By MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ
The Belton Journal
The Bell County Museum is in its 6th year of hosting a come-and-go summer camp for kids age six and under.
“There are different themes with related activities each day. The themes on Tuesday, were Military Appreciation, kids were invited to celebrate our military heroes by making hand puppets, paper dog tags, camo painted tanks, and building tank training obstacle courses. On Wednesday it was Fun with Math and kids were invited to explore math concepts by making addition paper chains, shape pizzas, practicing with weight, and practicing counting by playing a duck racing game. On Thursday it was Art is Everywhere, kids are invited to be creative by watercolor decorating moustache teacups, painting landscapes, building structures with marshmallows, and exploring fashion design with paper dolls,” said Katheryn Ricketts, Education Coordinator for the Bell County Museum.
“The main objective is to offer informal education for that age group at the museum to not only explore different important aspects of early childhood education but also create a love of learning at museums,” she added.
In the room children were in on Thursday at the second floor of the museum, they were surrounded by photographs by Leland Gersbach from the Natural Landscapes exhibit taken in the US and Canada.
There is also a photograph of the Dunbar High School football team in Temple from 1925 donated to the museum by Bennett Curtis. There is a photograph of Oveta Culp Hobby and members of the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps, circa 1943, donated by the Estate of Oveta Culp Hobby sandwiched between the football team photograph and a photograph of a Chuck Wagon and Cowboy on the Chisholm Trail, not dated, donated by James E. Parr.
One activity is a scavenger hunt kids and adults can play by using their phone to take a picture of a QR code and answer questions to learn about and find the different pieces of art and historic homes displayed on the second floor in the museum.
One notable replica is the home of Oveta Culp Hobby, built in 1900. She was born and raised in the home and later became the first female colonel in the U.S. Army. The last question asked on the scavenger hunt is what is your favorite and why?
Downstairs is a display of moustache teacups. While upstairs on Thursday, the kids were given black and white drawings of moustache teacups to paint with watercolors. The artwork was laid out to dry with the other landscape paintings. The 250 teacup collection is the largest of its kind in the U.S.
“Friday, Kitchen Chemistry, kids will explore chemistry elements with things found in the kitchen by making ice cream, slime, and fizzy rainbows,” said Ricketts.
On Friday, museum visitors were outside. The kids stood in front of the table to make their own slime with her help. They stirred different ingredients together to create slime that they took home in ziplock bags.
Kids also learned to make chemical reactions by mixing baking soda, vinegar, and food color. They also made their own ice cream by adding ingredients in a plastic bag, then put that in a larger bag with ice and rock salt.
They shook the bags, and the mixture transformed into ice cream that the kids ate right out of the bag.
Downstairs, on the first floor of the museum, were the usual displays. The kids were allowed to view the displays and play with the interactive elements. Near the Camp Hood and Fort Hood section, the kids play dress up and wear different military uniforms from World War II. Near the Transportation and Industry display, there is a train table where kids can assemble a railroad town with train tracks and a train.
There is a display of the Belton Annual Rodeo with programs, a picture of Ellis White Holland, Sr., “Father of the Belton Rodeo,” and a pair of boots worn by Jane Sanderford Potter.
The last camp ran July 16 through 19 from 9 a.m. until noon for Junior Historians age 7 through 12 years, followed by next week’s camp, Steam Exploration for ages 7 through 12 years old. The Bell County Museum is located at 201 N. Main St. in Belton.
