|
Special Holiday Offer
Give the Gift of Nature
. . . and Science
This Land Is Your Land 2008
$250/week
Take advantage of this special offer: register and pay in full for one or more weeks of This Land is Your Land 2008 Summer Day Camp and pay the 2007 Early Bird rate of only $250 per week.
Whether you're a grandparent looking for a special holiday gift or a parent just wanting to save by reserving your 2008 summer camp weeks early, this is a fantastic opportunity to lock in the lowest rates for This Land is Your Land 2008.
There is no limit to the number of weeks you can reserve at this rate, and you don't need to commit to specific dates now; just select the number of weeks you want to reserve at $250/week.
If your reservation is a gift, we'll mail you a Gift Certificate to present to the lucky camper.
So, don't delay! Call today to reserve one or more weeks of This Land is Your Land 2008 with a credit card, or place your order by phone and mail a check to confirm your reservation.
For more information call (510) 581-3739
Offer Expires Dec. 5, 2007
This offer may not be combined with any other offers. Sibling and multi-week discounts do not apply to $250/week rate. Specific camp weeks must be chosen no later than May 1, 2008 to guarantee placement. No refunds after June 1, 2008.
|
Shop Amazon.com
and send a kid to camp
Shop at Amazon.com and support This Land Is Your Land Summer Day Camp scholarships. All purchases made at Amazon.com through the above link will generate 4%-10% referral fees, which will be used by Sarah's Science to provide scholarships to children who would otherwise be unable to attend. Thank you.
|
|
_____________
Cool Links
America's first national park
@@@@@@@@
is located in a tranquil setting in the beautiful Montana wilderness, an hour's drive from the north entrance to Yellowstone. Sarah's sister Rebecca says that winter is the best time to see the park's animals in all their glory.
@@@@@@@@
A sound walk across California sponsored by the Oakland Museum
__________________ |
|
21525 Knoll Way
Castro Valley, CA 94546
Phone (510) 581-3739
Fax (510) 581-6144
| |
| Greetings!
 I've been looking forward to this issue of Sarah Says for the opportunity to share some of my favorite holiday gift ideas. There are some marvelous products on the market that encourage creativity, stimulate interest in science and provide genuine fun all at the same time.
We still have space available for our Thanksgiving Camp: The Science of Toys on Monday, Nov. 19, Tuesday Nov. 20, and Wednesday, Nov. 21, from 8:00 am - 5:30 pm. If you haven't registered yet, walk-ins are always welcome; you can register in person each morning.
You'll also find detailed information on our upcoming programs, including Saturday Science: Magic on December 1; Science Night with Sarah: Stargazing on December 15; and Inventor's Workshop Winter Camp, in Oakland and Berkeley on December 26, 27, 28 and 31, 2007, and January 2, 3 and 4, 2008.
Please note our Special Holiday Offer of only $250/week for This Land is Your Land 2008 Summer Day Camp. Take advantage of the savings and perhaps suggest a Gift Certificate for the gift givers in your family.
Sincerely,
Sarah Shaffer
Photo of Sarah courtesy of SF Chronicle |
|
|
 Many of you were aware that my seventeen-year-old son, Johnny, had been ill with a rare and chronic lung disease for the past three years. This condition led to his untimely death on October 14th. Thank you all for your support and loving warmth during this difficult time.
Sarah
|
|
|
Holiday Gift Ideas
to stimulate interest in science and nature
by Sarah Shaffer
I like gifts that will inspire kids to do something (especially outdoors). If your child likes bugs, an insect net is essential (BioQuip). And, of course, after catching a bug in a net, it must be observed for a while, so you can't give too many little plastic critter cages (East Bay Vivarium Kritter Keepers).
While they're out there chasing bugs, they'll need some good books to look them up in. Most children excel at catching caterpillars. There aren't many caterpillar guides available (I'm waiting for one of my budding entomologists in the Bug of the Month Club to write the Western Guide to Caterpillars), but, in the meantime, my favorite picks are:
Two other good bug books are:
Beginner's Guide to Butterflies
 If you missed our Go Green week at This Land Is Your Land Summer Day Camp last year, then you should definitely buy your child a solar hat fan (we made them at camp but you can purchase them at Gaiam Real Goods). This is essential apparel and considered the height of fashion for nature nerds.
