July 1, 2009

The Michigan Historical Museum's Summer Sizzles day camp, now in its 10th season, offers children an opportunity to take an exciting journey into the past as they participate in crafts, discussions, activities and tours of the museum's world-class facility.

"We still have openings for day campers to enjoy interacting with artifacts, listening to stories of real people and discovering their own connection to history," said Phillip C. Kwiatkowski, director of the Michigan Historical Museum System.

Campers 9-12 years old can explore Outhouse Archaeology, History Through Art, the Art of Woodcarving, Treasures in the Library of Michigan and the History of Artifacts. Class size is limited to ensure the best experience for all campers. The fee is $60 for five half-day sessions. Campers should bring a snack each day. The next available camp will take place Monday, July 13 through Friday, July 17 from 1 to 4 p.m.

Additionally, special half-day sessions - at a cost of $15 each - on the following history topics will be offered for children ages 9-12 next week:

• Friday, July 10 from 9 a.m. to noon: Discover the Archives of Michigan



• Friday July 10, from 1 to 4 p.m.: Discover Your Universe - The History of Astronomy

Other Summer Sizzles camp dates and special half-day sessions, as well as Small Fry Summer Sizzles for ages 6-8, are available later in July and August.

Registrations must be canceled at least one week before the session begins in order to receive a full refund.

For more information and a registration form, visit www.michigan.gov/hal/0,1607,7-160-17447_18595_18596-89848--,00.html . If you have questions about any of the Michigan Historical Museum's day camps, call (517) 373-1905 or e-mail ArasimJ@michigan.gov.

The Michigan Historical Museum's summer day camps are sponsored by the Michigan History Foundation and the Friends of Michigan History. Join the Friends of Michigan History for only $40 and receive a number of valuable benefits, including a 10 percent discount on the museum's day camps.

When camp has become a fond memory, the Michigan Historical Museum invites children to continue exploring Michigan's past as part of the Future Historians, a group that meets at the museum during the school year.

The Michigan Historical Museum is located inside the Michigan Library and Historical Center, 702 West Kalamazoo St., two blocks west of the State Capitol in downtown Lansing. The main entrance and visitor parking are located off of Kalamazoo Street, just east of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Museum hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. Admission and weekend parking are free. The Michigan Historical Museum, the flagship of the Michigan Historical Museum System, is fully accredited by the American Association of Museums. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/museum or call (517) 373-3559, TDD (517) 373-1592.

The Michigan Historical Museum System is a division of the Michigan Historical Center, an agency of the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL). Dedicated to enriching quality of life and strengthening the economy by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity, HAL also includes the Library of Michigan, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/hal.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).