Day 4 of Summer Safari Camp!

Today, the children got to perform in relay races in and out of the water! After the splashing and racing, and watching Spongebob Squarepants, children listened to a guest speaker from the store Auquatropics. He shared the clown fish, the cleaner fish, the nutabrank, the pencil urchin, the starfish, sand sifters, Bangui cardinals, a bamboo shark, the African Lung Fish, a fireworm, a serpant starfish, an African Clawed Frog, a Leaf Fish, a Goldfish, and many more! Your child learned that:

• Clearner fish do not get eaten even though they always hang around larger fish! This is because the cleaner fish eat the parasites off their skin!
• The sand is white because aquatic animals that eat and digest the sand.
• Fish always have their color for a reason. Some have color to indecate their poisen. Others need color to attract mates or lure food.

Veronica and Diego won Camper of the Day for being a fantastic participant!

Ask your child about the guest speaker, and the relay race during water time! Tomorrow is a field trip to the butterfly farm, so be sure to give your child sunscreen and comfortable walking clothing.

Day 3 of Summer Safari Camp!

Today was monster day! Campers played a games outside and made monster creatures inside! At the beginning of the day several children brought in pets, plushes, figures, and fossils to share. Emily brought her pet cat, Zach brought his pet dog, Aubrey brought her pet guinea pig, Ben and Malcom both brought shark teeth, Augustine brought a Megladon tooth, J.P. brought a dinosaur model, Katherine brough her toy dragon, and Ave and Haven both brought stuffed animals.

The animal handler today was Oona. She was the main helper in the creation of an online monster. If your child is interested in this activity, download the game Spore onto your computer!

At the end of the day, campers watched Spongebob Squarepants. Also, Haley and Malcom won camper of the day! Congratulations!

Ask your child about the monster they helped create on spore!

Tomarrow is water day, so be sure to tell your child to wear a swimsuit and bring lots of sunscreen! Sharing is still going on, so feel free to bring in any pets or instruments. (:

Second Day of Summer Safari Camp!

Today we learned about birds! It was a fun filled day; campers made bird masks and looked for fossils outside. Campers learned that:

• Birds have hollow bones, because it makes them lighter for flight.


• Some birds cannot fly, and most of them have found other ways to escape from predators.


• Examples are swimming, agility, and speed.


• Some birds that do not have a way to escape predators evolved in an area with no predators. When a new predator is introduced these species often die out. An example of this is the kiwi.

Today's animal handler was Kelsy. She got to hold a cockatiel named Sunny. Cockatiels are social birds that love to climb!

At the end of the day, campers watched more of the movie and the campers of the day were awarded. Zach and Kamya were awarded!

Ask your child about Lucky the rooster! Also, tomarrow is monster day, so be sure to bring in anything related to share!

Second Week of Summer Safari Camp!

Welcome to the second week of Summer Safari Camp!  We are so happy that your child is here to join us!  Today was amphibian day, and campers caught fish and other water creatures at the creek and they made finger print animals!  Your child learned that:

• Amphibians do not drink, they soak up water through their skin; this is why poisons effect them so much.  
• Caudata means salamanders, and Anura means frogs.
• Animals hibernate when it is cold, and they excavate when it is hot and dry.

Today's animal was the pudgets frog.  They natively come from Peru in South America.  They excavate during the summer months, from November to February.  Since Murmel the frog was lost, no one was the daily animal holder today.  ):

At the end of the day, campers wound down by watching Fern Gully the Last Rainforest.  The winners of Camper of the Day were Aubrey and JT!

Please remember to pack a water bottle for your child.  Campers do outdoor activities everyday, and they need to stay hydrated!  Also, sharing animals or instruments is encouraged!  Feel free to bring in larger animals during the morning as campers arrive.  Other smaller animals or instruments can stay in the room for the whole day.    

Day 5 of Summer Safari Camp!

Today the campers went on a real safari at the La Chua trail!  They saw many alligators and birds there, and the campers wrote in their journals about everything they saw!

After the campers got back from their field trip they wound down by watching the beginning of the movie Fern Gully the Last Rainforest.  The Campers of the Day were Sydney and Jamm, because they helped inform the other campers and had a fantastic attitude!

Camper Notice: We have learned that the campers have been exposed to Strep Throat this week. We wanted everyone to know just in case your camper develops any strep like symptoms.

Thank you for a wonderful first week at Summer Safari Camp!  We really enjoyed working with your children, and we wish them the best of luck!  If this is your last week with us, we hope you have a happy and safe summer!

