Museum of Northern Arizona exterior

DISCOVERY 2010—The Exhibit

September 10, 2010

DISCOVERY 2010—The Exhibit is a celebration of the creative and inquisitive young spirits who attended the 2010 Discovery summer camps and the landscapes they explored in Discovery 2010 classes. This Museum of Northern Arizona exhibit features artwork created by this summer’s campers and photographs highlighting Discovery experiences throughout the years. DISCOVERY 2010—The Exhibit opens Sunday, September 12 and runs through November 28, 2010.

“It’s important for our kids to see their accomplishments displayed and to be proud of the work they do,” says Education Specialist Caitlin Evans. “MNA’s Discovery Program values their creativity and their views of the world. We encourage kids to explore their environments and teach them about contributing to their community. I hope that our young campers learn that they can make their voices heard.”

Since its birth in 1976, Discovery has created meaningful learning experiences for thousands of Flagstaff’s youth. Campers have grown up and returned as staff members, however, Discovery still provides a hands-on learning experience where students are excited to investigate their surroundings. Each summer hundreds of campers, ages 4 through 18, have discovered the natural and cultural features of this unique Colorado Plateau—a place of high deserts, majestic mountains, imposing mesas, and stunning canyonlands.

This year’s Discovery camps explored a wide array of arts and sciences. Students in Creepy Crawly Clay spent two weeks exploring local plants and bugs and learning traditional clay forming techniques. At the end of the two weeks, the budding ceramic artists went home with clay ladybugs, caterpillars, butterflies and an appreciation for clay and northern Arizona insects. Another class, Aqua Detectives, introduced campers to the fascinating aquatic environments of lakes, rivers, and creeks. Young aquatic biologists gained hands-on experience during several field trips, including a visit to Fossil Creek. Other 2010 classes explored recycled art, geology, painting, photography, gardening, archaeology, dance, dinosaurs, and wildlife ecology.

The Museum of Northern Arizona is Flagstaff is located at the base of the San Francisco Peaks, the highest mountains in Arizona. It is surrounded by tremendous geological, biological, and cultural resources in one of Earth’s most spectacular landscapes. With a long and illustrious history, MNA evokes the very spirit of the Colorado Plateau, inspiring a sense of love and responsibility for the beauty and diversity of the area. Its education programs encourage students to individually and collaboratively contribute to the investigation and interpretation of their homeland. The Museum is located three miles north of historic downtown Flagstaff, on scenic Highway 180 on the way to the Grand Canyon.

More information about the Discovery Program and the Museum of Northern Arizona can be found at musnaz.org, on Facebook, on Twitter, or by calling 928/774-5213.