Herrett Center Plans Workshops to Keep Kids Busy this Summer

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KLIX) – If you’ve fretted about what you’re going to do to keep your young ones busy once school gets out, don’t worry.

Come June, there’ll be plenty of activities for your kids to participate in all summer long at the Herrett Center for Arts and Science. According to information by the College of Southern Idaho, the center is launching a series of low-cost, summer workshops designed for children as young as 6 years old.

All session will be from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. According to the college, the workshops are as follows:

June 15: Paper Planes. Ever wonder what keeps airplanes in the sky? This is a workshop about flight. Everyone will learn the basic science behind flying, and then have a chance to build their own paper airplane. We will finish the workshop with a paper plane fly-off to see which designs are the best flyers! Ages 6 and up. Children under 8 must have a parent present. $5 per participant.

 June 22: Coiled Pottery. Many different American Indian cultures created beautiful clay pottery. The technique that was widely used in North and South America is called coiling. In this workshop, you will make your own coiled clay pot using air-dry clay. The technique is easy to learn, and everyone will leave with a completed pot that will dry overnight. Ages 6 and up. Children under 8 must have a parent present. $10 per participant.

 June 29: Hoop Drums. For the many Native cultures that call the Great Plains their homeland, the hoop was a very important symbol of the circle of life. In this workshop, you will have the chance to create one of the most musical examples of the hoop in Great Plains cultures: the drum! Learn about other important symbols as you build and decorate your own hoop drum. Ages 8 and up. $10 per participant.

July 13: Nature Walk. Take a walk on the wild side while exploring native plants just minutes from the Herrett Center. Join us for a short nature hike around the CSI campus, stopping to identify native plants and explore their prehistoric uses by indigenous peoples. Everyone will discover tool-making resources, edible plants, and general plant identification techniques. After the hike, return to the Herrett Center for an activity. Ages 8 and up. $5 per participant.

 July 20: Fossil Casts. Many of the fossils seen in museums are not originals. The originals are often too fragile to be on display, so museums create casts of the fossils that look just like the real thing. In this workshop, you will have the chance to create your own fossil cast of an object from the Herrett Center collection. Ages 6 and up. Children under 8 must have a parent present. $10 per participant.

 July 27: Textile Printing. In the rainforests of Peru, the Shipibo and Conibo people create beautiful designs that they paint all over everything that they wear. In this workshop, you will use printmaking techniques to create your own printed fabric using based on the artwork of the Shipibo and Conibo people. Learn about Peruvian cultures and about printmaking. Ages 8 and up. $15 per participant.

 Aug. 3: Telescopes. Ever since the telescope was invented in the 1600s, people have used it to gaze at the stars. In this workshop, you will get to build your own working telescope to take home with you. Join us after the workshop to look through the Herrett Center’s giant telescope in the Centennial Observatory. Ages 6 and up. Children under 8 must have a parent present. $15 per participant.

 Aug. 10: Metalworking. From central Mexico throughout South America, native people used gold and other precious metals to create jewelry, masks, and other decorative and ritual objects. In this workshop, you will get to test out an ancient metalworking technique called repousse (re-poo-say) to create your own metal artwork. Ages 8 and up. $15 per participant.

 Aug. 17: Hoop and Dart Game. Try your hand at this classic Native American game using traditional materials to construct a set of prehistoric lawn darts. Students will build a set of corncob darts and a willow hoop, then learn the rules of this fun pastime on the Herrett Center front lawn. Ages 8 and up. $10 per participant.

Spaces will be limited in each workshop to ensure a fun experience for all participants. Payment must be received at the time of registration. Adults may not sign up without a child. For information, call 208-732-6655 or drop by the Herrett Center at the College of Southern Idaho.