June 12, 2009

Now in its 10th season, the Michigan Historical Museum's Summer Sizzles day camp takes children on an exciting journey into the past beginning Monday, June 22. Campers ages 6-12 can enjoy a wonderful summer experience as they participate in crafts, discussions, activities and tours of the museum's world-class facility.

"Day campers will enjoy a unique perspective on the past, interacting with artifacts, enjoying stories of real people and discovering their own connection to history, " said Phillip C. Kwiatkowski, director of the Michigan Historical Museum System.

Members of the award-winning Michigan Historical Museum education staff design these fun and engaging programs. Class size is limited to ensure the best experience for all campers.

Campers 9-12 years old will have the opportunity to explore Outhouse Archaeology, History Through Art, the Art of Woodcarving, Treasures in the Library of Michigan and the History of Artifacts. The fee is $60 for five half-day sessions. Participants can choose from five morning or afternoon half-day sessions:

• Monday, June 22 through Friday, June 26 from 9 a.m. to noon
• Monday July 13 through Friday, July 17 from 1 to 4 p.m.
• Monday, July 27 through Friday, July 31 from 9 a.m. to noon

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

• 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
• Wednesday, July 22 from 9 a.m. to noon: Discover "HerStory" - The Important Role of Women in Michigan History
• Wednesday, Aug. 5 from 1 to 4 p.m.: Discover the Life of a World War II Soldier

For children ages 6 through 8, the Michigan Historical Museum offers the Small Fry Summer Sizzles day camp. To get acquainted with Michigan's past, younger children will step back in time and learn how people worked and played in Michigan during the early 20th century.

Campers will discover why people left their farms to work in factories, the excitement of city life in the 1920s and 1930s, and what kids did for fun in the 1940s. The fee is $36 for three half-day sessions:

• Tuesday, Aug. 11 through Thursday, Aug. 13 from 9 a.m. to noon

Campers should bring a snack each day. Registrations must be canceled at least one week before the session begins in order to receive a full refund.

or 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.