July Hails Month of Adventures at Children’s Museum

From Spa Day and Friends on Wheels to the Critterman and dinosaurs, July is set to be the “Month of Adventure” at the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum. Activities during the month vary on a daily or weekly basis.

July begins with Spa Day on Wednesday, July 2 at 1:30. The pampering begins as young girls make bath salts, get manicures, have their hair done and receive foot massages courtesy of Fire ‘n Ice.

Celebration of Independence Day is on Thursday, July 3 at 11:00. Dr. Wendell and Linda Edwards present a program, Children in Colonial Times. The Edwards appear in Colonial dress to show how children in Colonial times entertained themselves. Then Bettina Zvanut continues the experiences as she demonstrates how to make soap.  Homemade soap will be available for the children to take home.“Making soap was so important to families in Colonial times, and it is fun to show the children how that was done”, said Ms. Zvanut.

The “Month of Adventure” continues with a week of Friends on Wheels on July 8-11. Special guests appear at11:00 a.m. each day. Guests include fire trucks on Tuesday, police cars on Wednesday, trains on Thursday and Gus the Garbage Truck sponsored by Republic Services on Friday.

The Texas Bubble Lady, sponsored by the 10-2-4 Ranch, presents a bubble show on Thursday, July 17 at 2:00. Her appearance will highlight the week of Things That Go Pop on July 15-18. Other presentations of Things That Go Pop will be at 11:00 and 2:00 each day.

 There must always be a time for books in the summer. Puppet Productions presents Three Billy Goats Gruff on Tuesday, July 22 at 11:00 and 2:00. The Children’s Museum is pleased to announce the appearance of Mary Casad, author of Bluebonnet the Armadillo, on Wednesday, July 23 at 11:00.

the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum is the place to find a summer adventure.
As July ends, the Critterman Show comes on Friday, July 25 at 6:00. This presentation, sponsored by Dixie Turman State Farm Insurance and McDaniel Dentistry, reminds children of the adventure found in animals.  “We are pleased to bring quality entertainment for families to the Children’s Museum,” said Sharline Freeman, Executive Director. We appreciate the sponsorship of our local supporters in bringing the Texas Bubble Lady and the Critterman to Commerce.”

CSI Police Camp on July 23, 24, and 25 from 10:00 to 12:00 provides more adventures. Officer Chad Ballard of the TAMU-Commerce Police Department and Officer Alex Suarez of the City of Commerce Police Department will direct children through the adventure of crime solving.

From Spa Day to the Bubble Lady, and from Friends on Wheels to the Critterman, the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum is the place to find a summer adventure. For additional information on any of the activities, call the Northeast Texas Children’s Museum at 903-886-6055.  The Northeast Children's Museum is located on the NW corner of Culver and Highway 50, Commerce, TX 75428

Find more fun learning opportunities for Texoma area kids this summer on the Kids Korner on TexomaConnect.com.

Wildlife Department Youth Camp application available now

Oklahoma Wildlife Camp 2013

     Youths can log on to wildlifedepartment.com any time through April 18 and apply completely online for the 16th Annual Wildlife Youth Camp. 

     The weeklong event is slated this year for June 22-27 at Oklahoma University Biological Station at Lake Texoma. The camp is run entirely by employees of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation and aims to teach youth about the rewards offered by a career in wildlife - be it as a game warden, fish and wildlife biologist or even a communications or education specialist.

     The free camp increases awareness of conserving and managing Oklahoma's wildlife resources through courses on wildlife-related career opportunities, rifle and shotgun training, archery, wildlife identification, wildlife law enforcement, fishing, fisheries management, ropes, swimming, turkey and waterfowl hunting, management and law enforcement.

     "We urge anybody between the ages of 14 and 16 that's interested in hunting or fishing or a career with the Department to apply," said Jay Harvey, game warden stationed in Choctaw and Bryan counties and coordinator for the Wildlife Youth Camp

     To attend Wildlife Youth Camp, applicants must be Oklahoma residents, and they must turn 14 prior to June 22, 2014, and be no older than 16. Prospective campers must fill out an application form and write a 75-word essay describing why they want to attend the camp, why they should be selected and what they expect to learn. Additionally, they must provide a letter of recommendation by someone other than a family member and a recent photograph showing the applicant participating in an outdoor-related event or activity. The application process can be completed online, including the submission of the required essay, photo and signed letter of recommendation. To apply, prospective campers should log on to wildlifedepartment.com. The page also includes additional information about the camp and photographs from previous years.

The camp will be open to a maximum of 35 youths, and applications will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. April 18, 2014.  The 16th Annual Wildlife Youth Camp is scheduled for June 22-27 at Lake Texoma and will introduce teens to careers in wildlife conservation through a range of outdoor activities. Learn more at wildlifedepartment.com.

This program receives federal assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and thus prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and sex (gender), pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. To request an accommodation or informational material in an alternative format, please contact the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation by calling (405) 521-3855. If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or service, please contact U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, Attention: Civil Rights Coordinator for Public Access, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203.

The Lake Texoma area offers many opportunities for the curious and the budding natural scientist.  Tishomingo National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma and Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge in Texas, offer plenty of opportunities for observing and photographing nature.  Hagerman NWR has monthly programs for youth and adults and the Friends of Hagerman NWR Photography Club that meets bi-monthly to share ideas.  For more information on events and programs offered visit www.texomaconnect.com.