Local kids ‘travel’ to Cambodia during April vacation

Wednesday, April 20, 2011 norwalkcitizenonline

Mena Beck, 1

constructs a kite at Stepping Stones Museum where children spent the day making Cambodian kites in Norwalk, Conn., April 19, 2011. For centuries the Cambodians have practiced the tradition of kite flying. The traditional Cambodian kite is called the khleng ek and features a bow made from rattan, bamboo or palm leaf which vibrates in the wind, producing a distinctive musical sound. The Museum chooses a different country to celebrate each month and designs educational activities around the culture and customs of the chosen place. April celebrates Cambodia, May, Tibet, and June will be Australia’s turn. The children are given passports which are stamped monthly reflecting their educational travels. Photo: Keelin Daly / Stamford Advocate

Local kids are getting a chance to visit Cambodia this April vacation thanks to Stepping Stones Museum in Norwalk. They have dubbed April vacation week as “Travel to Cambodia” week.

On Monday, since Cambodia is famous for its colorful silk, visitors to the museum discovered how silk is made from the cocoons of silkworms. On Tuesday kids learned that kites in Cambodia are exquisite cultural treasures and made a kite of their own to take home.

Later in the week students are scheduled to hear the Cambodian folktale of Angkat, the Cambodian Cinderella, participate in a shadow play as shadow theater is a magical performing art in Cambodia, and create a decorated horse to take home because Cambodian horses are sharp dressers.