The Carver County Historical Society announces its schedule of summer history camps for 2009.

“History camps are an inexpensive and fun learning experience for elementary school-aged children. They provide a wonderful creative outlet and greatly increase the students’ historical curiosity,” stated CCHS education coordinator Erin Anderson, in a press release.

The camps are offered at various locations throughout Carver County. Registration ends one week before camp start date, and camps are filled on first come, first served basis.

The Carver County Historical Society reserves the right to cancel if fewer than 5 students register. Financial assistance for families in need is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

More information is available about each of the camps at www.carvercountyhistoricalsociety.org/history_camps.htm.

Older students and parents are encouraged to join their siblings/children as volunteers.

To register for a camp, for more information, or to apply for financial assistance, call Anderson at (952) 442-4234 or e-mail eranderson@co.carver.mn.us.

Historical Society camps

Mysteries in History Day Camp

What: Children try their hand at being a junior curator! (A curator takes care of objects in the museum’s collection.) Preserve and protect historic objects, explore family history, imagine creating an exhibit, take a behind-the-scenes tour, and discover how to preserve things. The group will also take an trip to an archaeology dig site!

Dates: June 15–19

Time: 1–4 p.m.

Location: Carver County Historical Society, 555 West First Street, Waconia, MN 55387

Ages: For students in grades 3, 4, & 5

Registration fee: $20/CCHS members; $30/non-members

Mini-Camp for Mini Curators

What: Discover what life is like in the day of a curator at this abbreviated Junior Curator camp. Students will have an opportunity to take a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum, learn basic preservation skills, and explore an archaeology dig site!

Date: July 13–15

Time: 9 a.m.–12 p.m.

Location: Carver County Historical Society, 555 West First Street, Waconia, MN 55387

Ages: For students grades 1 & 2

Registration fee: $5/CCHS members; $15/non-members 

Wagons & Cabins: Settling Carver County

What: Spend a whole week in a real pioneer log building! Imagine homesteading 150 years ago and discover pioneer life – from going to the bathroom to growing the crops. Students will experience a day in a one-room schoolhouse, learn housekeeping skills such as butter-making and cooking over an open fire, and spend a day at Lake Waconia fishing with old-fashioned cane poles.

Date: July 27–31

Ages/time: Grades K–2, 9 a.m.–12 p.m.; grades 3–5, 1–4 p.m.

Location: Carver County Historical Society, 555 West First Street, Waconia, MN 55387

Registration fee: $20/CCHS members; $30/non-members 

Eco-History Day Camp

What: Students will discover what they can do to keep the environment healthy, learn about eco-history through trips, speakers, and hands-on activities, explore the past through oral history, and help create an exhibit for the Carver County Fair. Campers take field trips to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the Carver County Environmental Center, and Carver County’s enormous compost pile. Application is required.

Dates/Locations:  June 8–11, Carver County Historical Society, Waconia; June 22–25, Chaska Community Center; July 6–9, Watertown Community Center; July 20–23, Baylor Park, Norwood Young America

Ages: For students grades 3, 4, & 5

Registration fee: Free, but application is required. Application can be obtained by calling (952) 442-4234 or visiting www.carvercountyhistoricalsociety.org/history_camps.htm.