posted by Tree Frog Treks! on Jun 30
Here is what happened today at camp:
Little and Junior Explorers
Today your Little and Junior Explorers learned all about “Oceanic Fossils.” They started their morning playing “Sharks and Minnows” to teach the kids about the concept of predator and prey. In addition they went on a fossil dig for shells, fossils, and sea creatures. The did this by filling several large containers with sand, clay, rocks and sticks and having the campers search for treasures using magnifying glasses, tooth brushes, and paint brushes. Towards the end of the day, the campers hiked to the waterfall to look for native plants and animals.
Adventure Explorers and Wild Scientists
Today your Adventure Explorers and Wild Scientists were “In Search of the Lost Atlantis.” They started their day playing games and then they quickly got ready for their trip to the Palace of Fine Arts. They had a great time at the museum and afterwords all of the groups hiked to the Wave Organ.
Click here to view more photos from today’s camp!
posted by Tree Frog Treks! on Jun 30
Today the campers learned all about “Oceanic Fossils.” They played the game “Sharks and Minnows” which teaches them the concepts of predator and prey. In addition the campers went on a fossil dig and looked for shells, fossils, and sea creatures. They did this by filling up several large containers with sand, clay, rocks, and sticks. The campers would then us magnifying glasses, tooth brushes, and paint brushes to find their treasures. Towards the end of the day, the campers hiked around the meadow and surrounding parks.
posted by Tree Frog Treks! on Jun 29
What a beautiful day! Here is what happened at camp today:
Little and Junior Explorers
Today your Little and Junior Explorers learned all about whales! They learned that whales can grow to be up to 46 feet long, weigh up to 40 tons, and can stay under water for 15 minutes. The campers created a giant whale using cones that was 44 feet in length!! In addition, they completed many whale themed activities such as a “Krill Feed,” “Can You Race Around the Length of a Great Blue Whale?”, Salt Dough Cetaceans, and sang the song “I’m a Big Whale” (sung to the tune of Clementine). They also hiked to the Botanical Gardens and had lunch by the pond the kids call the “Evil Eel Pond.”
Adventure Explorers and Wild Scientists
Today your Adventure Explorers’ and Wild Scientists’ camp theme was “Undersea Shakedown.” The campers made salt dough cetaceans, “Bubblegum Submarines” (a lesson in pressure using raisins and soda), “Cartesian Divers”, and played the game “Sharks and Minnows.” In the afternoon, the campers created a replica of an ancient island city using recycled objects and paper and simulated an earthquake using water, vibrations, gak, and fire (handled by Mr. Science only).
Animals presented to all groups: Mookie the Madagascar Mud Turtlr, Eddie the River Cooter and Hamburger the Red-Eared Slider
For more photos from today’s camp can be seen here!
posted by Tree Frog Treks! on Jun 29
Today the campers learned about whales. They learned that grey whales along with other whales, dolphins, and porpoises are all considered Cetaceans (in the order Cetacea, whose Latin and Greek roots translate to “large sea animal” and “sea monster”, respectively). They also learned that whales can stay underwater for up to 15 minutes, and can grow to be up to 46 feet long!! The campers played several whale themed games such as “Krill Feed,” “Can You Race Around the Length of a Great Blue Whale?”, and sang a song called “I’m a Big Whale” (sung to the tune of Clementine). In addition they made salt dough cetaceans.
Animals presented at camp: Ginger the Leopard Lizard, Pablo the Bearded Dragon (see above image), and Jake the Corn Snake
posted by Tree Frog Treks! on Jun 28
This week’s Summer Camp theme is “Under the Sea!” Here is what happened at camp:
Little and Junior Explorers
Today the Little and Junior Explorers learned all about “Sea Shores to Sharks.” The campers started their morning playing name games, group building activities, and exploring the camp meadow. They examined sea shells and sea specimens and discussed the wide variety of life in oceans. The campers also learned about sharks and how big they truly. They drew pictures of sharks on the cement and on paper and measured themselves up against these amazing creatures. To end the day, the campers participated in an art project called “Seal Sponge Paint” where they used a sponge to paint seal and seal pup drawings.
Adventure Explorers and Wild Scientists
Today the Adventure Explorers and Wild Scientists hopped aboard “The Yellow Submarine.” In the morning the campers had their morning assembly where they played team building activities and name games. They then made their way to Fisherman’s Wharf where they went went on the USS Pampanito, the Musee Mecanique, and the Aquarium. When they made their way back to camp in the afternoon, they were greeted by Mr. Science and his “Wild Science” experiments. Mr. Science made “Cream Kaleidoscopes” and “Lava Lamps.”
