8-11 Yr. Old Full Day Summer Camp Expedition Naturalist
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8-11 yr. Old Full Day Summer Camp Expedition Naturalist At a glance Campers will discover the globes diverse plant and animal life. Campers will explore ecological processes on each adventure in the world’s different biomes Time requirement 7hrs./day Group size and grade(s) 5-12 kids/instructor Materials Goal(s) -Campers should discover the world’s different biomes and their interconnectedness -Campers should understand general ecological concepts- feeding strategies, biotic and abiotic features in systems -Campers should appreciate the world’s plant and animal diversity -Campers should want to protect these wonderful places on earth Objective(s) 1. Participants will be able to name at least 5 types of feeding strategies (herbivory, carnivory, frugivory, saugivory…) 2. Campers will be able to define a food web (autotrophs, primary and secondary consumers) 3. Campers will be able to locate the worlds biomes- on a world map Theme -Leave with an understanding of the worlds diversity of biomes and the diversity of animals and plants that live in them 1. There should be five or fewer. Choose Your Own Adventure: Expedition Naturalist, Summer 2011 Page 1 of 74 Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Expedition Naturalist Summer Camp 2011 Day I- Expedition Aquatic -*ALL ANIMALS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE FOR ANIMAL DEMOS- -*ONE SNACK WILL BE GIVEN/ DAY YOU WILL DISTURBUTE AT YOUR OWN DESCRETION- -*IN BETWEEN NIGHT HUNTERS & MONKEY ISLAND—THERE IS A MIST TUNNEL—GO AND CHILL OUT AT POINTS THRU OUT THE DAY. -*FEEL FREE TO ADD IN ANCILLARY DETAILS Use the train, tram to move through the zoo whenever possible or to just relax. EVERYDAY -ALL COMPOSTABLE MATERIALS SHOULD BE PLACED IN A BUCKET AND TAKEN TO COMPOST BIN WITH KIDS -ALL DRINKS (ONE/Week)- SHOULD BE REUSED AS A WATER BOTTLE—LABEL EACH CHILDS -ALL RECYCLABLE MATERIALS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO THE RECYCLE AREA (1ST FLOOR) **-ASSIGN ONE OR SEVERAL CHILDREN EACH DAY TO BE THE “SUSTAINABILITY STEWARD” THESE CAMPERS WILL BE IN CHARGE OF MAKING SURE THE LIGHTS ARE TURNED OFF AND ALL RECYCLABLE MATERIALS ARE PUT INTO THE CORRECT BINS!!*** Background: -Aquatic Habitats Water covers 71% of the earths surface Water is the basis for all life -It has very unique physical properties Welcome/Introduction (20 minutes): The first day of camp--- Make sure the kids are comfortable and you have introduced yourself to each child and parent specifically as they entered. -Organize the camper’s lunches (I would put them in the classroom closest. If the kids can see them throughout the morning they (their lunches NOT the campers ) could turn into a distraction) -Go around the circle and introduce yourself and ask the kids: -Their Name Choose Your Own Adventure: Expedition Naturalist, Summer 2011 Page 2 of 74 Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden -Favorite Animal, food, game, sport, what they want to do when they grow up, etc. RULES- These are very important, if you lay out what is expected the campers will have no choice but to acquiesce. Rules and Expectations – (Can ask kids to make suggestions for rules they want – be sure to add any additional ones they forget). A. Summer camp is a fun time of discovery and learning about different animals and plants. But we need everyone’s help to ensure that they are always safe. There are a few rules that everyone need to follow this week. B. Give directions without sounding like it. Use the way you present an activity and how you emphasize its steps as a way to minimize “giving the rules.” A great way to do this is to try and turn everything you want to give as a rule into something you expect. So, instead of saying something negative like “Don’t scream”(One of my favorites) you could say “We are to talk in classroom voices” Campers are constantly receiving “No, Stop, Don’t” rules in their lives at camp and at home. The problem with these rules, while sometimes necessary, is that they may not explain what they should be doing as well. By stating things in the positive you explain to them your expectations for what they should be doing and sometimes can eliminate the need for “rules” altogether. C. 1. RULE # 1: Show RESPECT for your instructor and each other. x Keep your hands to yourself x Be nice to kids as well as adults x Follow directions of the instructor and teen x Listen when others talk x Stay seated until dismissed x Ask kids to suggest more ways they can show respect 2. RULE # 2 : STAY SAFE x Stay with the group at all times x Stay behind leader x Hold hands with partner 3. RULE # 3: If you get lost… x Stay where you are- the group will come back to look for you x Look around you for someone who works at the zoo- they will have a name tag just like the one your instructor wears. x Tell them you are lost 4. RULE #4: Have Fun!!!! D. If anyone has difficulty following these rules this week, the instructor will help you follow that rule. -Sarah, Nicole & I- Should be seen as the principles of Summer Camp OR Choose Your Own Adventure: Expedition Naturalist, Summer 2011 Page 3 of 74 Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden Group Contract Need: Dry Erase Board, Markers, Large Sheet of Paper Directions: 1. As a group, write up a list of expectations that the kids come up with for the week. Encourage them to think how they want to be treated. 