Library Camp Was Lit!
Library camp was…lit!!!
The library had such a great time welcoming middle schoolers from all over Spokane and even into Idaho for the first ever Camp Foley!! The library team along with the Climate Institute provided fascinating activities and learning opportunities. The four-day camp included lessons on Spokane and Gonzaga history, introductions to cartography, practice using digital tools for storytelling centered on the theme of “belonging,” and incredible excursions across campus. Camp Foley was designed to be an exploratory, creative, and nerdy camp. Here are some highlights from the week:
University Archives and Special Collections:
Campers got to see some of the oldest books in Gonzaga’s collection, the oldest being from the 1400s! They also got to compare types of book making, think about how to develop a collection and what counts as archival materials, and they got to tour the vault!
Climate Institute:
During these sessions campers went outside and considered the area Gonzaga is located in. They thought about plants, animals, the Spokane Indians, city planning, and how this region’s environment has changed over time. Added adventures included seeing inside one of the biology greenhouses and wondering at how a concrete canoe could actually float!
Digital Scholarship Lab:
While the other parts of the camp day included observing and asking questions, the time with the Digital Scholarship Lab focused on activating curiosity through digital tools. The campers took like ducks to water as they navigated the full extent of design choices for 3D modeling, digital zine design, coding, and building their own virtual escape rooms. This was always a highlight of the day.
Cross Campus Adventures:
Campers enjoyed not one, not two, but three personal guided tours of unique campus spaces. They visited the McCarthy Athletic Center, the Bing Crosby House Museum, and the Jundt Art Museum, and at each place they peppered the guides with great questions.
If the middle schoolers in your sphere didn’t get the opportunity to participate in this years’ camp, keep an eye out for next years’ Camp Foley! They won’t want to miss out!
