'Ancient Adventures'


Yarina will perform traditional Incan music at the Springfield Museums on August 11, at 12:30 p.m. The program is the final performance in the Museums' Ancient Adventures series of summer programs.

teaches the multicultural heritage of the Americas

SPRINGFIELD Children and families can learn about the multicultural heritage of the Americas at the Springfield Museums beginning August 8 in the final week of the "Ancient Adventures" summer programs. The programs have been planned to celebrate the new Ancient Treasures gallery in the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum.

"Ancient Adventures" programs are sponsored by Bank of America and by the Eugene A. Dexter Charitable Fund through the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.

Activities are free with the price of museum admission unless noted.

Daily, Tuesday through Friday:

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Pan for gems and fossils in the "Museum Mining Company's" rushing river sluice (additional fee; proceeds support the Dr. Seuss Sculpture Garden).

Ongoing Go on a scavenger hunt through the new Ancient Treasures gallery and win a prize.

Noon-3:30 p.m. Make take-home crafts and meet costumed characters from ages past.

Noon-3:45 p.m. Hands-on Family Science Adventures

1, 2 & 3 p.m. - Planetarium shows (additional fee)

Noon- 4 p.m. Try on costumes and make "ancient art."

August 8

12:30 p.m. Storyteller Roger Tincknell presents "Across the Americas," a folk music journey from Canada to Chile performed in many languages and with a variety of stringed, wind and percussion instruments.

Noon-3:30 p.m. Make a Native American dream-catcher. August 9

Noon-3:30 p.m. Make an Aztec rain stick.

August 10

Noon-3:30 p.m. - Make a totem pole craft and decode the ancient Maya calendar.

August 11

12:30 p.m. - The musical group Yarina (which means "remembrance" in the native language of the Incas) performs traditional music of the indigenous peoples of the Andes. Originally founded in Ecuador by four brothers, Yarina's extensive travel throughout Europe and the Americas has resulted in an imaginative repertoire that incorporates jazz, blues, Latin, and Western classical music. The group won a "Nammy" for Best World Music at the 7th annual Native American Music Awards.

Noon-3:30 p.m. - Make an Aztec rain stick and decode the ancient Maya calendar.

The Springfield Museums are located at the Quadrangle on Edwards Street off Chestnut in downtown Springfield. Free parking is available in the Edwards Street parking lots. Summer hours through September 1 are Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. (Science Museum open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.)

Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and college students with ID, $5 for children 3-17, and free for children under three and museum members. The fee provides admission to all four museums and the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden. Springfield students are free with their Springfield City Library card. Springfield residents are free on Fridays with their Springfield City Library card.

For information, call 413-263-6800 or visit www.springfieldmuseums.org.