June arrives and school is out.  Everywhere kids are jumping in their time machines to travel back in history.  They will go where their interests take them.  

12-year-old Avery and 17-year-old Sara are off to Crow Canyon Archaeological Center in Colorado for Archaeology Camp.  During their week there, they will study the fascinating cultural history of the ancient Pueblo Indians.   Plenty of hands-on activities will keep them engaged as they examine artifacts, explore rock art, throw spears, excavate and interpret sites, and make fire with a bow and spindle stick. 

The Sanchez kids are taking their parents on a luxury Lewis & Clark Canoe Trip along the Missouri River, organized by ROW Adventures.  While paddling their 34-foot replica canoes, they will travel in the company of expert historians.  The family will experience things not mentioned in their History textbooks as they investigate abandoned homesteads, inspect ancient rock art and marvel at the beauty of the vast wilderness. 

Evan’s grandparents have planned a day at sea aboard the SS Lane Victory, a National Historic Landmark.  During their World War II cruise off Catalina Island, they will attend a memorial service for the merchant ships lost during the war, take a tour of the engine room, interact with WWII impersonators, explore two museums, and observe a live re-enactment of a spy being captured followed by an aerial enemy attack.

The Bankler family chose to relive the 1800s by participating in the Fort Seward Wagon Train.  Every year in late June since 1969, the covered wagons load up for a week-long trip starting in Jamestown, North Dakota.  The Banklers will don pioneer dress as they work together with others to form a community dependent upon one another, just as the original pioneers once were.

Jackson is a high school junior.  For a small fee, he has joined the Orange County Blacksmith Guild so he can begin taking basic blacksmith classes at the Centennial Heritage Museum in Santa Ana, CA.  He hopes his friends will attend one of the free demonstrations on Saturday mornings and develop an interest in joining him.

Zula and her brother, Zane, will be attending a one day Curator Camp at the Workman and Temple Family Homestead Museum.  This thrilling opportunity for kids in grades 4-6 will take them behind the scenes to learn how to preserve and protect the museum’s fine collections.  The camp runs from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm and includes lunch, a souvenir t-shirt and a take-home preservation kit - all for $20.  What a bargain!

Where are your kids going this summer?

Images courtesy of ROW Adventures and the Homestead Museum.

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