The Early Bird
gets the slug!
Register for summer camp now and save money with our Early Bird rate! Call our office with a credit card and pay just $275 per week. Sign up for as many weeks as you want.
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________________ Winter Camp Photos
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________________ Bug Club Photos
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Shop at Amazon.com and support Sarah's Science scholarship program. 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 our programs. Thank you.
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Greetings!
 I
was delighted that President Obama spoke in his inaugural address about
"restoring science to its rightful place". But remember you
don't have to wait for an act of Congress to keep science and learning
front and center in your family. You can do that by visiting the
Chabot Space and Science Center, taking a hike with the kids to look
at the birds, bugs and plants, and encouraging curiosity as you wonder
"why" and "what if".
This
summer you and your kids can find science in its rightful place -
at This Land is Your Land Summer Day Camp in Berkeley, Oakland and San
Ramon. My staff and I have been developing terrific projects
that kids will love. Check out our website for weekly themes and
examples of the projects we'll be doing each week. Although
all of our projects are great, some of my personal favorites are the
stomp rocket, the magnetic ghost-buster machine, the home-made mini-flashlight
and the solar panel robot. My friend, Peter D'Amato, who
runs California Carnivores, (the largest carnivorous plant nursery in
the world), is busy starting hundreds of pitcher plants for our "Amazing
Adaptations" week. Each camper will take home a pitcher plant
that week and learn to raise it. Those pesky fruit flies in your
kitchen are doomed!
On
a personal front, I am delighted that I will soon be a grandmother!
My son Saul and his wife Melissa are expecting a girl in mid-May.
My free hours are devoted to planting a secret garden for the upcoming
tea parties. I intend to start her bug-watching from an early
age.
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Spring Camp: Redwood Forests
This week at camp will be devoted to one of California's unique and exquisite treasures: the redwood forest. Through a series of exciting lessons, we will learn about the majestic trees that grace these forests and the special conditions that make this one of the few places in the world where these redwood giants grow.
We will also explore the other fascinating plant and animal inhabitants of the redwood forest, including the salamanders, banana slugs, owls, ferns, fungus and more. On Wednesday (Oakland) and Thursday (Berkeley) we will take a bus trip to a redwood forest.
In addition to studying the redwood forest, we'll do fun, creative art projects, play outdoors, create Lego structures, and watch science movies.
Oakland Location: Lake
Merritt United Methodist Church
1255
First Avenue, OaklandDates:
April 6 - 10, 2009
Hours:
8:00
am - 5:30 pm
Ages:
5 - 11; CIT 11-15
Cost: $90/day
($100/day after 3/1/09);
$85/day - 5 days
Berkeley Location:
Black Pine Circle School
2016 7th Street, Berkeley
Dates:
April 6 - 10, 2009
Hours:
8:00
am - 5:30 pm
Ages:
5 - 11; CIT 11-15
Cost: $90/day
($100/day after 3/1/09);
$85/day - 5 days |
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 At our summer camp we blend the exciting science and nature studies developed
by Sarah Shaffer with art, music, hiking, swimming, and outdoor games.
Our goal is for every child to have a summer filled with outrageous fun
in a beautiful, natural setting. We say, "No child left indoors!"
Early positive experiences in nature help develop a lifelong love and
caring for the natural world. The weird and wonderful world of
nature provides a great way to "hook" kids on science. Hands-on
science projects and art activities connect children to the natural world,
increasing environmental awareness and instilling a deep caring attitude
about our world.
Please see the summer camp section on our website for information on the Weekly Themes and Project Highlights.
Oakland Location: Roberts Regional ParkDates: June 15 - August 28, 2009
Hours: 9:00
am - 3:00 pm;
Extended care available
8:00 am - 5:30 pm
Ages: 5-15
Cost: Early Bird Discount Rate: $275/week
(Paid in full by 2/20/09)
See Registration Form for information
on discounts.
