Science Summer Camp

Swift Nature Camp, is a Overnight Summer Camp in Wisconsin where children play outside while learning about Nature and Science. Here are some helpful hints parents can do at home

Being Observant is the most important aspect of enjoying the outdoors. How often do kids run through the woods never stopping to notice what they are passing.

Walking or hiking through the woods is a regular part of camp. However, many times staff and campers merely walk along the trail without really noticing what is around them. They overlook the sounds, sights, textures and diversity of the ecosystem.

So when you take your kids out in nature, try these things. Simple supplies are needed, so it will take only a few minutes to collect them. Or you can plan and keep them on the side ready to go.

Allow children to stop along the way and do the activities together. Let your children choose one or more of the following activities:

Make a Rubbing Supplies: Paper, crayons or charcoal Ahead of time: It is best to have experience at this before you help others. Assignment: Search for trees, rocks and logs that have a variety of textures. Put the paper over the surface of the tree, rock or log, hold the charcoal or crayon at an angle, and rub over the paper so that the unique pattern is transferred to the paper. Conversation: What did you discover by doing these rubbings?

Changes Supplies: Clipboard and writing utensils Ahead of time: think or research how things would be different if the land was developed Assignment: Stop along the trail and look into the woods. Imagine that the land had sold this plot of land to a developer to build. How would that development change things? What effect would it have on the habitat and food supplies of the animals living there? What would happen to the soil if the trees were cut down? How would the plants in the woods change? How would the threat of erosion increase? Conversation: How have ecosystems near your home been destroyed? What changes have happened to the land?

Sounds of Nature Supplies: Paper and pencil for each, you can get cds with sounds in the library bird field guide Ahead of time: Find out what types of birds are native to the woods around, listen to the cd and study the sounds Assignment: Sit in the woods a slight distance from others, and be quiet Close your eyes and listen. When you hear a sound, see if you can recall the bird call, Conversation: What was your favorite sound and why?

Swift Nature Camp hopes this information give you few a simple projects we do at our camp out in Nature. If you child is interested in these sorts of activities Please look at our website and see if we might be part of your summer plans,

If this is your first time thinking about Summer Camp look at Summer Camp Advice a free website that helps parents find the right camp for their child. Summer Camp

About the authors: Jeff and Lonnie Lorenz are the directors of Swift Nature Camp, a non-competitive, traditional overnight Animal Summer Camp. Boys and Girls Ages 6-15 enjoy nature & animals along with traditional camping activities. As a Summer Kids Camp Swift specializes in programs for the First Time Campers as well as Adventure Teen Camp programs