It’s April! Students everywhere are starting to get serious about their end of school countdowns. There’s nothing better to a kid than a summer off from school, but it is not always easy for their parents. I am not a parent myself, but I have heard a countless number of working adults complain and be anxious about what they are going to do to keep their kids busy over the summer. There are tons of trendy summer camp options available, but just because they are trendy does not mean that they are affordable or enriching.
If
I may, I’d like to suggest a little known option to parents searching for
summer camps: museum summer camps. I have not only served as a museum summer
camp counselor in the past, but also have the privilege of working at a museum
with a stellar summer camp program. In my opinion, museums are an untapped resource for families of all ages and sizes. Museums, especially local museums, are increasingly becoming
involved in their communities in so many different ways. The time of the stuffy museum that can only be visited by “art people” is
over. Speaking as a museum professional who has worked in several different
kinds of institutions, both on the East and West Coasts, I can say with certainty
that museums truly are striving to reach a broader audience. Most importantly,
museums want to provide visitors of all ages with a unique way to experience
history, culture, art and life. Where else could a child go on an
archaeological dig for pottery shards from an ancient civilization, learn about
Romare Bearden’s collages and go on to create their own interpretation of
collage, or watch and take part in a Pacific Island spiritual ritual?
Museums benefit from the increasing
dependence on technology in many ways, but regardless of how much technology is
incorporated in exhibitions, they offer an incredibly important opportunity
to visitors that they cannot get anywhere else. That is the chance to physically
experience a piece of art or an object created by a different people in a
different culture. Having face time with objects and art encourages people to interpret them critically and strive to achieve a point of mutual
understanding. When learned at a young age, these skills can be so very
valuable to a child’s understanding of life and human interaction.
Regardless of the opportunities
offered through a camp, museum campers will undoubtedly have an experience that
many other children of their age will be missing out on. I encourage you, both parents and individuals without children, to investigate
the programing options at museums in your area. Or, try something different and
take a visit to a museum you have not been to in a while. An enlightening
experience is there, waiting just for you.
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