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Quilting is a tradition that has transcended the limits of culture and eras. Throughout the centuries, styles and techniques evolved, but the common thread in the creation of quilts was often their makers: women. Led by Alden O’Brien, textile and costumes curator at the Daughters of the American Revolution Museum, visit three museums to explore the role quilting has played in our society, including how it has been used to express emotion and act as a force of social justice.
The age of the Baroque roughly coincides with the 17th century, one of the most transformational periods in European history. Despite the many variants of this style, its most salient features include emphasis on sensual richness, drama, movement, and emotional exuberance. Art historian Aneta Georgievska-Shine discusses the main currents of Baroque art in Italy, Spain, France, and Holland and how they reflected significant social and cultural developments sparked by forces including religion, government, global exploration, and science. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit)
Tuscany may very well be the emotional epicenter of Italian wine. With gently rolling hills, rich soils, cool breezes and plentiful sunshine, it's no wonder that the wines of the region are in high demand. Sommelier Erik Segelbaum leads a virtual tasting trip covering both hearty classic appellations and compelling, fresh white wines and lighter versions of full-bodied varieties. The immersive program includes a curated personal tasting kit to enhance the experience.
In an afternoon of artistic experimentation designed to deepen skills in visual expression, explore five modes of visual thinking: working from memory, observation, imagination, narrative, and experimental approaches.
In-person Program: Go on an interactive exploration of the Natural History Museum and participate in hands-on crafts projects and games. Then roll out your sleeping bag and dream away in the darkened halls of one of the world’s most famous museums! Geared for children ages 8 to 14 years old, accompanied by an adult.
Parents must bring campers to the assigned Before-Camp room in the Ripley Center to sign in daily. At 9 a.m., campers will be brought up to Drop-off and then to their camps.
Campers plunge in and discover the wonders of the watery world. Through visits to museums including Natural History Museum and the National Zoo, they explore the world beneath the waves: ocean zones, their inhabitants past and present, and watery habitats. They hear stories of the sea and create their own magical depictions of the deep. Campers display what they’ve discovered in a marine exhibition at Friday’s show-and-share.
The tropical rainforest—thought to be the oldest land-based ecosystem on earth—is certainly the most diverse. Campers don their pith helmets and take their journals as they venture across the Smithsonian to discover the unique and mysterious Amazon. A visit to the National Zoo’s Amazonia exhibition gets campers up close to the animals that thrive along the Amazon River. Throughout the week, campers explore the layers of the forest and its flora and fauna. A visit to the American Indian History Museum brings them closer to the culture of the region. Campers create an immersive rainforest for families to enjoy, inspired by the week's journey.
Imagine Washington, D.C., 110 million years ago as a swampy landscape filled with dinosaurs. Campers get the chance to investigate it as junior paleontologists, exploring prehistoric eras and the varieties and unique traits of the dinosaurs that roamed our backyards long, long ago. They learn what it means to be a real paleontologist by doing some fossil digging themselves.
Music is all around the Smithsonian! Campers spend the week discovering the many musical stylings found in the Smithsonian’s collections, from the Star-Spangled Banner to Hip Hop. Through in-depth visits to the American History and African American History and Culture museums, campers connect the songs they hear with the historical and cultural changes that influenced popular music. They experience the many styles of American music, exploring its connection to visual art and international roots. At the end of the week, friends and families are invited to a musical experience where they can hear campers’ remixes of classic and popular songs.
