Anyone trying to connect the various members of an extended family to each other and their ancestors might try holding a cousin camp, as outlined in the January-March 2011 issue of NGS Magazine.
The author, Phoebe Allen, was faced with a situation many people have: wanting family members to get to know each other and appreciate their ancestry, especially the younger set.
While her camps focused on ages 6 to 14, the concept could work for any age. Allen felt that putting together a family history book could be the reason for holding such a camp, especially for older relatives.
It took Allen and her sister a year to plan the first camp. She organized recipes to share and photos into albums, as well as stories and family records.
Allen used a 19th century family homeplace as the gathering spot. Nine children from four states, all distant cousins, came to the first camp, which was held without modern entertainment such as TV, yet kept everyone's attention. The cousins became interested in remaining friends.
It sounds like an old-fashioned family reunion, but with a purpose: to rekindle the family and reunite long-forgotten branches. Allen said a 12-year-old cousin caught the genealogy bug -- one of the goals -- and she hopes the seeds of future family gatherings have taken hold.
To read the full article, check for the magazine at major genealogy libraries or www.ngsgenealogy.org. For a detailed list used in planning a cousin camp e-mail Allen at phoebezink@gmail.com.
Genealogy blogs
The 40 best genealogy blogs are featured in the July 2011 issue of Family Tree Magazine. It's worth checking out, as many of them can be quite useful. Some are family-specific; others focus on major topics such as cemeteries, or a certain technology. Some have great names, as Georgia Black Crackers, referring to the Atlanta baseball team, or Tracing the Tribe, about Jewish genealogy. Blogs are free for the most part, so you might try starting your own. The magazine is at major bookstores and at www.familytreemagazine.com (go to "current issue").
Hiring a professional
If you are interested in hiring a professional genealogist, an article in the May-June 2011 issue of Family Chronicle magazine gives some good pointers. Go to the website of the Association of Professional Genealogists, www.apgen.org, to find a list of professionals who work in each state, including those in the Georgia chapter.
