Build an Indoor Fort

Yes, you can buy indoor tents, castles and forts. These mass-produced nylon edifices can rise up from a crib or bed, often featuring television cartoon characters, or they are simply erected on the floor. They are usually available in the shape of castles, sun domes, etc. But where is the fun in that? Plus, they are often rather costly and frankly there is just no need to throw your money away on such a toy. I guarantee that you have enough materials laying about your home right now to make a stellar fortress/castle/cave/tunnel/igloo/whatever your child wants to pretend it is. … Continue reading

A Hands-On History Lesson

As children my brothers and I would often trek down to the end of our street and climb into a makeshift fort made out of a few rotting boards and some tree branches. It was flimsy and small, but our imaginations more than made up for what it lacked in space and design. I thought about that fort just the other day when some friends invited us to travel with them to Fort Williams, one of Maine’s most popular destinations for families. In 1894, President McKinley named Fort Williams the first military defense in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Today, it is … Continue reading