Strecker Museum Sponsors Summer Programs for Children

WACO, Texas -- The Strecker Museum Complex at Baylor University will sponsor summer programs for children ages 2-16 beginning June 9. The one-week sessions will be held at the Ollie Mae Moen Discovery Center located at Eight Street and Columbus Avenue, and at Strecker Museum.
Two- and three-year-olds will be introduced to the natural world in "Babies and Beasties." This program, which runs from 9-9:45 a.m. July 15-17 and July 22-24, costs $20 per child and participants must be accompanied by an adult.
Class sessions for children ages 5-11 run from 9:30-11:30 a.m. June 9-13, June 16-20 and June 23-27 at the Discovery Center. Each session costs $40 per child.
Children entering kindergarten in fall 1997 will learn about animals, Native Americans, pioneers, people of the world and recycling in "Let's Explore." In "Kid's Stuff" children who will enter the first grade can learn about children of all cultures, past and present, through songs, crafts and activities.
The program for second graders focuses on food. "Let's Eat" will explore what people eat in other countries, what the difference is between a vegetable and fruit and how to recycle left-overs. Third graders will spend the week learning about invertebrates in "Bug Crossing." This study includes learning about bees, butterflies, worms and sea shells.
"Blast Off," the program for children entering fourth grade, will focus on flight. Participants will study everything from paper airplanes to rocket ships and will make many objects that fly. The class concludes with children launching their own rocket.
Fifth graders will explore all areas of physical science in "Bubble, Bubble, Gak and Goo." Participants will perform experiments in the areas of optics, chemistry and physics. Sixth graders can learn the ins and outs of the media in "Stop the Presses." In this activity-filled
program, participants will learn about communications from cave writing to hand operator printing presses, from hand cranked phones to recording at a studio. This class includes field trips to a TV station and radio station.
Finally, children ages 12-16 can learn proper archaeological field techniques and conduct careful laboratory examinations in "Field Archaeology." This class, which meets from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 9-13, will show participants how to lay out a grid, properly excavate artifacts, map the site and record data. Students should bring a sack lunch but drinks and refreshments will be provided. This class will meet at Strecker Museum. The cost is $75 per child.
Registration for summer programs begins Friday, May 3, at the Ollie Mae Moen Discovery Center.
For more information, contact Jill Barrow, director of the Ollie Mae Moen Discovery Center, at (817) 757-0922