ARN KIND’s Civil War Program at L-O Schools
Arn Kind has been an educator for over 35 years, in the classroom teaching grades 4 through 12 and through presentations like the LeRoy-Ostrander 7th & 9th grade students had on Friday, January 26th. Arn’s unique Civil War performances lasted 2 and 1/2 hours in the L-O Library Media Center thanks to Rhonda Barnes, our K-12 Librarian here at school and at the LeRoy Public Library by writing up a SELCO Legacy Grant. This grant has made it possible because of the “Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.”
Arn is popular in a multitude of venues: from library and classroom seminars at elementary, middle and high schools to immersive lectures at the university level, as well as summer camps, historical reenactments and festivals.
In 1995, Arn founded Fort Union Civil War Camp, a summer program where young people, ages 11 to 17, became recruits in the Union Army for a week. Arn is a member of the First Minnesota Volunteer Infantry Regiment; a reenactment group based out of Fort Snelling. Because this group is noted for its authenticity, they have appeared in many documentaries and historical feature films such as The Blue and the Gray, North & South, Glory, Gettysburg, Dances With Wolves, and Gods and Generals. Arn brings this authenticity to his presentations.
A very important part of Arn’s presentations are the artifacts, uniforms and equipment that students will be able to observe, handle, and interact with as part of their hands-on experience in living the history.
“This project was funded in part or in whole with money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.”