Spring Break Camp

Description

Make history come alive this spring break! Join us at the Museum of North Idaho for a week of hands-on fun, discovery, and creativity. Kids will explore local history through interactive activities, games, crafts, and storytelling that bring North Idaho’s past to life. 

• Monday, March 30th: Natural Botanical Dyeing (Science + Art)
  Campers will explore the science of color by creating natural dyes from berries, fruits, and vegetables. Through hands-on experimentation, they’ll learn how plants transfer pigment to fabric and how variables like time and temperature affect results. Campers will also examine historic clothing from our archives and learn about local plant identification in North Idaho—then take home their own dyed creations.
• Tuesday, March 31st: Idaho State Symbols (Science + Culture + Movement)
  This day combines environmental science, geography, and cultural learning as campers explore Idaho’s state symbols. Activities include a baked potato snack bar (hello, agricultural science!), learning basic square dance patterns, and discovering flying symbols like the bluebird, peregrine falcon, and monarch butterfly. Campers will build connections between nature, history, and what makes Idaho home.
• Wednesday, April 1st: Paper Making & the Library (Engineering + Literacy)
  Campers will learn the engineering process behind paper making, creating their own handmade sheets while exploring concepts like fibers, texture, and strength. A tour of the library introduces how paper supports reading, writing, record-keeping, and storytelling, connecting hands-on making with language and literacy.
• Thursday, April 2nd : Hand Crafts & Fiber Arts (Math + Engineering + Nature)
  Through basket weaving, rope making, and knot tying, campers will explore patterns, measurement, and structural design. A hike on Tubbs Hill allows campers to gather natural materials and practice observation skills before returning to create functional crafts. Campers will test knots for strength and durability—learning through trial, error, and teamwork.
• Friday, April 3rd: Games & Play Through the Decades (History + Physics + Social Learning)
  Campers will travel back to 1880 and move through the decades to explore how kids played in the past. Classic games like potato sack races, hopscotch, pick-up sticks, doll making, and slinkies introduce concepts like balance, motion, coordination, and fair play. The week wraps up with outdoor play at the historic Fort Sherman playground.