Museum offers summer camp sessions
Children can learn about a piece of Yuma’s history this summer as the Sanguinetti House Museum and Gardens gears up for its final summer camp session of the season.
“They hear stories of Yuma’s history that are told in ways that are interesting for children,” said Yana Kruse, Rio Colorado Division Director of the Arizona Historical Society and executive director of the Sanguinetti Museum. “I think the greatest takeaway is their love for history and for this old house with so much charm (that) really is deepened with the experience. We just feel that the very best way to learn about history is having great fun doing it.”
The museum itself is a historic landmark and was the 19th-century adobe home of E.F. Sanguinetti. Today, it chronicles his life story as the Merchant Prince of Yuma.
E.F. Sanguinetti lived from 1867 to 1945 and came to Yuma at the age of 15. According the Arizona Historical Society website, he grew to become a “civicminded businessman whose various enterprises — electricity, ice house, ranching, farming, merchandising, banking and real estate — advanced his own well-being and that of the community he loved.”
“We want them to have an appreciation for the people who once resided in the home and Sanguinetti’s influence and what he did and what he was able to accomplish during his life in Yuma,” Kruse said. “Understanding the Sanguinetti family is key.”
Kruse explained that children will also learn about many other facets of history at the camp as well. This will be the second year of the program which was created to offer children their own chance to explore and interact with the museum.
“It all began with a grant from the Arizona Community Foundation that we received last year to give us seed money for the program,” Kruse said. “We launched it last year with their funds and now we are able to sustain the program.”
Thus far, a couple of twoday sessions have taken place at the museum this summer. The third and last session is scheduled to take place Tuesday and Wednesday from 8 a.m. to noon at the Sanguinetti House Museum and Gardens, 240 S. Madison Avenue, in the downtown district.
Some activities children can indulge in at the camp include a treasure hunt exploration, history mysteries, 19th century top hat and bonnet creations, a vintage tea party and more. A new addition to the festivities this year is the a 19th century photo opportunity, Kruse noted.
Each session is two half days and the camp is aimed at children between the ages six and twelve. Campers that are eleven and twelve years of age are designated as “Senior Campers” and are to assist with activities.
Registration is $50 for the first camper. A $10 discount is offered with the sign-up of a second camper. Kruse added that the program organizers will work with children who have financial difficulty and scholarships are available.
Presently, there are four tickets left for the final summer camp session. However, Kruse said that the program can accept a few more campers if they wish to join, and each session’s capacity is about ten campers.
“That’s part of the uniqueness of this camp. It’s very personal and it’s very small.”
To register, visit www.arizonahistoricalsociety.org/programs-and-activities/
For more information or for questions, call 928-7821841 or email ykruse@azhs.gov.