By Breann Thompson
In a galaxy far, far away…is life really all that different? Campers at Carnegie Museum of Natural History have the opportunity to answer that very question this summer!

One recent class of padawans was tasked with selecting a new home planet for the Rebel Alliance—and you can’t choose the best location for a rebel base without a deep understanding of biomes and the types of life that thrive in each! With that in mind, we travelled the galaxy, and the museum, to devise a plan. Exploration of Walton Hall of Ancient Egypt helped uncover the landscape of Tatooine. We imagine that Dagobah wildlife would have much in common with the ancient Pennsylvanian Coal Forests on display in Benedum Hall of Geology. We even tried our hand at building ice houses, inspired by Inuit culture in Polar World, to test our survival skills on the frigid planet of Hoth.

For now, we’ve been tasked with guarding the base’s location, but I have faith our budding Jedi are responsibly wielding the light side of the force.
The quest for knowledge continues—and you can join in! The 2018 camp season runs through August 24, and there are chances to join in us in nature exploration throughout the year.
Breann Thompson works in the Education department of Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Museum employees are encouraged to blog about their unique experiences and knowledge gained from working at the museum.