An All-New Nature Camp
In the Summer of 2018, there were hundreds of happy campers around L.A. thanks to NHM’s partnership with the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation’s ESTEAM Summer camp.
In the Summer of 2018, there were hundreds of happy campers around L.A. thanks to NHM’s partnership with the County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation’s Environment, Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (ESTEAM) Summer camp.
About 900 campers from all five county districts participated in the program, which began last year, to develop an innovative and educational Summer camp experience. All in all, 17 parks across Los Angeles hosted ESTEAM camps, double the number that participated in 2017.
The museum’s Education and Programs staff worked together to incorporate ESTEAM elements for campers, who learned about nature, the environment, and community science in their neighborhood parks and natural areas. Campers had the opportunity to explore the outdoors, find insects, learn about dinosaurs and space, discover the mysteries of the oceans, and create their own science projects. NHM staff codeveloped the camp curriculum, hosted trainings, and worked side by side with our scientists who visited the parks to speak with the kids about museum collections and research. Our Mobile Museums, educational spaces situated in modified tractor trailers that simulate scientific research environments, also made appearances during the county’s Parks After Dark events.
Nine-year-old Jason said he really enjoyed camp, especially going to the La Brea Tar Pits. “One thing I learned is that mammoths get stuck in tar,” he says. “And if you put something in tar and try to pull it out, it’s pretty hard.” Eight-year-old Emmy was excited to learn about oceans “because it has many creatures in it.” A field trip to Eaton Canyon park was a highlight, too. “We were able to see different parts of nature, like lizards, butterflies, and (I heard) snakes. There were many things out there to observe and learn about on the camping trip,” she says. We expect that these Summer camps will fuel more explorations in nature for years to come.