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VMNH Youth Curator Camp Coming Soon
This is it! Youth Curator Camp is an opportunity for children ages 6 to 12 to learn about the museum, meet the museum's scientists, and participate in fun, hands-on activities and programs led by the curators! In addition, campers will enjoy pizza and a movie in the museum’s education center!
Registration is only $30 per camper and only $25 for VMNH Members! Registration deadline is November 28. Drop-off is between 9:45 and 10 a.m. and pick-up is between 3 and 3:15 p.m. Early and late drop-off is available for an additional fee. Register online or by calling 276-634-4171. If you have any questions or need additional information regarding Youth Curator Camp, you may also send an email to krystal.davis@vmnh.virginia.gov.
Curator Activities
Tricky Tracks
Presented by Dr. Nancy Moncrief, Curator of Mammalogy
In this activity, campers will investigate animal tracks and make their own field guides that they can use to identify tracks of local mammals. They’ll learn that feet can tell us a lot about an animal’s behavior. Each camper will also have the opportunity to make a replica mammal foot to take home.
Archaeology
Presented by Dr. Elizabeth Moore, Curator of Archaeology
Students will learn what archaeology is and the types of things that archaeologists study. They will handle a variety of prehistoric artifacts, learning what and how old each one is. Each student will receive a copy of the museum's “Virginia Indians Coloring Book.”
Make Your Own Reindeer
Presented by Dr. Alex Hastings, Assistant Curator of Paleontology
Museum scientists often make copies of bones and teeth from fossils and recent animals in order to share them with other museums or make displays. See how it all works, with Dr. Alex Hastings, assistant curator of paleontology! Everyone who joins will get to paint their own reindeer tooth cast (an exact copy of the original) to make it look as close to the original as possible. Perfect for the season, each camper will get to take their reindeer cast home for the holidays!
Science in a Tiny World
Presented by Dr. Joe Keiper, VMNH Executive Director and expert entomologist
Students will learn the fundamentals of using microscopes to observe tiny creatures and museum artifacts too small to be appreciated otherwise. Insects, minerals, and fossils will be unveiled, while students learn how to mount specimens and operate a microscope identical to the ones used by museum scientists.
The Secret Life of Dirt
Presented by Dr. Kal Ivanov, Assistant Curator of Invertebrate Zoology
Soil isn’t just dirt, but a living world that is home to many organisms. This environment is full of life. It provides food and shelter to a great number of microbes, fungi, and animals – an amazing community of living creatures. The invertebrate leaf litter and soil fauna is so incredibly diverse, and occurs in such enormous numbers, that it is difficult to describe and should be experienced first-hand. In this activity, we will focus on the invisible creatures you walk past unknowingly every time you step into a forest.