A big thanks to Captain Hollinger and Captain Hollinger 2; this camp would not be without them!  Also a shout out to parent supervisors that went on our field trip with us.

 

Day 4 of Summer Safari Camp!

Today was amphibian day, and our water day!

After an axolotl presentation and other sharing, children divided up into 3 groups and had fun drawing, playing outdoor games, and making cards!  Then, after a snack and playtime, campers had fun doing a relay race in a water filled obstacle course!  

Today's animal handler was Diego.  He got to hold a pacman frog!  Pacman frogs are dirt dwelling frogs that do not rely on water as much as other frogs.

After watching Madagascar, the Campers of the day were awarded.  Amara and Roger, for being a great help!

There is a field trip tomorrow with a lot of walking, so be sure to tell your child to wear comfortable clothing!  There will be a lot of alligators!

3rd Day of Summer Safari Camp!

Today was mammel day, and the campers played outdoor games and made a mammel puppet! During sharing, Alina and Jennifer brought in pet hamsters, and Captain Hollinger the 1st and 2nd brought in their pet chihuahua, Scoobydoo. We read about mammels in the book Florida's Fabulous Mammels.

Today's pet handler was Oona! She got to hold a hamster!

Your child learned:

• Placental mammels carry their baby(ies) inside of them; humans are a placental mammel.


• Marsupials mammels carry their baby(ies) in a pouch; kangaroos are marsupials.


• Monotremes lay eggs; a platypus is a monotreme.


• Mammels are different from most animals because they take care of their babies. Mammels are also warm blooded.

The children calmed down at the end of the day by watching Madagascar. Also, the Campers of the Day were Ishaan and Oona!

Ask your child about the relay races outside, and about coatis!

Day 2 in Summer Safari Camp!

Today, we learned about reptiles!  Campers made snakes with pipe cleaners, and they played out door games!  At the beginning of the day children brought in animals and instruments to share.  Oona brought her violin, and Antonio brought his harmonica!  Also, Logan and Leah brought their dog and their guinea pig.  Other dogs were brought as well.

The campers learned that:

• A diurnal animal is awake during the day, and a nocturnal animal is awake during the night.
• The longest snake in the world is the reticulated python, and the longest cobra is the king cobra.
• Reptiles are different then bugs because they do not have an exoskeleton, they have bones instead.
• Constrictor snakes squeeze their prey, unlike venomous snakes.  Most pet snakes are constritcors. 
• Boas do not lay eggs, and Pythons do!

Today's animal handler was Haven!  She got to hold the animal of the day, the chamelion.  Chamilions change colors based on their mood, not for camoflauge.  Their length can be anywhere from one inch to one foot!  

The children had a lot of fun with our guest speakers from the store Pangea Pets, also known as Reptiles.  This store is located SW 34th St by Archer Road; visit them with all of your reptile pet's needs!  The guests brought a tortoise, a monitor,  a crested gecko, a corn snake, a ball python, a brazilian rainbow boa, a blood python, and a burmese python!  After watching a little bit of Madagascar and seeing the presentation, the Campers of the Day were awarded.  Caleb and Mary got the award for helping with cleanup and asking great questions!

If your child is afraid of any animal that might be brought, please inform Captain Hollinger, and Camp Hollinger 2.  We do not want your child to be unhappy over something we can prevent!

Also, if you have any animals to share, bring them in!  We love visitors!  It is still recommended that campers wear bug repellent and sun screen.

Ask your child about what makes a reptile different from an arthropod, and about the rat vs. cobra outdoor game!  Also discuss the guest speakers' presentation with him/her.

First Day at Summer Safari Camp!

Our first day was bug day, and we learned about insects, arachnids, and crustaceans! We made a cup habitat for crickets, and caught arthropods outside! Campers learned that:

• Insects, crustaceans, and arachnids all belong to a group of animals called arthropods.
  


• Insects have 6 legs, arachnids have 8 legs, and crustaceans have 10 legs.



• Arthropods have an exoskeleton and jointed legs! We are not arthropods because we do not have an exoskeleton!
  

Today's pet handler was Ethan; he got to hold a vinegaroon! Vinegaroons spit vinegar out of their tails when they are distressed.

To wind down at the end of the day campers watched Madagascar, and awarded the Camper of the Day to Ben and Ave for their great attitude throughout the day!

It would be greatly appreciated if campers brought their own water bottles from now on on to stay hydrated. Also, it is recommended that campers wear sunscreen and mosquito repelant, since we many outdoor activities.

Do you have a friendly pet? Bring him/her in to share!

Ask your child about their new pet cricket, and what they caught outside!