2. Write the rules on the poster board. Can also include consequences (sitting out for an activity, sitting out during animal time, talking with parent, talking with Camp Directors (Principle), etc.). 3. Make sure to include the following rules as well as others you may want: 4. Ask the kids to sign the list and show that they agree with what has been written. Post the paper in the room in a prominent place. Wrap Up -Rules and expectation are important for the campers but we should not focus on discipline. Rather we should focus on the fun we can have at the zoo. Getting To Know Each Other Game (10 min): All about you…. Need: index cards, pencils Directions: 1. Welcome everyone to spring break camp and explain that before we get started with our fun-filled week of animal training and enrichment. We need to get to know each other. In order to do that, let’s play “All About You”. (This is what the game was originally called – feel free to change it)! 2. Pass out an index card and pencil to each person. Ask them to write down two true statements about themselves. The instructors and volunteens should also participate in this activity. 3. Next, collect all the cards. Choosing cards randomly, read aloud the statements. Can the kids guess whose card it is? -ICEBREAKER GAME- Choose game from “Bag o Tricks” This is be a great team builder as the kids will be working together to figure out clues that will direct them to their next expedition. Another getting to know each other Game: (5 min) Predator, Prey & Decomposer OR Rock, Paper & Scissors Needs: Activity: o This game is Rock-Paper-Scissors, but with an ecological focus. Furthermore, it’s sort of a cultural game that kids play for fun, but with zero real educational value. At camp this can be a fun game to help the campers understand structures of ecosystems. The group divides itself into pairs that stand opposite each other. On the leaders command, the couples must assume the hand motions to show their character. The positions will of a turtle, a fungus and a fox. Turtle = Left hand cupped over right hand. Right hand in a fist with your thumbs out, and move them back and forth (like a turtle swimming- Its actually ASL sign language for turtle) Choose Your Own Adventure: Expedition Naturalist, Summer 2011 Page 4 of 74 Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden . Fungus = Both hands interlocking fingers. With fingers up, and wiggle them . Fox = Raise hands to head with all fingers pointing up. Like fox ears. o The kids can make up the movements for the different organisms. o Be sure to go over what these animals do and their interactions. The turtle eats the fungus, the fox eats the turtle, and when the fox dies the fungus decomposes the fox. o This can be a fun down time game. It will allow the kids to play an educational game. o This week the kids will discover different biomes and the interactions of organisms within other biomes. Week’s Overview- (5 min) Getting ready -Nothing Doing the activity -This week will be an expedition to different places on earth, where campers get a chance to become naturalists and choose what part of the earth they want to explore. -Each day camper’s will take an Expedition/Quest/Treasure Hunt to discover the world’s biomes and the diverse animal and plant life that call them home -During the expeditions the campers will acquire information along the way -Ask the kids if they are ready to go on an EXPEDITION!!!!??? -Let them know that before we go out and explore we must first find out what a Naturalist is and does. Wrap-up -The campers will be finding clues that will lead them around the zoo to specific animal exhibits -The clues will rhyme as well as be directional and educational -They will have to be clever to figure out where the next clue will be or where it may lead them next Day I: Introduction (15 min)- What’s a Naturalist? More importantly is it Cool? Getting Ready -Dry Erase Board -Dry Erase Markers -Pictures of World famous Explorers, Naturalists -Thane Maynard, Dian Fossey, Jack Hanna, Jane Goodall, Jacque Cousteau Doing the Activity -First ask the campers if they know what a naturalist is or does? -If they don’t know exactly what a naturalist does that is OK, ask them if they know what an explorer does? -Have them brainstorm ideas of what either of these types of people do -Write the list on the dry erase board -The campers will come up with some interesting ideas -Now that the campers got to voice their opinions, now we can define what a naturalist does -A naturalist is someone, boy or girl, man or women that understands animals and plants and how they work together in their natural settings (or they enjoy hugging trees and holding animals and talking about them .