There’s an ancient Egyptian theme in rural Centre Wellington this week.
The Wellington County Museum and Archives is hosting school-aged children and their parents and grandparents for a March Break week of Egyptian crafts, food, games, art and mummifying. Admission is by donation.
Explore Ancient Egypt corresponds with the museum’s exhibition Gift of the Nile, which is currently on display, featuring ancient artifacts, including an elaborately adorned mummy’s tomb.
The museum was bustling on Day 1 of the five-day activity, which runs from 1-4 p.m. daily. Kids were making decorated golden collars out of plastic plates, having their faces painted ancient Egyptian style, dressing in period costumes, and going on a scavenger hunt in the exhibition rooms.
The theme for Monday was make-up and costumes. On Tuesday it’s food and farming, Wednesday is games, Thursday is hieroglyphics and art, and Friday is mummies and archaeology.
“I learned all about the meaning behind all the different tattoos, and all the hieroglyphics,” said Alyson Eyers, 10, who was exploring the past with her twin sister Hailey. Hailey said all the activities were loads of fun.
“I’ve been to Egypt, so I wanted my grandchildren to experience a part of its history and culture,” said the girls’ grandmother, Roline Harris. “They’ve learned so much just being here for a short time.”
Libby Walker is the museum’s activity coordinator. She was pleased with the response to the event so far. Despite chilly, rainy weather Monday, the turnout was strong.
“This spring we’re hosting the travelling exhibition from the ROM (Royal Ontario Museum) called Gift of the Nile,” Walker said. “And, truly, Egypt is one of those topics that is popular with everybody and every age. We thought to host the exhibition and to built our March Break activities around it.”
The attraction to ancient Egypt, she added, has a lot to do with the romance of archeology, particularly related to discovering treasure.
“I think there’s a great appeal for the mysteries of such a beautiful and ancient civilization,” she said.
The treasure hunt element of Day 1 was to find little images of mummies in all the galleries.
