Tadpoles and Chipmunks
Ages 3-5
The youngest campers discover the wonders of the natural world through age appropriate hands-on activities, including nature walks, stories, crafts, music, and meeting live animals. These young campers use their senses to participate in activities which encourage sharing, learning together, and being a friend to nature. These groups meet behind the Science Center next to the owl enclosure at picnic tables. On rainy days, they are based in one of the preschool rooms but will go outside for rainy walks! Both of these locations offer easy access to the preschool bathroom and the Camp Director’s office.
Tadpoles ~ Age 3 (must be toilet trained)
- 2 options: Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Tuesday, Thursday
- 1 week sessions
- 9:00am-12:00pm
Chipmunks ~ Age 4 and 5 (must be toilet trained)
- Monday through Friday
- 1 week sessions
- 9:00am-12:00pm
2020 Themes
Week 1: Mucky Muddy Mania (June 22 – June 26)
Come get messy in the mud kitchen and muck around in the pond. Discover what plants and animals live along the shores of Jacobs Pond by exploring the water and mud with dip nets, buckets, and magnifiers. Dress for the mess!
Week 2: Rock, Rumble, and Roll (June 29-July 3)
Hike a glacial esker, explore remnants of a boulder field. Crack open a geode and be a rock hound. Learn why thunder rumbles and how cyclones spin. Discover how nature’s incredible forces shape our landscape and our lives.
Week 3: Prehistoric Palooza (July 6-10)
There are discoveries to be made! The world of dinosaurs will come to life through fossil hunts, mock digs, and engaging hands-on activities. We will explore the lives of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals and the evidence that scientists use to learn about these ancient creatures!
Week 4: Forest Forensics (July 13-17)
From scat, to tracks, to camouflage, the forest is full of mysteries! Join us as we work together to uncover the hidden world in our own back yard. Practice basic tracking techniques, learn to read clues in the landscape, and discover the adaptations that help animals survive in the wilderness.
Week 5: Incredible Insects, Curious Crawlers (July 20-24)
Grab your bug net and viewer! Put on your muck boots and grab your field guides! We’ll be hunting for bugs in the fields and searching for amphibians in the swamps! Participate in the Lost Ladybug Citizen Science Project and learn about the life cycles of these fascinating creatures.
Week 6: Sharks and Creatures of the Deep (July 27- 31)
From tide-pools to shipwrecks, and the deep sea to the shore. Discover the wonders of the ocean and the secrets of the animals that live there including the amazing world of sharks!
Week 7: Mission Impossible? (August 3-7)
Do you have the next big idea to change the world? What are the real world problems you want to solve? As Albert Einstein said, “Look into nature, then you will understand everything better.” Take a chance, explore your idea, and tinker around with a variety of materials. Do you accept the challenge?
On Thursday, August 6 – Campers Grades 1 and up will participate in an all-day off-site Thingamajig Invention Convention while younger campers participate in an on-site “Mini-majig”
Week 8: Galactic Blast-off (August 10-14)
Blast off into space! Come explore the solar system with us as we discover the mysteries of space! What causes an eclipse? Why is Pluto no longer a planet? Why is a year on Mercury only 88 days? We will uncover the answers to these and other space curiosities that have mystified humans for years.
Week 9: Taking Flight (August 17-21)
Let your imagination take flight as we explore nature’s many animals (and even some plants) that soar through the sky! Investigate how wings work, create flying crafts, and discover how far your creativity can go.
Week 10: Bees and Trees (August 24-28)
What’s the buzz? Did you know that our lives depend on bees for food and trees to breathe? Taste honey and learn how bees spread pollen with their knees. Explore how paper is made and why trees are green. Discover what you can do in your own back yard and community to keep bees and trees healthy.
Sample Day for Tadpoles and Chipmunks: A ‘Salamander Day’
9:00-9:15 Arrival and quiet games
9:20-9:40 All camp morning circle with announcements and songs
9:45-10:30 A forest exploration walk looking for salamanders
10:30-11:00 Snack and stories like The Salamander Room
11:00-11:30 Salamander craft made from recycled materials
11:30-12:00 An active game like “Salamander Tails”
12:00 Pickup
