After all those days sitting in their classrooms, learning about Colorado’s pioneer settlements and mining history, local elementary school students had a chance to experience some of it firsthand.
The Golden History Museum & Park hosted its annual Discovery Days May 9-10 for elementary school students from Golden and beyond. Most of the estimated 1,200 students were third- and fourth graders, rotating through the educational stations with their teachers and chaperones.
Local organizations like the Colorado Railroad Museum, Jefferson County Open Space, the Morrison Natural History Museum and the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum and others hosted educational booths around the park. Subjects ranged from local flora, fauna and fossils to the science behind train whistles.
Many hosted games and creative activities at their booths to keep the students entertained and engaged.
The Golden Library tested the students on how to prevent flood damage; the Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave taught them how to do lasso tricks; and the Mines Museum of Earth Science had them spin a chance wheel to predict their fortunes as prospectors, such as running out of food or striking it rich.
Overall, despite the gloomy weather overhead, the students and their chaperones enjoyed encountering Colorado history — or a glimpse of it, anyway — firsthand.
Click through additional photos of the May 9 Discovery Days event:
During Discovery Days on May 9, the Mines Museum of Earth Science hosts a chance wheel to predict students’ fortunes as prospectors, such as running out of money or food, or striking it rich. The museum was one of the several local organizations that participated in Discovery Days at the Golden History Museum & Park. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
An elementary school student practices writing in cursive on a Guy Hill Schoolhouse chalkboard May 9 during the Golden History Museum & Park’s Discovery Days. About 1,200 elementary school students rotated through 18 stations on the history park campus during the May 9-10 event. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
Aaron “Hutch” Hutchings demonstrates how to start a fire and other survival skills May 9 during the Golden History Museum & Park’s Discovery Days. About 1,200 students rotated through 18 stations around the history park campus during the May 9-10 event. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
An elementary school student makes a wildlife badge with a milksnake photo at Jefferson County Open Space’s educational booth May 9 during the Golden History Museum & Park’s Discovery Days. The museum hosted about 1,200 students, mostly third- and fourth graders, for the May 9-10 event. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
Elementary school students compare their jumping abilities to animals’ at Jefferson County Open Space’s educational booth May 9 during the Golden History Museum & Park’s Discovery Days. The museum hosted about 1,200 students, mostly third- and fourth graders, for the May 9-10 event. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
An elementary school student scoops materials to make a mini-greenhouse at Jefferson County 4-H’s booth May 9 during the Golden History Museum & Park’s Discovery Days. The museum hosted about 1,200 students, mostly third- and fourth graders, for the May 9-10 event. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
The Buffalo Bill Museum hosts a lesson on lariats and lassos May 9 during the Golden History Museum & Park’s Discovery Days. About 1,200 students, mostly third- and fourth graders, attended the May 9-10 event at the history park. Credit: Corinne Westeman 
The Golden History Park hosts hundreds of elementary school students, teachers and chaperones May 9 for its Discovery Days event. About 1,200 students rotated through 18 stations around the campus during the May 9-10 event. Credit: Corinne Westeman