POST FALLS — Treaty Rock Elementary fourth-graders were treated to lessons in Post Falls history Friday.

Rotating through several stations in small groups, students enjoyed pioneer games outside, learned about safety in the woods from Tom Newcombe, a member of the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office Volunteer Search and Rescue Unit, learned how to make butter with retired special education teacher Lorie Kalosky and soaked in the knowledge of Kim Brown, Judy Cowan and Pam Rodkey from the Post Falls Historical Society and more.

“Think about Frederick Post and think about Chief Andrew Seltice,” Brown said. “We have immigrants coming into the native culture. It’s a blending of those two things. The Coeur d’Alene Tribe is still in this area. And the Frederick Post family, we’re still in contact with some of his family members.”

Brown is president of the historical society. Part of the history lesson includes the story of Edgar Seiter, who owned a cannery in Post Falls for decades. Rodkey was a cannery employee in her earlier years. Seiter’s cannery produced apple butter, among other things, so the students were given an opportunity to taste some on a cracker. Rodkey shared her firsthand knowledge of the industrial canning process.

“We’re pretty excited about linking the old days with now,” Brown said. “Food is a good way of doing it. And then actually realizing that food was grown here by farmers. That it was processed here and shipped out by railroad. All from little Post Falls.”

Seiter served as mayor of Post Falls from 1951 until 1961, and was a major supporter of North Idaho College.

Gavin Gronwold, a student in Tiffani Lenz’s classroom, had never made butter before, but heartily enjoyed it slathered on a roll.

“I’ve never had butter with this texture,” Gronwold commented. “It’s a weird texture.”

Kalosky taught the concept of churning butter in relation to scientific principles. Students shook small plastic containers with heavy whipping cream and a touch of salt until the butter was produced.

“The longer you shake it, the thicker it gets,” Kalosky said.

Newcombe brought the search and rescue unit’s Hug a Tree program to students. He explained steps to the students to take if they ever get lost in the woods.

“This is the most important thing. When you're out in the woods you’re going to be scared if you're lost. What I want you not to do, is to panic,” Newcombe said. “Take a deep breath, and look around. You find a nice big tree and you sit down and you stay next to it.”

Staying in one place will make it easier to locate a lost person, and it conserves precious energy, Newcombe said.

The annual event is a collaboration between community members, the school and sometimes members of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, when they are available, said fourth-grade teacher Sara Pence.

“Post Falls has done a great job of recognizing its founders,” Brown said. “We love to talk to the kids because they have great questions.”