TRUCKEE, Calif. — The new Take Flight Egypt exhibit at KidZone Museum provides an interactive look at ancient civilization through an Egyptian dig and Explorers hut, complete with artifacts and clothing of early Egyptian life.

As with all exhibits at KidZone, the museum relies heavily on community support to build and design exhibits, which are typically on display for 24 months. Within those two years, content is renewed every six months to keep the learning fresh and engaging for families.

A key contributor to the latest exhibit was the sixth-grade crew from Sierra Expeditionary Learning School.

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Reenie McMains’ students drew on the expertise of KidZone staff for one of their expeditions earlier in the school year, which was to create a classroom museum that told the story of planet earth’s history.

Their exhibit was a timeline that explored geological changes and clues that shaped the current structure of earth.

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The relationship came full circle when KidZone asked sixth graders to participate in the production of their Egyptian showcase and naturally, students welcomed the opportunity.

“Most of these students played at the KidZone Museum when they were 3 or 5 years old. Their enthusiasm to help create exhibits for young children was infectious,” said museum executive director Carol Meagher. “The detail and thoughtfulness in the work they created is impressive.”

Community Service is a large piece of SELS curriculum, not only through time commitments but also fundraising efforts. Their contribution to the Take Flight Egypt exhibit was fully funded by money collected from students.

“Emotions were high near the end of this project,” explained McMains. “But the hardest part was also the best part: I watched kids beam with pride at their personal and team success. These are experiences you can’t teach students, it’s growth that is immeasurable.”

This article was submitted by Sierra Expeditionary Learning School, a K-8 public charter within the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District. Visit truckeecharterschool.org to learn more.