Owls (grades 1 & 2) Summer Camp

Session Themes

June 16 - June 20: Birds - Did you know that birds have hollow bones? How about that birds may be descended from dinosaurs? This week at camp discover what else makes birds unique. Explore the Earthplace Birds of Prey exhibit and go on a trail walk with binoculars to see how many different birds we can locate on our sanctuary. Spirit Friday: Crazy Hat Day

June 23 - June 27: Ocean – Did you know the ocean is the largest animal habitat on the planet? Let’s discover just how diverse the world’s oceans are, and explore what makes Long Island Sound unique. Which animals live in the sound and which live in the open ocean? With the Sound as our back yard what are the threats to its health and what can we do to help? Spirit Friday: Hawaiian Day

June 30 - July 3: Survival – How long can a person survive without food? Without water? Discover what all living things need in order to survive. We will learn about water purification, shelter building and edible plants. Next step: venture out onto the Earthplace trails and test our newfound wilderness survival skills. Spirit Thursday (no camp on Friday): Mismatch Day

July 7 - July 11: Dinosaurs - Brontosaurus, T-Rex, Stegosaurus; everyone has a favorite dinosaur. What are the unique characteristics of each dinosaur? Why do scientists think dinosaurs became extinct? Observe, study and touch the fossils in our museum collection. Investigate our resident birds and reptiles to discover which animal is the closest living relative of the dinosaurs. You might be surprised to find out! Spirit Friday: Backwards Day

July 14 - July 18: Pets – Have you ever wanted to own a pet? Some animals make good pets and others do not. Discover which characteristics make a specific type of animal a good fit for your family’s needs. How do responsible pet owners care for their animals? Earthplace Animal Hall experts will demonstrate proper feeding, cleaning and care, and how to provide enrichment for the animals. Spirit Friday: Crazy Hair Day

July 21 - July 25: Reptiles – Turtles, crocodilians, snakes and lizards oh my! Reptiles are amazing animals; they live on every continent except Antarctica! Do they care for their young? Are they cold-blooded or warm-blooded?  Are snakes slimy? This week we will study the characteristics of reptiles, observe the reptiles living in the Animal Hall, look for them on our trails and discover which species are native to Connecticut. Spirit Friday: Tie-Dye Day

July 28 - August 1: Insects – Creepy, crawly, cute and beautiful. Many people think insects are icky, but they are important to all living things. Discover insects' critical role in the food web. Be an entomologist and learn to sort different types of insects as we explore the Earthplace specimen collection. All bugs are insects but not all insects are bugs; do you know how to tell the difference? Let's search the Earthplace Bird and Butterfly garden and get up close with the resident Animal Hall insects to find some examples. Spirit Friday: Inside-out Day

August 4 - August 8: Space – What is out in space? What makes each planet unique?  What are the tools scientists use to study space? Become a space explorer and uncover how our solar system works! This week we will discover the stars, the planets, the sun, the moon, and transform part of Earthplace into an outer space wonderland. Spirit Friday: Pajama Day

August 11 - August 15: Go Green - What can you do to help the planet? Do you compost at home? Recycle? This week, be Green with Earthplace as we discover all the things we can do to make a difference for the environment. Learn how to recycle, reuse, grow your own food and pack a “trash-free” lunch. We’ll get our hands dirty in the Earthplace working vegetable garden by cultivating our plants, harvest our crops and tasting a yummy local bounty. We’ll also investigate the Earthplace Solar Array to see how using alternative energy is one way to go green. Spirit Friday: Green From Head to Toe Day