Press Release

April 27, 2006

Burke Museum Offers Summer of Discovery with New 2006 Summer Camps

Seattle—The Burke Museum is offering a summer of discovery for children ages 7-14 with four exciting new summer camps. The week-long camps run from June through August. Kids will spend their summer days with Burke educators, University of Washington experts, and special guests. Together they will explore the natural world all around them, from conducting hands-on DNA labs to photographing Seattle’s parks to learning the art and tradition of storytelling.

For Ages 7-10

Dr. Mossbreath’s Natural History Mystery
Session A: June 26 - 30
Session B: July 10 - 14
9:30am – 4pm
Cost: $195 / 10% discount for Burke members

This year the mysterious Dr. Mossbreath has left behind a map and clues to his secret treasure! He knows all about plants, birds, insects, rocks, AND secret hiding places. Follow maps, peer through microscopes, and use your observation skills to discover clues from animal tracks, bird songs, and the “wild” outdoors along with the museum’s collections. Help us solve Dr. Mossbreath’s natural history mystery!

Stories and Tellers
Session A: July 24 - 28
Session B: July 31 - Aug. 4
9:30am - 4pm
Cost: $195 / 10% discount for Burke members

Join us to learn how to become a compelling storyteller! People around the world use stories in many ways—to explain why the earth quakes, how tigers got stripes, and sometimes just for fun! You will create stories using traditional methods, everyday objects, and nature. Field trips, hands-on projects, and performances by a local storyteller will make this a week to remember and retell!

For Ages 11-14

Reading the Landscape
Session A: July 17 - 21
Session B: July 24 - 28
9:30am – 4pm
Cost: $250 / 10% discount for Burke members

How can we learn to interpret the landscape around us? Through writing, sketching, and photography, we will learn ways to look at and read the stories of the environment and history of Magnuson Park. The week will culminate in both individual and group projects that help us develop a stronger connection to the Seattle landscape.

Investigating DNA: The Albatross Salvage Project

Session A: July 31 - Aug. 4
Session B: Aug. 7 – 11
9:30am – 4pm
Cost: $250 / 10% discount for Burke members

Learn the basics of how DNA is used to find answers about conservation questions around the world. In this one-week intensive (but fun) hands-on class, lab activities using Burke collection specimens from a bird salvage project will make you the investigator in a real life research project. The class is led by Burke scientists using UW labs, and will give students the introductory skills for future work in genetics.

Class size is limited to 10 students each week.

Pre-registration deadline for camps is June 9. To register or for more information about summer programs, contact Burke Education at 206-543-9681 or burked@u.washington.edu.