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Hands-on History Adventure Summer Day Camp

6/13/2016 to 6/17/2016 | First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site | St. Charles, MO

Sign up your young historian for this weeklong camp. It is an opportunity for your burgeoning historian to learn about Missouri history and 1800s skills and crafts using an interactive, hands-on approach. Each day will be filled with fun games, activities and crafts all revolving around this year’s theme of Missouri's original 15 counties and what makes them unique.

An exciting new learning experience awaits our campers with a different learning theme each day. Come with us as we explore "Westward Ho!," "Rocks, Rebels and Rendezvous," Goin' Batty: Caves, Critters and Creeks," "Rollin’ down the River" and Growin' Missouri: Rhinelands, Farmlands and Mother Earth." Meeting up with a few famous Missourians will highlight the week.

Sound like fun? Don’t miss all the fun! Come unplugged! Sign up your adventurous history lover today! Contact the historic site for more information. There is a limit of 30 participants.

Ages: Third through sixth grade

Camp times: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cost: $100 for all week, plus $20 registration fee (includes a T-shirt, water bottle, draw string bag, patch and snacks)

Below is an explanation of each day's activities:

Westward Ho!
Campers will define Missouri's role in the country's westward expansion, and its prehistoric past. Do you know what Missouri's state dinosaur is and why? What is St. Charles' role in westward expansion that made us famous? How did the railroads play a role? Campers will barter for supplies, survey a road like a pioneer and maybe meet a member of the famous Boone family. State archeologists will be here to run a program with the campers, as well. (St. Louis, St. Charles and Jefferson counties.)

Rocks, Rebels and Rendezvous
Campers will explore the southeastern counties including looking at the Civil War, meeting a French fur trapper and exploring the geology and mines of Missouri. Discover why the Mississippi River ran backward during the New Madrid earthquakes and if it can happen again. What was a day in the life of a Civil War soldier like? Why do we have so many towns and streets with French names? Campers will make French treats inspired by our founding Peres. (Ste. Genevieve, Cape Girardeau, New Madrid and Washington counties)

Goin' Batty: Caves, Critters and Creeks
To celebrate Franklin county, we will be taking the campers on a daylong field trip on Wednesday, to Meramec State Park in Sullivan, where they will tour a cave, get to learn about bats and discover what lives in the local streams. Participants will come home with a bat house they build themselves (or they can donate it!). This will be a late return day at 5 p.m. (Franklin County)

Rollin' Down the River
Did you know there are over 900 songs about the Mississippi River? Or that there is a shipwreck less than a mile from St. Charles? Rivers are a huge part of Missouri's very being. Campers will meet Mark Twain, learn river music, create a steamboat and more! Some critters from local waters will be visiting as well. (Montgomery, Pike and Lincoln counties) 

Growin’ Missouri: Rhinelands, Farmlands and Mother Earth
Along the Missouri River lies a corridor of farms, German heritage and Native American lands. Annie and Abel Van Meter State Park will present “Pieces, Parts and Poop,” which explores artifacts that relate to American Indian tribes of Missouri. Campers will make grape juice using historic methods and meet a 19th century woman who settled in Missouri. (Howard, Cooper and Wayne counties)

On Friday, parents are invited to join their child for a special themed lunch with their kids. Lunch will be served at noon. The day culminates with a Missouri-made farmers market, featuring local products to sample and possibly to purchase. We will also present our camper awards.

First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site is located at:

200 S. Main St., St. Charles, MO | 636-940-3322

Associated activities

  • Interpretive Programs