Arts Center Offers Science Camp for Middle School Students

The Randolph County Community Arts Center is offering, for the first time, a Science Camp for middle school students this summer. The Earth, Wind and Water Camp will run July 14th through the 18th from 12:30 until 4:30, and will have a strong natural history and wildlife biology theme. "We designed the camp so that students can experience what area naturalists and biologists do out in the field," says RCCAC teacher and Earth, Wind and Water Camps facilitator Nanci Fregonara. "It will also provide some hands-on tools and observation skills so they can continue to explore the unique natural history right in our own backyard."

The camp will provide workshops on archeology; stream restoration; soil conservation and acid deposition; orienteering; astronomy; dragonfly research and Appalachian Ecology. There will also be art projects and visit to the Davis and Elkins College Planetarium on Wednesday evening. "We are fortunate in Elkins to have so many talented and knowledgeable professors and wildlife biologists that can add real life experiences to what the students learn in the classroom during the school year," added Beth King, RCCAC Executive Director.

Instructors will be from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources; West Virginia Wesleyan College; U.S. Forest Service; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Davis and Elkins College; and the WV Department of the Environment. "Our area is rich with diversity and has a very unique habitat," Fregonara added. "This is a great way to share it with the students."  Pre registration is required for all classes. For additional information on classes for all age groups call 637-2355, email info@randolpharts.org, or visit the RCCAC website at www.randolpharts.org <http://www.randolpharts.org> .

The Randolph County Community Arts Center, a non-profit organization promoting and supporting the arts in Randolph County and the surrounding areas, is located at the corner of Randolph Avenue and Park Street in Elkins.  Local contributors support RCCAC's arts education program with additional financial assistance from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History, the National Endowment for the Arts, with approval from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts.