MINOT — Bugs can be a very interesting study for people of all ages, but kids seem to find them fascinating.
The Magic City Discovery Center wrapped up its last outreach educational program for the summer with its Bug Camp at the Minot Municipal Auditorium Monday through Thursday for kids 5-12 years of age.
After parents signed their kids up for $200 for all four days, the kids, 19 total, learned lessons about all sorts of bugs.
Liz Weeks, education and outreach director, said the first day she taught them about butterflies.
“We have looked at some butterflies, and looked at some different parts of a bug,” said Weeks. “We have the head, the thorax, and the abdomen. We just made some butterflies, so we talked about symmetry.”
Weeks, with her fellow teacher Myranda Brown, community outreach specialist, also helped the kids make lightning bugs with LED lights.
“They get to keep everything,” said Weeks. “The end of the week we’re going to take bug nets and go bug hunting.”
The Discovery Center provided Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches.
“There’s hundreds of them in there,” said Weeks. “If you stroke their back they will hiss.”
Ant farms and caterpillars in their cocoons were also at the camp.
The Discovery Center also collected specimens of different types of bugs, which the kids looked at through microscopes.
“We did Biology Camp in June, we did Space Camp in July,” said Weeks. “This is our last camp in the summer. Once we get into the building we’ll have our own space to have camps. The parks department has been gracious enough to let us use this space."
The Magic City Discovery Center is on track to open in December, with fall camps scheduled before then at the auditorium.
More information on the Magic City Discovery Center and its upcoming camps can be found on its Facebook page. People can sign up for its newsletter on its website, which Weeks said sends out updates around once a month.
