Youth Ambassadors revisit the Colonial Quarter

St Augustine 450th Commemoration Youth Ambassadors contact, Jeani Taliaferro, updated local Historic City News reporters on the organization’s May activities with a report prepared by Youth Ambassador and Nease High School IB Class of 2015 member, John Hutton.

The commemoration is a community effort, Taliaferro said. The youth ambassadors relay information obtained in the program to their peers, family members, friends and visitors alike. This monthly news column, published by Historic City News as a public service, provides one way for the students to accomplish their goal.

In May, the 450th St Augustine Youth Ambassadors visited the Colonial Quarter. The Colonial Quarter is an historic attraction in downtown St Augustine that covers three eras. The Colonial Quarter provides a unique experience with interactive activities and demonstrations of life during St Augustine’s history.

The Youth Ambassadors visited the Colonial Quarter before in July of 2011, but we returned because the Colonial Quarter underwent a serious renovation. One of the renovation projects included a thirty five foot watch tower overlooking the Castillo de San Marcos. We all got to go up to the top and see the beautiful view of the Castillo and the bay.

The Colonial Quarter takes you back to the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. One of the individual attractions we visited was the blacksmith’s forge that replicates a 16th century workshop. Thanks to Herrick Smith, who was the “smith”, we got to see a demonstration of how iron tools are actually made. Another Colonial Quarter guide, Chad Light, gave us a lesson on how 17th century muskets were made and fired.

Zane Williams, a fellow Ambassador, called the tour a “wonderful experience full of surprises at every turn.” A restaurant and tavern have been added to the Quarter as well as a stage area for small shows and entertainment. We also saw a replica of a printing press from 18th century Britain.

Mrs. Cindy Stavely coordinated our visit and Mr. John Stavely helped give part of the tour. We appreciate them making this event possible for us.

Next month the Youth Ambassadors travel to Fort Matanzas. We will also be helping with the public visits aboard the El Galeon at the Municipal Marina.

Ambassadors, through educational and hands-on learning experiences, gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the historical significance of St Augustine. The four-year project, now in its second year, allows the forty Ambassadors to take-away and give back equally to their community until graduation from their St Johns County high school.

Students participate in a variety of lectures, programs, field trips to local attractions, and interactions with project partners and other volunteers.