The Grand Village of the Natchez Indians will have its annual Discovery Week for children ages 8 to 11, June 18 to 22, from 9 a.m. until noon each day.

Registration fee for Discovery Week is $40 and is limited to 15 participants, so sign up early. Registration deadline is Wednesday, May 30.

At Discovery Week, campers will learn about Native Americans and French settlers from our wonderful volunteers who each specialize in their crafts, including pottery, weaponry, archery, storytelling and games. The students not only get to hear about people from 300 years ago, they get to do some of the same crafts done by the natives of the Natchez area and take their projects home with them at the end of camp.

Each weekday offers a special program and craft, in which the volunteers teach what they know and allow the students to participate. (While the kids think they are just there to have fun, they are really learning!) So, when they go back to school and they start learning about Native Americans and Mississippi History, your little campers will know more about the subject than their friends who stayed at home watching television this summer.

This year’s Discovery Week is very exciting. Monday, the children will learn about Native American pottery techniques and make their own pottery. This is a really fun day for the children because it is also the dirtiest, and for some reason how dirty you get is directly related to how much fun you have.

Children will also learn the game stickball, and many other Native American games, which is a lot of fun and always a Discovery Week favorite.

Tuesday, they will divide into groups and learn archery from Robin Persons, prehistoric mammals from Jim Barnett, and about snakes and some other key things to look out for on our nature walk from Kay McNeil.

On Wednesday, Wilkie Collins, who has helped us for nearly two decades, will show and demonstrate Native American tools and weapons. His flint knapping skills always fascinate everyone.

Thursday, French colonial re-enactors Clark Burkett and Albin Bertics will teach the children how Frenchman in the 1700s would have survived in this area. The children will learn how to start a fire using flint, steel and char cloth, and they will get to throw a real tomahawk.

Friday begins with the nature walk led by Jackie Passbach, who will teach them how to identify plants. Friday we will have our picnic at 11 when families of attending children are welcome to picnic with the children and visit the site. This is a very important picnic, because this is when the camper’s learn their American Indian names.

If you are interested in adding a little excitement, knowledge and outdoor activity to your child’s life this June, come down to the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians and register your child or grandchild now.

The $40 registration fee includes a T-shirt, certificate and all of the crafts your child makes while at camp.

You must come by the Grand Village to receive health forms, permission requests and to pay the fee.

Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration deadline is Wednesday, May 30.

For further information, please call Becky Anderson at the Grand Village — 601-446-6502 or stop by the Grand Village located at 400 Jefferson Davis Blvd.

 

Becky Martin Anderson is a historian at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians.