How about some happy campers?  We have just finished our first summer camp experience at our new campus.  What a great success!

For me, I loved working in my office to the sounds of giggling, euphoric, and excited voices.  It just sounded like fun.

Assisted by our Intern, Ron, who with the help of Rachel and, Audree led the campers through the days’ activities.  Thanks to Niki for her help in organizing lessons. Doris, Cece, John, Sandi and Cecile from our intrepid education team pitched in and brought their expertise to share.  Each day had a basic theme.  Each theme had a scientific, creative, environmental lesson woven into it.

Some of the topics included our “trash talk” informing about the things we as humans do that can harm the planet…and of course, what we can do to change that.  Of course, The Lorax figured in here.  The campers participated in part of the “soft release” of ducks, which was finalized at the end of the week.  They toured the interpretive trail, hospital and interactive room.  Behavioral enrichment items were prepared for the coatimundi and placed in his enclosure for his entertainment.  Susan from the Arizona Animal Welfare League brought a hedgehog and a hissing roach for the campers to interact with…not native but definitely interesting.

Some of the activities provided opportunities for campers to better understand the adaptations that wildlife has “assumed” in order to make it successfully in the world.  The bird beak activity allowed the competitive teams to get a ‘feeling’ for how each bird’s beak has adapted to the food that they evolved to consume.  Campers enjoyed a little bit of orphan animal care taking and spent exciting time with the reptiles in the Interactive Room.  Binocular activities are always a big hit, and each kid “glassed” flora and fauna in the desert as they returned from releasing the rehabilitated ducklings.  A lesson on owls and owl pellets dissection capped off a paper making class using recycled paper materials. And, let’s not forget the inclusion of the importance of pollinators in our environment.  An up-lose viewing of an eagle feeding and the introduction of owls enriched the wildlife viewing part of the week.

Another highlight of the week was the addition of a drawing lesson provided by Anne, our resident artist.  ? The lesson produced drawings by each camper, which they added to their special take home treasure…individual nature journals. So, what nature journal is complete without drawings? Earlier in the week, each student created a cover for their journals and each camper included all of their activities and creations as a memory from camp.  The journals  were very impressive and seemed to be treasured by each participant.  They added photos taken by Barb, ready for framing or for inclusion in their own Nature Journal.

This seemed to me…looking in from the outside…to be a congenial group of campers who not only learned a great deal, but enjoyed the “doing” of it.  I miss the giggles and sounds of awe that echoed throughout the lobby as they came and went.  I look forward to next year’s summer camp.  Thanks especially to Laura who made it all happen….and to Carol for her expertise.