The Washington National Guard Presents:

Dear Teacher,

My name is Mary Loos and I am the Program Coordinator for the Washington Army National Guard Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commemoration. The Lewis and Clark Expedition is a key piece of our states history and the Washington Army National Guard is offering a FREE "Discovery Box" program to schools and other organizations throughout Washington State. This free program provides a fascinating and interactive combination of history, drama, and historical perspective and is designed for all age and educational ranges.

The goal of our outreach program is to tell students the stories of the Lewis and Clark Expedition by discussing the Seven Army Values - Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. The stories of bravery, hardship, exploration and friendship experienced by the Corps of Discovery intrigue people of all ages. Our theme of "Then and Now" reminds us that this was a military expedition and while many things have changed over the years, the Army's core values remain steadfast.

The Washington National Guard brings a unique element to this educational experience. Our program consists of an interactive display and presentation using the Army Corps of Engineers' "Discovery Box". This wonderfully engaging teaching aid includes uniforms (Bring your cameras!), furs, compasses, sextants, maps, plants, and many other period-correct artifacts that students can see and touch.

The Discovery Box program can be adapted to large group assemblies or to individual classroom environments. Additionally, we offer two video movie choices which can be incorperated into the presentation. Generally speaking, the Discovery Box Program will run an hour and a half with a video or about 45 minutes without a video.

The Soldiers who provide the presentations represent all the National Guard Soldiers of today who live and work in your community and exemplify the spirit of volunteerism, high standards of conduct, dedication to mission, and duty to country; those same traits that led to the success of the Corps of Discovery led by Captains Lewis and Clark.

We hope you keep us in mind as you plan this years (and next!) curriculum. Please contact us at lewisandclark@wa.ngb.army.mil or 253-512-8243 to start the coordination. We look forward to meeting with you!

Sincerely,

MARY C. LOOS
Captain, Chemical, WA Nat. Guard
Lewis and Clark Program Coordinator