This’ll float your boat

Tired of buying plastic toys that quickly land in junk drawers and trash cans? Your kids can find out how to make their own from natural materials at UCLA’s Fowler Museum.

In “Kids in the Courtyard: Float Your Boat,” children learn to make dolls and boats from tule reeds, as well as paper boats (ti’ats) in the style of the native Tongva (later known as  Gabrielinos.) The program accompanies the exhibit Launching a Dream: Reviving Tongva Maritime Traditions, which documents the rebirth of early native coastal communities in Southern California with a series of photographs.

The Fowler Museum explores and celebrates the diverse peoples and cultures of our world, both past and present. The toy-making workshop is the museum’s latest installment in a series of interactive, educational programs for children.

The event runs from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 14. Admission is free to the workshop and the museum, which is at the north end of UCLA’s main campus. Check its website for directions, hours and instructions on parking. Happy sailing!

Posted 8/10/11