The National Society of the Children of the American Revolution was founded in 1895 by DAR chapters throughout the country. DAR chapters sponsor C.A.R. societies and work very closely with them. Any child (male or female) from birth whose parents can trace their ancestry back to the American Revolution is eligible. Girls may transfer to DAR between the ages of 18 and 21 and boys may transfer to SAR for a lower fee if their C.A.R. dues are up-to-date.
The C.A.R. has the same rules and goals as DAR and SAR They have a quarterly newsletter similar to the Empire State News, a yearbook, regional, state and national conferences, all kinds of contests for different age groups from the youngest (PeeWees) on up. C.A.R. members know their roots, lineage, what the constitution stands for, and how their government works. It makes them even more skilled on the computer.
By joining C.A.R. your child learns to appreciate what Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Veterans Day, and many other holidays mean, they study their national heritage, they learn what Old Glory means, participate in fund-raising and most important of all, they gain leadership skills and appreciate the history of our country. They become well rounded individuals and are our future.

By Denise Wright (Current Fort Crailo Chapter member)

I was a member of the Catherine Schuyler C.A.R. for approximately 5 years. I remember the character building benefits of having the C.A.R. experience. On many occasions we would visit historical sites. I remember seeing homes and learning about people from the past. The "hatchet" mark in the staircase at the Phillip Schuyler home, the tiny binding shoes from China at Cherry Hill, and the Benedict Arnold statue at Saratoga Battlefield are all vivid memories from the C.A.R. trips.

Besides the experience of seeing historical sites there were practical skills that were taught at meetings. C.A.R. members had to raise money, give speeches to different groups, and perform C.A.R. rituals similar to the DAR meetings. I remember that this was my first experience at holding the office of secretary. The C.A.R. had to plan some of the programs for the DAR I was responsible for singing war songs from several different eras. Doing the research, practicing, and performing was a valuable educational experience.

The C.A.R. experience was an educational experience that was FUN--Can those two words be used in the same sentence? Because of that experience I made the connection that learning could be entertaining. I try to instill that value in my daughters and my students. We visit sites from my C.A.R. past and my daughters learn that history is alive. My children see the respect for history and patriotism I learned in the Catherine Schuyler Society and they know that this country and all of its riches are worth a great deal to them and future generations.

For more information about the Children of the American Revolution, visit the National site- http://www.nscar.org/