June 3, 2011
Water splashing, baking soda and vinegar volcanoes bubbling, campfires crackling, junior archaeologists shoveling, and lots of laughter. These are some of the sounds heard during the last thirty-five years of the Museum of Northern Arizona’s Discovery Summer Camps.
Since it started in 1976, Discovery Summer Camps have been creative and active ways for children to spend the summer exploring the local landscapes and traditions of Flagstaff. Through field trips and hands-on learning in each of this summer’s 42 classes, students ages 4–18 will learn about the region’s diverse natural and cultural heritage. The camps are led by local artists, scientific researchers, and professional guides who emphasize having fun and spending time outside.
“While Discovery has grown quite large since it was founded (from 30 to 500 kids per summer) and has tightened its safety policies with new 12-passenger vans, we still provide a fun, outdoor learning environment for youths to discover more about themselves and their surroundings,” says Education Specialist and program coordinator Caitlin Evans. “Our camps encourage kids to become active in our community, and give them the ability to impact our natural and cultural resources in their futures.”
During each of Discovery’s Science Camps, students become fearless investigators of the region’s plants, insects, wildlife, and geology formations. Young students in Aqua Detectives dive into aquatic biology and hydrology as they study the unique environments of local lakes, rivers, and creeks. Campers in Naturalist-in-Training venture into the wild world of Flagstaff’s ponderosa pine forests, as they explore forest ecology, develop their own experiments, and investigate the impact of wildfires.
Discovery’s Art Camps provide the chance for young artists to learn techniques from professional artists, producing artworks that will be displayed in MNA’s 2011 Discovery exhibit. Campers in Tunes for the Trail will look for inspiration from the Wild West, as they explore songwriting, storytelling, and music of the Southwest with local musician Clair Stoeckley. An all-time favorite, Creative Clay has returned, in which students pinch, coil, and build clay pieces as they experiment with decorating and firing techniques.
In connection with Elden Pueblo, Discovery is offering three Archaeology Camps, People of the Earth, Adventures in Archaeology, and Field Archaeologist, in which students take part in real excavations and analyze artifacts during field trips to important archaeological sites. Additionally, Summer Among the Peaks for ages 9–13 will celebrate 14 years of overnight camping adventures led by Dr. Andy Yazzie. These multiday camps visit both national and hidden treasures, including Zion, Bryce, the red rocks and creek-filled canyons of the Mogollon Rim, and a white water rafting adventure down the San Juan River. They also engage in immersive cultural experiences at the Navajo and Hopi Nations, and participate in activities such as sheepherding, hiking, and camping on the Hopi Mesas.
The second annual Discovery exhibit will open at MNA on October 14 and will showcase artwork, scientific research, and collaborative projects created during the 2011 Discovery Summer Camps.
Discovery’s Junior Counselor program is entering its seventh year of providing valuable job experience to local teens. Volunteer Junior Counselors ages 13–18 are able to stay connected with MNA’s Discovery Program as they assist teachers with programs.
For reservations or information, contact the Discovery Office at 928.774-5213, ext. 241 or discovery@mna.mus.az.us. Scholarships are available and are awarded based on financial need and student interest. Class descriptions, scholarship information, and applications are available at musnaz.org/discovery.
The following sponsors support MNA’s Discovery 2011:
Anonymous Contributors
Flagstaff Community Foundation
Forest Highlands Foundation
McCoy Motors
Sam’s Club Foundation
Target
The Museum of Northern Arizona 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 collaboratively and individually contribute to the investigation and interpretation of their homeland. The Museum is located three miles north of historic downtown Flagstaff, at the base of the San Francisco Peaks.