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"Something Fishy" Summer Camp 2009 at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park
National Park Presents Three Summer Camp Opportunities for Local Youth to Explore City’s History
New Bedford, MA, July 8, 2009—Local youth will have plenty of opportunities to connect with New Bedford’s rich and diverse history this summer season. New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park is collaborating with several partners to offer a slate of summer camps sure to engage young people interested in topics ranging from whaling and fishing to the Underground Railroad. Through partnerships with the Working Waterfront Festival, the New Bedford Historical Society, and the YMCA, these stories will come to light for over 100 young people from local communities. “Our goal is to help connect these kids with the rich history that’s made New Bedford such an nationally important place over time, so that they come away with not only a deeper understanding of these roots but a renewed sense of pride in their local heritage,” says Park Superintendent Jen Nersesian. “They are the ambassadors who will carry these stories into the future, and who through understanding the past will make even greater strides forward tomorrow.”
The Working Waterfront Festival and New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park are teaming up for Something Fishy, a summer camp for 4th and 5th graders. Over 60 participants will experience a week- long exploration of New Bedford’s working waterfront from whaling days to the present. Campers were chosen by lottery as there were over 100 applications for the 64 spots. The camp will be held in the National Park’s Corson Maritime Learning Center during four weeks in July and August. Many activities await these youngsters, including marine science, maritime crafts, visits with fishermen, dock walks and vessel tours, squid dissection, harbor tours, visits to area sites that highlight New Bedford’s historical and contemporary connection to the sea, and much more.
Hidden History is a program designed to engage middle school students in the history of New Bedford and the city’s role in the Underground Railroad Hidden History works to enhance our children’s knowledge of New Bedford’s history as well as their passion for learning and critical thinking abilities, using local history and the arts to focus on academic skill areas such as reading, writing, the arts, and geography.
Hidden History has been offered by the New Bedford Historical Society as an afterschool or Saturday morning program for the past two years. New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park is teaming up with the New Bedford Historical Society to take the Hidden History concept and turn it into a one-week summer program. The program will take place at the park's Corson Maritime Learning Center during the week of July 27, 2009.
Due to a new collaboration between New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park and the Southcoast YMCA, over five dozen Y-campers will also join in activities relating to the history of New Bedford this summer. One day a week from June to August there will be various activities, led by park rangers and volunteers, within the National Park boundaries. These programs will focus on whaling, the Underground Railroad and the city’s working waterfront. Scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, make-and-take projects, walking tours and living history presentations are some of the planned events.
New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park was established by Congress in 1996 to help preserve and interpret America’s nineteenth century whaling industry. The park, which encompasses a 13-block National Historic Landmark District, is the only National Park Service area addressing the history of the whaling industry and its influence on the economic, social, and environmental history of the United States.
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