This is a sponsored post.
You may have noticed that I was shadowing the children at week-long summer camps offered at Discovery Cube OC. Usually parents are not allowed to observe, but as a one of the Discovery Cube Moms ambassadors, I made special arrangements to be able to do this, and I’m so glad that I did, because I was learning too. There are several summer camps offered at Discovery Cube for ages 5-10 broken into two age groups. The two that I will highlight are The Zoo & You at Santa Ana Zoo and Ultimate Explorations at the Discovery Cube OC.
Monday – Farm Animals!
On Monday (the first day), children went over camp rules for touring at the Zoo, then they toured the Crean Family Farm and learned about the farm animals at the zoo. They read a book called, Click, Clack, Moo. Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin, and had an open discussion about how farms provide us with many of the foods we eat. The children had fun making their own butter by shaking heavy whipping cream, learned about different wool textures, made a bracelet, fed goats, and milked a mechanical cow named Bessie. The campers also received their camp shirts that day, and a daily letter to take home to their parents. What a full morning of fun! Can you believe that was just day one?
Tuesday – Birds!
On Tuesday, it was all about the birds. The children learned about what makes a bird a bird. They compared feathers, wings, beaks, and bones. They toured the aviary, explored a variety of bird nests, then made their own edible bird nest to take home. They read, The Odd Egg by Emily Gravett, and saw real samples of big and small bird eggs before they dissected a chicken egg. The instructor did a really good job explaining that we only “dissect with a purpose” before they opened the egg. They also received a visit from the Santa Ana Zoo members and residents. On Tuesdays, the campers also get to ride the train around the Zoo. What a treat!
Thursday – Animal Coverings!
On Thursday, campers learned about different animal coverings. They read “Slowly, Slowly, Slowly” Said the Sloth by Eric Carle. They not only toured the zoo, but had a visit from zoo staff which brought fun animals they can touch and feel like an armadillo, iguana, owl, bullfrog, and hedgehog. They compared feathers, wool, fur, reptile scale, and porcupine quills teaching them different coverings for survival. They played a fun game about how slowly Sloths move, and as a craft, they made their own paper Sloths to take home.
 |
| Photos Courtesy of Camp Discovery Volunteers. |
On Friday, they read a story book called
Are You a Bee? by Judy Allen. One of the volunteers turned into a bee as they did bee anatomy. It was hilarious. Later, we walked around the zoo to look for bugs. The children also ran through the Amazon Maze. For crafts, they made several – a scorpion hat, a flower with colored tissue paper, and a bees wax candle. For their classroom observation, they saw those creepy bugs up close.
www.discoverycube.org/oc/education/for-parents/summer-camps/.
One lucky reader will win this prize. Please enter below for a chance to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
US Residents Only. No purchase necessary to enter. All readers have an equal chance to win, however, you must enter to win. A winner will be randomly selected via RaffleCopter and notified via email. I will attempt to contact the winner for 3 days. If the winner cannot be reached by email, a new winner will be selected the same way. There are several different ways to earn entries. One prize per household. The winner will receive, free of charge, the prize mentioned above. This prize is not available for exchanges. Prizes are not transferable or refundable and must be accepted as awarded. The winner is responsible for any and all other costs and expenses not listed above. Not liable for unclaimed prizes or fulfillment.
