Bismarck Tribune

By TONY SPILDEBy TONY SPILDE

When you grow up in a small North Dakota town, the rest of the world can seem like a pretty big place.

Home tends, sometimes, to appear a bit insignificant. Want to make history? Better vamoose.

"So many times I hear my students say 'We're just from North Dakota, and we don't really matter,'" English teacher Jean Bartz, from Drake, said. "But we have a lot here to be proud of."

Once, this area was a big part of history. Part of one of the most important purchases in the country's history, and home to one of the greatest military expeditions of all time.

This month, North Dakota will showcase her role in the Lewis and Clark journey by hosting two major events.

In addition to the well-publicized National Signature Event in New Town on Aug. 17-20, the state will host more than 300 high school students from across the country at the Lewis and Clark Youth Rendezvous, which runs Aug. 13-18.

Juniors and seniors from every state will take part, including 10 from North Dakota. The event, sponsored by the National Guard Bureau, is the culmination of an essay contest that asked students to write about the military values of the Corps of Discovery.

Two of the essay winners - David Kolschefski and Lisa Martwick - are students of Bartz's.

"I'm pretty proud of them," Bartz said. "They get to meet people from all over the country. I feel that's so important. It's important to realize how small the world really is, and how much we really do matter."

At one time, the world probably seemed a lot bigger. North Dakota - or what would become North Dakota, anyway - mattered then, too.

It was here that the Corps of Discovery wintered in 1804-05, and where Lewis and Clark met Sakakawea, who would be their invaluable guide.

The students coming for the youth rendezvous will visit some of the same places as the famous explorers.

After an opening ceremony Aug. 13 at Fort Abraham Lincoln, the participants will be split into groups that will also visit the Knife River Indian Villages, Fort Mandan, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and more. The students will use hands-on activities to learn more about what life was like here for the American Indians and the visitors 200 years ago.

"We want to make it a fun, hands-on event that they'll remember for a lifetime," said Rob Keller, a spokesman for the North Dakota National Guard. "We want them to be involved in something special each day. Some of these kids will be stretched past their comfort zones. The idea is to create confidence, to create leaders."

William Dunckelman, a junior from Houma, La., is excited about the upcoming event.

"I love history, and this is a chance I'd never be given again, so Itook it," Dunckelman said. "It's interesting to learn more about what they thought during their journey. I compare (the Corps of Discovery) to the first men going to the moon, but even those men knew about the moon and had an idea of what to expect. The Corps of Discovery had no idea what they were getting into."

Keller said the rendezvous is not a recruiting event for the National Guard. Staff Sgt. Billie Jo Lorius, who is helping to coordinate the six-day program, said the guard bureau chose North Dakota to host the event because it was an important part of the expedition and - perhaps even more importantly - already had a plan in place to host such an event.

About 300 soldiers from the North Dakota National Guard will help run the rendezvous, working on everything from bow-and-arrow shooting to putting out a newsletter each day. Staff will also update the event's Web site, www.lcyouthrendezvous.com, every day, so parents can keep up with what their children are doing.

"The military has taken a lot from these communities over the last five years in the global war on terror, and this is a chance for the National Guard Bureau and the North Dakota National Guard to give something back," Keller said. "This will impact these kids the rest of their lives. They'll think about North Dakota in a positive light, and hopefully come back to visit."

The public is invited to attend the opening ceremonies, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 13 at Fort Lincoln. A free concert, featuring Rocky Top and the N.D. National Guard Army Band, will be held, and re-enactors from the St. Charles Corps of Discovery II will portray key figures from the expedition.

(Reach reporter Tony Spilde at 250-8260 or tony.spilde@;bismarcktribune.com.)