Berkeley Location: Tilden Regional ParkDates: June 15 - August 28, 2009
Hours: 9:00
am - 3:00 pm;
Extended care available
8:00 am - 5:30 pm
Ages: 5-15
Cost: Early Bird Discount Rate: $275/week
(Paid in full by 2/20/09)
See Registration Form for information
on discounts.
San Ramon Location:
Little Hills Ranch
Dates: June 29 - August 21, 2009
Hours: 9:00
am - 3:00 pm;
Extended care available 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Ages: 5-15
Cost: Early Bird Discount Rate: $275/week
(Paid in full by 2/20/09)
See Registration Form for information
on discounts.
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Featured Books
 There Are No Electrons
By Kenn Amdahl
Reading level: Ages 11-adult
Paperback: 322 pages
Publisher: Clearwater Publishing
(October 1991)
Available from Amazon.com
In this comical look at the phenomenon of electricity, Kenn Amdahl explains complex concepts such as inductance and capacitance in ways that are easily understood, although often quite kooky, using examples that include green buffalo, microscopic beer parties, and break-dancing chickens. Amdahl takes the position that in order to understand electricity at a practical level you don't need to go into the quantum physics, instead, to understand your toaster it doesn't matter whether there are electrons or not, and it's a lot easier and
more fun to start with the toaster than with quarks and calculus.
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Bug of the Month Club®
Calling all Bugsters!
Bug of the Month Club® is a series of monthly classes in which children ages 4-12 explore the bizarre and fascinating world of insects. Each class features a different insect, its habitat and its unique role in our world.
Snails
Join us on February 21, 2009 to explore the world of snails. We will: - Create a habitat for the two pet snails you'll be taking home (before long you will see eggs and then tiny baby snails in your habitat).
- Explore the natural history of these fascinating gastropods.
- Examine the life cycle and unique adaptations of snails and learn the ways they differ from insects.
Date: Saturday, February 21, 2009
Hours: 10:00 am - 11:30 am or 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm
(same class repeated twice)
Cost: $35
Location: Lake Merritt United Methodist Church
1255 First Avenue, Oakland
 Pre-registration is not required - just show up for the class of your choice and pay in person by check or credit card. 
Next Bug of the Month Club®
Saturday, March 28, 2009
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Cool Links
Fifty-five miles south of San Francisco and the Golden Gate, a low, rocky, windswept point juts out into the Pacific Ocean. Lonely, undeveloped, wild. Here elephant seals, sea lions, and other marine
mammals come ashore to rest, mate, and give birth in the sand dunes or
on the beaches and offshore islands. It is a unique and unforgettable
natural spectacle that is wonderful to witness.
During the mating season, you need to go with a guided tour to get down to the beach to see the seals. More information is available on their website.
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 Mother/
Daughter
Science
A Sarah Shaffer/
Riva Elliott Production
You bet girls love science!!!
This
workshop is designed to let girls experience the joy of science and
help mothers support their daughters' pursuit of science.
In
this workshop we will all make hands-on science projects together, exploring science and creativity. After lunch, while the daughters make
a second exciting hands-on science project, the mothers will break off
to share ideas and resources on ways to encourage our daughters in
science.
Morning snack is provided. Please bring a dish to share for a potluck lunch.
Space is limited - register early!
 Location: Lake Merritt United Methodist Church
1255 First Avenue, Oakland
Date: Saturday,March 14, 2009
Hours: 10:00 am - 2:30 pm
Cost: $85 for two (parent/child)
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Learn the life cycle and natural history of this most fascinating insect and raise your own pet praying mantis. From breeding drosophila (baby mantis food) to watching mantids emerge from their egg cases-experience nature's wonders up close.
You will take home:
- two vials of drosophila
- growing medium
- fruit fly booklets
- two praying mantis egg cases (50-500 baby mantids will emerge)
- two hatchery containers
- praying mantis booklet
Dates:
Sat. March 28, 2009
Time:
10 am -12 pm or 1 pm - 3 pm (same class repeated twice)
Where:
Lake Merritt United Methodist
Fee: $65.00 (includes all materials and a snack)
To Register for Mantis Mania, call (510) 581-3739 | |
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