NEWS RELEASE: Historic Huguenot Street Expands Popular Summer Camp Offerings

NEW PALTZ, NY (May 26, 2015) – Historic Huguenot Street has added an additional week in July to its summer Camp Huguenot schedule, which features week-long summer camps on archaeology and colonial history. Campers between the ages of 9 and 12 are invited to discover, explore, and experience the National Historic Landmark District, where they will learn about the site, its unique history, and the individuals who settled New Paltz over 300 years ago.

This year’s camps feature two themed opportunities. The popular Hidden History Archaeology Camp has been extended to include two week-long sessions; campers may register for one or both weeks. Campers work alongside trained archaeologists from SUNY New Paltz Professor Joseph Diamond’s Field School, conducting a live archaeology dig searching for artifacts left by the original settlers and the Native Americans who came before them. Through these activities, campers will learn the basic principles and practices of archaeology, as well as its modern day significance and relation to the understanding of past cultures. Archaeology Camp sessions run July 13 – 17 and July 20 – 24.

Launched last summer, Colonial Kids’ Living History Camp provides campers with the opportunity to spend a week with Huguenot Street museum staff and historic re-enactors learning about life in the 18th century and how it compares to our lives today. Campers will replicate games, chores, and activities from colonial times, experience an 18th century school lesson, try-on colonial clothing, learn about common occupations and trades, and much more. Living History Camp runs July 27 – 31.

“At Camp Huguenot, campers not only learn about archaeology and history, they get hands-on experience, interacting with museum professionals, archaeologists, and authentic artifacts,” explained Kara Gaffken, Director of Public Programming.

All camps run 9 am to 3 pm, Monday – Friday. After-Camp Care is also available until 4 pm for an additional fee. For more information, rates, and registration, see huguenotstreet.org/camp-huguenot. Registration is required as spots fill quickly.

A National Historic Landmark District, Historic Huguenot Street is a 501(c)3 non-profit that encompasses 30 buildings across 10 acres that was the heart of the original 1678 New Paltz settlement, including seven stone houses that date to the early eighteenth century.  It was founded in 1894 as the Huguenot Patriotic, Historical, and Monumental Society to preserve the nationally acclaimed collection of stone houses. Since then, Historic Huguenot Street has grown into an innovative museum, chartered as an educational corporation by the University of the State of New York, that is dedicated to protecting our historic buildings, conserving an important collection of artifacts and manuscripts, and promoting the stories of the Huguenot Street families, from the sixteenth century to today. 

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Contact
Kaitlin Gallucci
Communications & Marketing Manager
(845) 255-1660
media@huguenotstreet.org