Click here for more photos from this week’s camp!
Animals presented to all groups: Hannibal the Plated Lizard, Ivan the Sulcata Tortoise, Tickle the Pacific Gopher Snakes, Flower the Russian Tortoise, and Stick Bugs
posted by Tree Frog Treks! on Jun 28
This week’s Summer Camp theme is “Under the Sea.” Here is what happened at camp:
Today the campers learned all about “Sea Shores to Sharks.” In the morning, they played name games and group building activities. Then the campers examined different types of sea shells and sea specimens and discussed the wild variety of life in oceans. The teachers discussed the different textures, colors, sizes, and shapes or the shells and drew pictures. The campers also learned about sharks and drew chalk outlines of sharks to see how they measured up. In the afternoon, the campers completed an art project called “Seal Sponge Paint” where the kids use sponges to paint pictures of seals and seal pups. It was a great start to the week.
Animals presented at camp: Declan the Corn Snake, Sneaky Snake the Kansas Glossy Snake
Photo credit: wikipedia
posted by Tree Frog Treks! on Jun 25
Here is what happened at camp today:
Little and Junior Explorers
Today your Little and Junior Explorers learned all about tracking. They used the skills they learned all week to start thinking like a scientist and went tracking and trekking throughout the park. They made animal footprints using clay and an animal track mold. The teachers discussed the different types of tracks that animals leave behind and what animal made which footprint. The campers played “Animal Quiz Mania” and “Snakes in the Tunnel.” They also celebrated the end of camp with each campers receiving a Knowledge Certificate and t-shirt!
Adventure Explorers and Wild Scientists
Today your Adventure Explorers and Wild Scientists hiked through Golden Gate Park to their “Secret Beach” location. Once there, the campers and teachers explored the ocean, animals, and had an end of camp party! They blasted off popper rockets, had juice and cookies, received Knowledge Certificates, and t-shirts. It was a great camp week!!
Animals presented to all groups: Neptune the Blue-Tongued Skink and Tickle the Pacific Gopher Snake
For more photos from today’s camp, please visit our Flickr page. (Please note more photos will be posted on Monday)
posted by Tree Frog Treks! on Jun 25
Today was a great day! Here is what happened at camp:
Today the campers learned all about animal tracking. They used all the skills they learned throughout the week to becoming an experience naturalist and went tracking and trekking for natives. In the morning the campers hoped on the bus and made their way to Robert’s Regional Park where they hiked through the Redwoods. They had such a great time and it was a perfect end to the camp week! Each camper received a Knowledge Certificate.
Parents – we would love your feedback about our Summer Camp. Please take a moment to click here to take our survey! We hope your children had as much fun as we did having them!!
posted by Tree Frog Treks! on Jun 25
Dear Mr. Science,
What is the largest amphibian?
Jasmine, age 6
Hi Jasmine,
Thanks for asking! The largest amphibian is the Chinese Great Salamander. These salamanders can grow to be 6 feet in length although they rarely reach this size anymore due to pollution, habitat loss and over-collecting. Due to those reasons they are now considered endangered. Chinese Great Salamanders live in China in mountain streams and lakes. There is one currently on display at the California Academy of Sciences.
Keep those questions coming!
Sincerely,
Mr. Science (a.k.a. Chris Giorni)
Photo credit: sciencedaily.com
posted by Tree Frog Treks! on Jun 24
Here is what happened at camp today:
Little and Junior Explorers
Today your Little and Junior Explorers went hiking and wandering through Golden Gate Park looking for native birds, plants, and animals. All of the groups visited the Lily Pond where they saw two ducks and two turtles. At lunch, the groups made their way to the de Young Scuplture Garden and did a skit about a crazy crab. It was a great day and the campers really enjoyed visiting different areas in the park.
Adventure Explorers and Wild Scientists
Today your Adventure Explorers and Wild Scientists went to Contra Loma Regional Park in Antioch. The campers hopped aboard a charter bus and sang silly songs along the way. Once they got to the park, the hiked on its trails, and went swimming (there was a lifeguard on duty at all times) although most of the campers only went in the water up to their knees. It was a wonderful day at the park!
Animals presented to all groups: Tiny the African Bullfrog, Ivan the Sulcata Tortoise, and Tarot the Burmese Python
For more pictures from today’s camp, please visit our Flickr page or click here.
