KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Bright skies and gusty cold winds greeted the 147 students, teens and adults who gathered for the eighth annual Art and Science Camp on Saturday, May 3.

Students from throughout the county spent half a day at each camp venue: the Taylor Observatory and the Ely Stage Stop.

At the observatory, they saw a planetarium show hosted by Kelseyville High School student Eduardo Alatorre.

They had hands-on time with microscopes looking at insects, algae and other tiny creatures with the guidance of Carrieann Lopez and John Burke.  

Kinene Barzin set up musical bells and percussion instruments under the trees outside and students learned to play the song “Bingo.”

In the barn at the Ely Stage Stop, Billy Gear taught the students to draw their hand. At another station, Lori Anthony and Sarah Fred shared information about Pomo Indians as the students organized cards to represent various aspects of Native American life such as food gathering and shelter.

Because food and tulles for baskets and boats were abundant, the Pomo Indians had time to play the Indian Hand Game. Students decorated sticks and challenged each other to this simple but fun game.

During each 45 minute session, the Lake County Historical Society docents, dressed in period costume, introduced students to life in the 1850s.

Students were given a tour of the building which included use of an old crank telephone. Docents had wired the phone to the barn so that students could ring up the barn and speak to the docent stationed there. Students were delighted to use this old-fashioned communication device.

On the porch, students washed clothes in a wash tub complete with a bar of soap and a washboard, then hung them up to dry. Then they were allowed (and encouraged) to get inside the stage coach as they heard about the rigors and perils of early day transportation.

After lunch, all students and adults went into the barn where they heard a presentation by Jenny Papka of Native Bird Connections who brought four live birds, two stuffed birds and many artifacts (talons, beaks, and wings) to share. This amazing raptor show was sponsored by the Redbud Audubon Society.

At the end of the day students were given postcards of the Stage Stop and asked to write about their favorite activity. These cards were mailed home to them so they had a keepsake.

Some of the comments students made were:

• “My favorite part was learning the history.” – Wesley D.
• “Thank you for showing us stuff I never knew. My favorite spot was learning about the birds.” – Summer R.
• “On this field trip I enjoyed the old telephone and cutting corn.” – Esmeralda M.
• “My favorite part was, well everything. I thought that doing music was fun, and it was amazing looking at different things in the microscope.” – Destiny M.
• “What I liked best was the planetarium.” – Calvin Y.
• “I enjoyed it when I played the Indian hand Game.” – Amber O.

This camp is a co-operative effort by the Children’s Museum of Art and Science, the Lake County Office of Education, the Lake County Historical Society and the Redbud Audubon Society.

Rotary groups from throughout Lake County, under the leadership of the Kelseyville Rotary Club, provided lunch for all. Delicious box lunches were made by the Culinary Arts program at Kelseyville High School.

Teens from the Interact Club at Kelseyville High School also assisted through out the day. Foods Etc provided water and morning snacks.

The Art and Science Camp is a free event which takes place the first Saturday in May and is open to any fourth through sixth graders in the county.