Camp Dates & Themes:
July 23, 9:30 Am-12 Noon Rock Wall Climbing Day
June 14-18, Flutterbys, Ages 6-12
June 21-25, Geology Rocks, Ages 6-12
June 28-July 2, Howlers, Ages 6-12
July 12-16, Sunlight, Starlight & Orbs, Ages 8-12
July 19-23, Water Wizards, Ages 6-12
August 2-6, Growing Peace, Grades K-6th
Quick Links
Camp Web Page
Rock Wall Climbing Day!
Compost makes great vegetables!
All campers are invited to climb the rock wall!

July 23, 2010 9:30AM-12 Noon

Whether they've done it before or have never tried their hand at climbing - the rock wall is a safe and fun way to challenge themselves as they climb to the top!

It's a great confidence building exercise that encourages whole body coordination. 

* Rock wall climbing will be reserved only for campers and Jr. Naturalists.
It's time for Summer Camp!
Experience, Discover and Explore the Great Outdoors!
Greetings!

It's just around the corner - Summer break! Never fear, Placer Nature Center Summer Day Camp can provide your children with lots of arts and crafts, structured and unstructured play, writing, reading, and theme related science experiments - they won't realize they are learning while having so much fun!

These week-long day camp sessions focus on different nature-related themes with hands-on science investigations that meet California Content Standards in education!

Campers also take part in nature crafts, games, puppet shows, plant & animal investigations where they learn to analyze, take nature trail hikes, sing camp songs and much more under the guidance of Docents and our specially trained teen Jr. Naturalists.

Friendships are formed with their peers as well as with our very caring teenage Jr. Naturalists. Our Jr. Naturalists are local teens who have attended a special training prior to camp. It's a extremely popular and competitive volunteer position - many are former campers themselves!

Each day camp runs:
Monday through Friday 
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Please see below for themes, dates and ages. 
Each week of camp is $85 per camper,
Placer Nature Center member price is $75 per camper. 
R.E.I. Camp Scholarship available
Flutterbys
June 14-18, 2010 
Ages 6-12
 Do you know the order of the honeybee hive? Or why the honeybee bee dances? Get your insect nets and bug viewers because we're going on a scavenger hunt! See like an insect and learn about compound eyes, metamorphosis and all the different types of insects.

And, of course, what's a bug without the parts of the flower? We'll trap specimens to study under the microscope but we will always do an insect release ceremony when we're done to encourage stewardship! Let's play Forest Trail Fantasy and then team up for the Garden Scent Trail, and then a little Sniff & Scout! Create a trash monster and record your buggy discoveries by sketch.
* Special Rock Wall Climbing Day included
 
Geology Rocks 
June 21-25, 2010 
Ages 6-12
Do you know what minerals are in your toothpaste? Dig into the earth and explore rocks! Learn about the rock cycle,fossils and use the tools of a geologist. Play Quake Proof, go core sampling in a cupcake, and hard rock chocolate chip cookie mining. Learn how to classify rocks and explore their patterns.

Make your own rock collection and take a meteorite walk. Create your own Sands of Time, crystal shapes, sandstone and an exploding volcano. See how geology rocks your world and affects plants and animals everyday!
* Special Rock Wall Climbing Day included
Howlers 
June 28-July 2, 2010 
Ages 6-12
Explore the world of mammals, learn to read animal trails and navigate the web of life. Investigate skulls and pelts learn about the different types of teeth and adaptations!

Explore animal homes, use a microscope to look at fur and guess the Mystery Skull. Paint rocks and your face to look like your favorite critter. Understand habitat and start your own mini nature journal as we explore. Take part in the Creature Symphony and make tracks. 
* Special Rock Wall Climbing Day included
 
Sunlight, Starlight & Orbs
July 12-16, 2010**
Ages 8-12
Ever wonder how to read a star chart? Or how the sun's energy powers plants and people? Explore the day and night sky through experiments with plants, prisms and solar cooking! Learn about asteroids, galaxies, constellations, phases of the moon, sun and the life-cycle of a star.

Play fun games like "Catch a Falling Star" where we look for real meteorites! Build a sundial, make a constellation booklet and build a solar system mobile! 
** Participants in this camp receive a 40% off coupon for the Star Gazing Class with local astronomer and comet discover, Don Machholz! 
* Special Rock Wall Climbing Day included
Water Wizards 
July 19-23, 2010 
Ages 6-12
Explore the wonders of water through water scopes and wet experiments in our conservation pond. Use the power of water to build a watershed. Get an up-close look at waterfowl and use microscopes to examine the tiny creatures that prefer an aquatic habitat!

Join the Water Olympics and learn about healthy streams, fish ecology and play the pollution game. Listen to frog songs, make fish prints, bubbles and rafts.
* Special Rock Wall Climbing Day included
Growing Peace 
August 2-6, 2010
K-6th Grade
Explore concepts of peace, justice and equality for all people through arts, crafts games and singing. All activities focus on learning how to respect the individuality & diversity of every person on earth. Campers will also explore of the beautiful outdoor natural environment and ways to preserve it. Includes a stewardship project at the nature center.

Learn more about and register for Peace Camp here... Camp sponsored and run by Sierra Foothills Unitarian Universalists, hosted at Placer Nature Center. Open to all, does not incorporate religion or religious teachings. Scholarships available through SFUU. Please visit their website for more information.
We look forward to seeing your children at camp!
 
Linda Desai, Education Director, and all the volunteers at Placer Nature Center
Camp registration and more information....