Elementary: Week 1
July 10-14
Forest Explorers
Day 1:
To begin everyone’s exciting first day of camp, our Forest Explorers started by coming up with team names. The groups are now called Happy Sunflowers and Falcon Puppies! The first hike of the week took place in both the Log cabin and Hawk Field where campers got to explore the environment around them and journal about their experiences. Post-hike, a much needed lunch break was taken before heading out to an open exploration at the wood chip piles. They were given boundary lines but ultimately able to go and explore on their own. Kitchen tools like bowls, pans, and cups were open for use to further campers’ creativity. Campers built forts using ropes, scaled the large wood chip mounts, and even sat back and enjoyed the scenery around them. The final activity before heading home was painting with natural resources. Campers got to relax after an active day by using wood chips, leaves, branches, etc. to paint whatever they desired.
Day 2:
To start off our second day, campers helped feed two of our birds, the falcon and owl. Campers learned about maps and a directional compass, before having a chance to make their own map! To further the lesson of maps, they were asked to create a map as we walked around the nature center trails. Yesterday, the two groups each took a hiking location, either the Log Cabin or Hawk Field. Today, the groups got to switch so they’d have the opportunity to explore both locations! After lunch, campers got to journey to the Sugar Bush, where maple syrup is made. Campers miraculously found and collected dozens of worms, which we then investigated under a microscope. They learned all about how worms move, eat, etc. After the big excitement of worms, a snack break was taken. To wrap up the day before all our friends had to leave, we played a game of ‘Prey Freeze’!
Day 3:
Our third day here at the Nature Center began with a nature lesson. Campers learned about different animal tracks and how to tell what animal they belong to. They then had a chance to use what they learned and inspect different tracks and decide what animal made them. Each group then ventured to either the old tennis courts or the mud kitchen where they could make different dishes from leaves, mud, water, and more. After taking a small break for lunch, open exploration took everyone to the Locust Trail where we found lots of worms, roly-polys, centipedes and more. An exciting game of chase Eli, one of our stewards, and freeze tag broke out. The unexpected discovery of clay on the trail led to campers building various objects out of the substance. A much needed snack break was taken, before learning about animal pellets. Campers got to take a sterilized animal pellet and investigate what was inside. They discovered bones from several different animals, such as mice, shrews, birds, etc. To end the day, predator freeze and telephone was played as we said goodbye to campers.
Day 4:
Today, we started camp by feeding the falcon, and filling the bird feeders. Campers learned about bugs and insects as today’s theme. They got to use nets today to capture different bugs. One group started with catching bugs in the water, while the other group went down a trail to catch them in the field. Once everyone collected their insects, we headed inside to inspect some of them under the microeye. For today’s hike, the Happy Sunflowers and Falcon puppies swapped locations, heading to either the old tennis courts, or the mud kitchen that they didn’t go to yesterday. Campers built fairy homes, collected plants, and made dishes in the kitchen. After lunch, our open exploration took us to the bridges where campers played with pots and pans. They even saw a turtle! Our last activity for the day was netting again, letting the groups switch land and water collecting to whichever one they did not do earlier. Camper’s were then sent home before our final day tomorrow!
Day 5:
Our final day of camp was very bittersweet. We started the day like we normally do with feeding the animals, today we fed the owl and falcon. Next, a scavenger hunt took us around the nature center ending at the log cabin where the morning snack was eaten. As we hiked around the woods, campers learned about edible plants and tried woodsorrel, grape leaves, garlic mustard, and wild raspberries. Open exploration for the day was held at the log cabin, and campers finally had a chance to go inside the cabin. After lunch, both the Falcon Puppies and Happy Sunflowers went back to the mud kitchen to make lots of soup and coffee! On the way back from the mud kitchen, campers collected leaves for the nature lesson. They looked at the leaves with microscopes and drew the leaves in their journals. To end our last day of camp awards were given out to campers for their best traits. Some awards included camp protector, aquaman, most enthusiastic etc. We sadly said goodbye to our friends, but look forward to seeing those who will return for another week this summer!
