The Bainbridge Island Historical Museum has received an Award of Excellence from the Washington Museum Association for their 2011 “Once Upon a Time” History Day Camp.

The award was presented to the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum at the Washington Museum Association’s annual meeting at Seattle Center on June 14.

Organized by museum volunteer Carol McCarthy and educational coordinator Katy Curtis, the week-long history camp introduced 8-10 year olds to the lives of children from the very earliest days on Bainbridge Island.

The adventures began by exploring the life of a Native American child before contact with settlers. Barbara Lawrence, Suquamish Storyteller, shared games and songs and a visit to a midden. A field trip to the Suquamish museum, Chief Seattle’s grave and Long House Park were included in the activities.

Campers experienced what daily living was like for children of Bainbridge farm and logging mill families of the middle to late 1800s. Children had classes in the museum’s historic 1908 one-room schoolhouse, made their own toys and games, and learned about daily chores. A field trip to Day Road farms included games and plough pulling. At Port Madison, the group visited historic homes, the beach and sailed boats they had made.

This year’s fourth annual “Once Upon A Time” History Day Camp will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Aug. 6-10. The camp is for ages 8 through 10, and the cost is $115. Register through the Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District at 206-842-2306 or visit www.biparks.org.