07/03/12 ci local

HAYS, Kan. -- Art, camps and a night at the museum are all a part of July at Fort Hays State University's Sternberg Museum of Natural History. Each event will engage children through activities relating to the natural world.

Painting with Nature will be from 1-3 p.m. Tuesday, July 10. Participants will create natural art such as leaf imprints, rubbings, paintings and other art forms. This event is open to ages 5-12. Those under 8 years of age must be accompanied by an adult or older sibling. The cost per person is $8 for members and $10 for non-members. Registration is preferred and all projects will go home with the children.

Junior Naturalists will meet from 9:30-11 a.m. Saturday, July 14. Participants will earn badges as they explore different fields of science, such as biology, geology, and paleontology with the experts. This is open to ages 8-15 and costs $12 per person for members and $15 per person for non-members per session. The series costs $100 per person for members and $125 per person for non-members. Registration is preferred. The maximum number of participants is 25.

Nature Forensics will be from 1-3 p.m. Tuesday, July 24. Participants will explore the cycle of life and death on the prairie. This event is open to ages 5-12. Those under 8 years old must be accompanied by an adult or older sibling. The cost per person is $8 for members and $10 for non-members. Registration is preferred. The maximum number of participants is 25. All projects will go home with children.

The Fossil Dig Sleepover will be from 7 p.m. Friday, July 27, to 11 a.m. Saturday, July 28. Participants will spend a night at the museum and fossil hunt the following morning. This event is open to ages 5-12. Those under 8 must be accompanied by an adult or older sibling. Registration (deadline is Thursday, July 26) is $40 per person for members and $45 per person for non-members. Campfire snacks will be provided, but participants must bring their own pillows and sleeping bags.

For more information on any of the events for the month of July, contact James Leiker, education director at the Sternberg Museum, at 785-639-5249 or jaleiker4@fhsu.edu.

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