If you have a larger budget and want to explore smaller worlds, think about a microscope. To view insects up close, the lower magnification of a stereomicroscope is best. To see the bizarre world of protozoa, a regular microscope works best (Edmund Scientific). You want a  microscope with a built-in light. Check out the Wolfe Inclined Elementary Microscope at Carolina Science. You can also order live protozoa (Carolina Science Protozoa Survey Set) and "Deep-Well" slides (Carolina Science Slide Sets). Gameboys and Nintendos will pale in comparison to protozoa watching!
Two of my favorite family project books were created by the staff of the Exploratorium: The Science Explorer and The Science Explorer Out and About.
Both of these books include fun projects that you can do with materials readily found at home. The science behind every project is explained simply and accurately.
Following is a list of things that every science kid needs.
For rock lovers:
 For more unusual presents like an armadillo skull, porcupine quills, pinned insects or dinosaur teeth, check out The Bone Room.
The best gift of all is the gift of your time. Plan an adventure with your child. Get up at the crack of dawn. Make a thermos of coffee and one of hot chocolate and pack some buttermilk doughnuts. Drive to Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont. Find a bench on the boardwalk overlooking the marsh to spy on the remarkable birds and eat your sinfully delicious picnic breakfast. Then you can walk off all that sugar energy!
|
|
Thanksgiving Camp
The Science of Toys
 The physics of toys comes alive while creating amazing projects such as an electric pinball machine, a Wright Brothers' helicopter, a bounce-back bunny and more. Each fun-filled day will be packed with projects, active play, and arts and crafts.
November 19-21, 2007 (Daily attendance possible)
Hours: 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
Cost: $95/day
Location: Lake Merritt United Methodist Church
1255 First Avenue, Oakland
For more information, call (510) 581-3739
Saturday Science: Magic
Join us for our first Saturday Science focusing on the science of magic. Kids will spend the day making magic and learning about the fascinating physics behind it. A professional magician will tantalize us with amazing feats of magic. (Meanwhile, parents can get that holiday shopping magically completed!)
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Hours: 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
Cost: $85 ($95 after November 19)
Location: Lake Merritt United Methodist Church
1255 First Avenue, Oakland
For more information, call (510) 581-3739
Science Night: Stargazing
During this special evening edition of Sarah's Science, we will explore the universe of stars and planets through unique astronomy projects and direct observation of our starry sky. Dinner will be served and kids can bring their jammies and sleeping bags for story time. (Parents, this is your chance to enjoy an evening out!)
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Hours: 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Cost: $55 ($65 if registering after December 1)
Location: Lake Merritt United Methodist Church
1255 First Avenue, Oakland
For more information, call (510) 581-3739
|
|
Inventor's Workshop
Winter Camp 2007
For Children ages 5-11; CIT ages 11-15
Dates: December 26, 27, 28, 31, 2007
January 2, 3, 4, 2008
Hours: 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
Fees: $85/day ($95/day if registering after December 10, 2007)
$80/day if registering for five or more days Oakland: Lake Merritt United Methodist Church
1255 First Avenue, Oakland
Berkeley: Black Pine Circle School
2016 7th Street, Berkeley
We will explore the forces of electricity, magnetism and gravity while inventing an array of cool contraptions and toys. Our projects are designed to inspire imagination, the source of all invention.
In addition to creating contraptions, we'll do fun and creative art projects, play outdoors, watch science movies and take hikes. A professional circus tightrope walker will demonstrate the physics of gravity and balance.
For more information, call (510) 581-3739
| |
You meet the best bugs at-
 Bug of the
Month Club®
"Calling all Bugsters!"
(Ages 4 - 12)
Mark your calendars for upcoming Saturday Classes:
-
- January 19, 2008
-
- February 16, 2008
-
- March 8, 2008
-
- April 26, 2008
Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 am or 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
(same class repeated)
Where: Lake Merritt United Methodist Church
1255 First Avenue, Oakland
Fee: $25.00 (includes all materials and a snack)
In monthly classes, children explore the bizarre and fascinating world of insects. Each class features a different insect, its habitat and its unique role in our world.
On Saturday, Nov 10, each child received two different beetles as pets; a little black Stethorus beetle related to the ladybug, and a Tenebrio (darkling) beetle. We explored the amazing diversity of this huge order of insects and built habitats to watch the metamorphosis of our pet beetles.
|
|
|
|
|
