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LOWER LAKE, Calif. – The third annual all-day art and science camp took place at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park and Taylor Observatory on Saturday, Oct. 2.
Fourth to sixth grade students from throughout the county heard noted archaeologist John Parker greet them with a welcoming chant as they came to his American Indian culture station.
He then talked about aspects of daily living like gathering food, demonstrated arrowhead making and displayed artifacts such as the carrying basket for infants and clay balls used for duck hunting.
Eugenie Steinman and Gus Slokum taught students to make authentic tule dolls which they then decorated with feathers and beads.
Students took a nature walk with Billy Gear and Gayle Gura during which (if they were quiet enough) they saw birds and other wildlife and learned about native and non-native plants.
Tom Nixon and Gae Henry led tours of the Anderson ranch house. Students had a new-found appreciation for the conveniences of modern life when they saw the out house and chamber pots used by the pioneer families.
Don Coffin, Anna McAtee and Dennis Hadley gave students an opportunity to play various musical instruments including an old-fashioned gut bucket.
Coffin also told students about the science of sound, how musical instruments make sound and the basic rule of being in a band: you must be able to listen and play at the same time.
Students were bused to Taylor Observatory where Barbara McIntyre treated them to a planetarium show and set up solar telescopes to see sunspots.
Ginger Ingersoll and John Burke set up microscopes in the adjacent classroom. Students were given a short introduction to using the equipment and preparing a slide. Students were then turned loose to look at prepared slides of plant and animal tissue as well as create a slide of their own cheek cells for viewing.
Outside, Tess Long taught students about the importance of exercise and activity, stretching before exercising and the fun of learning new hip hop moves.
The Clearlake Kiwanis and Clearlake Elks joined forces to offer all students, teen helpers and adult volunteers a delicious pizza lunch.
As they have in the past two years, the Kiwanis went the extra mile once again to bring in the lunch, set up, serve and clean up. Over 100 people were happy recipients of their yummy generosity.
At the end of the day, the students wrote postcards to themselves talking about their experiences. These postcards will be mailed home as a keepsake.
Leif from Middletown wrote, “I really liked all of the things. I enjoyed learning about arrowheads and making reed dolls. I also enjoyed the nature walk.”
Oscar from Clearlake wrote, “I saw a gopher snake and egrets and gulls and a tore up rabbit.”
Lauren from Hidden Valley wrote, “I learned that willow bark and leaves can stop headaches of you chew it. I made music and walked through Anderson Marsh and went to an observatory.”
Hannah from Lakeport wrote, “I enjoyed all of the things. I really did like making dolls and playing music. My favorite was going to the planetarium and learning hip hop dances. I'm planning on hopefully coming back soon and maybe learning more things about this wonderful place.”
This free camp was a collaborative effort of the Children's Museum of Art and Science (CMAS), the Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association (AMIA), the Redbud Audubon Society, and the Lake County Office of Education (LCOE).
Students from Carlé High School, who assisted as group leaders and nature walk guides, were also an important part of the day's success.
