Preparations for the 11th annual Art and Science Camp, which will be held at the Ely Stage Stop and Taylor Observatory, are underway. Permission slips for the camp will be available starting next week.
This year the camp will be on Saturday, April 29 and will be open to 3rd to 5th graders county-wide. Public School, charter school, private school, and home schooled students are all invited to attend. As always, this fun, educational, and exciting camp is free to participants.
Students will enjoy hands on activities at three stations at each of the two venues. At Ely Stage Stop they will hear a presentation by the Back Country Horsemen of California on “Leave No Trace.” They will learn about pack mules and horses and actually use an iron mule to successfully pack a load. In the barn, they will create a scented wax nature collage. On the stage stop porch there will be a variety of activities such as corn husking and washing in an old fashioned laundry tub.
The Lake County Amateur Ham Radio Operators Club will also be setting up to teach students about radio operation skills. Students will be bussed between each location.
At the Taylor Observatory, students will see a planetarium show. In the classroom they will hear about the history of Clear Lake and how to protect the lake and its watershed. Students will be able to manipulate the new interactive sand table as well as view small lake “creatures” and plants through microscopes.
Outside under the trees, they will have hands-on time with guitars as they learn to play a few simple chords.
A morning snack will be provided as well as a delicious catered lunch. After lunch, all students will be invited into the barn where they will see and hear about live rescued raptors. This show is sponsored by Redbud Audubon Society and has been a favorite part of the camp for many years.
Permission slips and parent information letters are available in all school offices starting March 20. They may also be downloaded from the LCOE website by going to “calendar”, then “April 29”. There are two versions of the permission slip depending on your location in the county. All paperwork is also available in Spanish. Permission slips are due April 7 (or April 10 depending on your spring break). You may return them to you school office or mail them to 7417 Lakeland Dr., Clearlake 95422. Call Carolynn Jarrett at 994-2878 if you have questions or would like to volunteer. Parents are always welcome.
This camp is co-sponsored by the Children’s Museum of Art and Science, the Lake County Office of Education, The Lake County Wine Alliance, the Redbud Audubon Society, the Lake County Historical Society, Foods, Etc and the Lake County Rotary Clubs.
