The Bermuda National Trust was busy in July providing students an educational summer camp in St. George's. This opportunity was coordinated by the Trust's education officer, Dr. Nicola O'Leary. This summer's theme of the Treasure Seekers History Camp was, "The Way We Built". The camp was conducted as a one-week programme, repeated for 2 weeks in July.

Dr. O'Leary said: "With the assistance of Takara Dill and Kathleen Madeiros, 30 campers, ages 8-11, participated in talks, field trips, games, treasure hunts and creative activities in order to learn about our built heritage: houses, boats and furniture.

"Throughout it all, campers learned the value of teamwork and the importance of preserving our unique local history."

Using the facilities of St. George's Preparatory School allowed the campers frequent jaunts to St. George's and the unique and interesting aspects that make it a World Heritage Site.

"Such visits included trips to Tucker House and the Deliverance as well as a scavenger hunt and an architectural bingo about the town. " We pretended we were early settlers as we explored the caves and jungle of Walsingham. We imagined life without electricity and played old-fashioned games at Verdmont. We toured the boat loft at the Maritime Museum, wondering what it would have been like to be a rower on a pilot boat and what we would need to bring with us if we were going turtling," continued Dr. O'Leary.

Back at the school, St. George's Prep, children put into practice some of what they had learned on the field trips. They created Bermuda houses from shoeboxes, constructed shelters from palmetto and cane, hammered and painted bluebird boxes, raced small wooden sailboats and learned how to tie square knots to make a rope bracelet.

Dr. O'Leary was pleased that parents and children alike commented on how rewarding and enjoyable the camp was!