the Anacostia in the lives of 19th century African-Americans fleeing slavery. The 2007 pilot group consisted of 11 teenagers drawn from the Washington D.C.- based after school program Life Pieces to Masterpieces (LPTM)—whose own mission focuses on changing challenges into opportunities for young men— led by AWS’s extraordinary team of environmental educators. While the three-day, 25 mile hiking, biking and paddling adventure from Watts Branch (in Northeast D.C.) to Sandy Spring (in Montgomery County, Maryland) demanded much from the participants, the journey proved to be immensely enriching for student and teacher alike.

As they followed one possible route taken by 19th century freedom seekers, the Underground Railroaders traded in modern comfort and the amenities of life at home for tents, bedrolls, and simple meals cooked over a campfire. The rustic conditions set an ideal tone for learning about nature and the past. As the journey progressed, the adventurers encountered several freedom facilitators—expert educator with important information for the boys as they made their way north.

The first night’s lesson belonged to historian Tony Cohen, an Underground Railroad scholar with a deep knowledge of slave life and the lives of escapees. Tony taught the group how freedom seekers made their way north by locating the Big Dipper and the North Star in the night sky—a traveling strategy known as “following the Drinking Gourd.”

After a night’s sleep under those same stars, the trekkers woke to the drumming of storytellers Thunder and Penny Gamble Williams as they celebrated a Native American sunrise ceremony. Following the ceremony, the storytellers charged the travelers with the task of constructing talking sticks from branches, rocks, feathers, leaves and other items found on the day’s journey northward. In Native American tradition, the talking stick serves as means for ensuring a just and impartial hearing during council meetings, so, at the end of day two, Thunder and Penny returned to convene their own meeting with the Railroaders. Sitting around a bonfire, each participant presented his own talking stick to the storytellers by explaining the personal significance of each item the stick contained.

On the last day of the trip, the Railroaders met historical interpreter Donna Will at Woodlawn Manor—an historic Quaker settlement site in Sandy Spring, Maryland. Donna led the group to the site of the original sandy spring that leant its name to the surrounding town. There she described the roles Quakers played as conductors for the Underground Railroad, as well the many natural and cultural changes that have occurred in Sandy Spring since the 19th century.

Although weary from their travels, the Railroaders made one last stop before heading home for some much deserved rest. Returning by van to Marvin Gaye Park in Northeast D.C., the participants joined their friends and neighbors to plant trees that will serve as a reminder of the trip in years to come. Marking the culmination of the Underground Railroad weekend, the tree planting ceremony helped initiate the boys into their new roles as stewards of the local environment and leaders in their local communities. The members, staff, and Executive Board of AWS are all proud to have helped the Railroaders make this magical journey. We look forward to expanding this special program on future expeditions!

AWS wishes to thank Mary Brown and the members of Life Pieces to Masterpieces for helping us create the fantastic partnerships that made the Underground Railroad Expedition possible. Our thanks also go out to our trip sponsors—Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), the Virginia Bureau of Land Management, Patagonia, the Summit Fund of Washington, the Bancroft Foundation, and the Public Welfare Foundation—who provided us with financial support, as well as all the camping gear the boys needed for their journey. This expedition relied upon the support and guidance of Tony Cohen, Thunder and Penny Gamble Williams, Donna Will, Chester Moore, and Mary K. Ricks. We could not have accomplished this without them!

	Anacostia Watershed Underground Railroad Expedition: A Path to Empowerment
	On Columbus Day weekend in October 2007, the Anacostia Watershed Society (AWS) launched an innovative new outdoor education program designed to foster deep physical, mental and emotional connections between local youth and the Anacostia River. Known as the Anacostia Watershed Underground Railroad Expedition, the program combines exercises in environmental awareness with an intense series of lessons exploring the important role of the Anacostia in the lives of 19th century African-Americans fleeing slavery. The 2007 pilot group consisted of 11 teenagers drawn from the Washington D.C.- based after school program Life Pieces to Masterpieces (LPTM)—whose own mission focuses on changing challenges into opportunities for young men— led by AWS’s extraordinary team of environmental educators. While the three-day, 25 mile hiking, biking and paddling adventure from Watts Branch (in Northeast D.C.) to Sandy Spring (in Montgomery County, Maryland) demanded much from the participants, the journey proved to be immensely enriching for student and teacher alike. Day 1 As they followed one possible route taken by 19th century freedom seekers, the Underground Railroaders traded in modern comfort and the amenities of life at home for tents, bedrolls, and simple meals cooked over a campfire. The rustic conditions set an ideal tone for learning about nature and the past. As the journey progressed, the adventurers encountered several freedom facilitators—expert educator with important information for the boys as they made their way north. The first night’s lesson belonged to historian Tony Cohen, an Underground Railroad scholar with a deep knowledge of slave life and the lives of escapees. Tony taught the group how freedom seekers made their way north by locating the Big Dipper and the North Star in the night sky—a traveling strategy known as “following the Drinking Gourd.” Day 2 After a night’s sleep under those same stars, the trekkers woke to the drumming of storytellers Thunder and Penny Gamble Williams as they celebrated a Native American sunrise ceremony. Following the ceremony, the storytellers charged the travelers with the task of constructing talking sticks from branches, rocks, feathers, leaves and other items found on the day’s journey northward. In Native American tradition, the talking stick serves as means for ensuring a just and impartial hearing during council meetings, so, at the end of day two, Thunder and Penny returned to convene their own meeting with the Railroaders. Sitting around a bonfire, each participant presented his own talking stick to the storytellers by explaining the personal significance of each item the stick contained. Day 3 On the last day of the trip, the Railroaders met historical interpreter Donna Will at Woodlawn Manor—an historic Quaker settlement site in Sandy Spring, Maryland. Donna led the group to the site of the original sandy spring that leant its name to the surrounding town. There she described the roles Quakers played as conductors for the Underground Railroad, as well the many natural and cultural changes that have occurred in Sandy Spring since the 19th century. Although weary from their travels, the Railroaders made one last stop before heading home for some much deserved rest. Returning by van to Marvin Gaye Park in Northeast D.C., the participants joined their friends and neighbors to plant trees that will serve as a reminder of the trip in years to come. Marking the culmination of the Underground Railroad weekend, the tree planting ceremony helped initiate the boys into their new roles as stewards of the local environment and leaders in their local communities. The members, staff, and Executive Board of AWS are all proud to have helped the Railroaders make this magical journey. We look forward to expanding this special program on future expeditions! Thank You! AWS wishes to thank Mary Brown and the members of Life Pieces to Masterpieces for helping us create the fantastic partnerships that made the Underground Railroad Expedition possible. Our thanks also go out to our trip sponsors—Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI), the Virginia Bureau of Land Management, Patagonia, the Summit Fund of Washington, the Bancroft Foundation, and the Public Welfare Foundation—who provided us with financial support, as well as all the camping gear the boys needed for their journey. This expedition relied upon the support and guidance of Tony Cohen, Thunder and Penny Gamble Williams, Donna Will, Chester Moore, and Mary K. Ricks. We could not have accomplished this without them! We look forward to working with all of our partners again next year!	The members of the 2007 Anacostia Watershed Underground Railroad Expedition and the AWS Education Team.
		On the trail to Sandy Spring: Railroader Chris uses a walking stick on the 15 mile trek along the Anacostia's Northwest Branch. Thunder and Penny Gamble Williams from OHKE Cultural Network lead a discussion on the Native American heritage of the Anacostia River Watershed. Donna Will of Woodlawn Manor leads discussion about the Quaker community in Sandy Spring, MD.
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