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  Earthplace
  10 Woodside Lane
  PO Box 165
  Westport, CT  06881
  203-227-7253
  info@earthplace.org

  Building Open
  Monday-Saturday 9 AM - 5 PM
  Sunday 1 - 4 PM
  Admission
  $7 adults & children over 12
  $5 children 1-12 yrs & seniors

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  7 AM - Dusk
  Admission to grounds free

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  formerly The Nature Center
  for
 Environmental Activities

 

 

 

EARTHPLACE SUMMER CAMP 2008

3 Year Olds    4 year Olds    Kindergarten
Grades 1 & 2    Grades 3 & 4     Grades 5 & 6     Grades 5-9
Counselor in Training CIT - new for 2008
Registration Information   Health Form

 




Welcome to a summer of fun, learning and investigation!  At Earthplace we use our 62-acre wildlife sanctuary as an outdoor classroom.  There are a variety of habitats to explore including a swamp, stream, pond, deciduous forest and open fields.  We often spot wildlife, such as deer, turtles, hawks, wild turkeys and groundhogs, in their natural surroundings while hiking our trails.  Every week animals from our indoor Animal Hall come to visit the 3s, 4s, K and 1st & 2nd grade groups.  Campers learn about many creatures and their habitats, such as turtles, snakes, frogs, salamanders, birds, mammals, insects and other wildlife.

The themes for each group change for every session.  There are many opportunities to explore new aspects of nature through hands-on activities, group games, field trips, hikes and crafts.  Once a session children in grades 1 and 2 go on area field trips.  Every other week our 3rd & 4th, and 5th & 6th graders go canoeing.  On alternating weeks the 5th & 6th graders also camp overnight at Earthplace.

Each group has at least one group leader and two assistant counselors.  Our staff are all experienced in working with children either here at Earthplace as a teacher or naturalist, or as a professional in a local school system.  The camper to staff ratio ranges from 5:1 for the 3s to 7:1 for most of the other groups.  The staff is selected for their enjoyment of and experience with the age group they are working with, and their love and knowledge of nature. 

The camp has a nurse on the premises who is in charge of first aid and collecting camper medicals.  All group leaders have First Aid, CPR, Medication and Epi-Pen training.  We are also happy to have air-conditioned indoor classrooms to use on hot summer days.

Don't miss our special Camper Campfires on Friday July 18 and Friday August 1 at 7 PM. These fun events are open for all Earthplace campers and their families as a way to enjoy the summer evenings with music and s'mores!

We hope to give your child a summer experience that encourages him or her to appreciate all that nature at Earthplace has to offer.  Please contact us if you have any questions.

 

3 Year Olds  - Hummingbirds


Children must be 3 by the starting date of the program.  There are 15 children per class per two-week session. The program provides children with activities in a fun environment with their peers, without parents or siblings.  The children  are nurtured through outdoor explorations, crafts, animals and songs. Snacks are provided, and children should bring a lunch.

9:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Monday, Wednesday & Friday  OR
Tuesday, Thursday

 
         3A:  June 16 - 27       
         3B: 
June 30 - July 11 (no camp July 4)
         3C: 
July 14 - 25
         3D: 
July 28-August 8
 

         $305 per session 3-day/week
         $205 per session 2-day/week
         $255 session 3B 3-day

 

4 Year Olds - Woodpeckers


Child must be 4 by December 31, 2008, toilet trained and eligible to enter a 4’s program.  There are 20 children per class per two-week session.  At registration you may choose either the Preschool or Malloy rooms, depending on available spots.  The two groups will follow the same curriculum. The program features outdoor explorations, live animals, special events, songs, books, crafts and activities.  Snacks are provided, and children should bring a lunch.  
 
 
9:30 AM – 2:00 PM Monday through Friday
 

4A:  June 16 - 27
4B:  June 30 - July 11   (no camp July 4)
4C:  July 14 - 25
4D:  July 28 - August 8

 

$580 per session, $525 session 4B
 

June 16-27: Reptiles and Amphibians
What are the differences between reptiles and amphibians?  Do they eat the same foods?  Where do they live in the wild?  We’ll find out when we hike on our trails.  We’ll search for some of our favorites, such as turtles, frogs and toads, and we’ll find some that live here at Earthplace.

June 30– July 11:  Farm Animals
Did you know that the original settlers in our state were farmers? Many favorite farm animals lived in this area.  Is your favorite farm animal an herbivore, a carnivore, or an omnivore?  How can people and farm animals help each other?  This session will answer these questions and more as we focus on farm animals.

July 14-25: Insects
What are insects?  Why are not all bugs insects?  We will discover many habitats of insects and figure out what happens to them in the winter.  Are there ways in which insects are helpful to people? Find out more about creeping, crawling and flying insects as we construct models of some of our favorites.

July 28-August 8:  All About Plants
Why are plants important?  Which plants do you like to eat?  We will explore different kinds of plants on our trails and in our garden. Are there seeds on our trails?  We’ll see different seeds and find out how they grow.  We’ll watch our seeds sprout and see the roots and the leaves grow.  We will create art with many parts of plants. Our campers will learn to be plant caregivers at Earthplace.

 

Kindergarten - Falcons


Children who are about to enter Kindergarten will enjoy many activities in a fun environment with their peers.  The children are nurtured through outdoor explorations, crafts, animals and songs.  Snacks are provided, and children should bring a lunch.  There are 20 children per class per two-week session.  At registration you may choose either the Eco Lab or Auditorium, depending on available spots.  The two groups will follow the same curriculum.
 

 

  9:30 AM – 2:00 PM  Monday through Friday

 

  5A   June 16 - June 27
  5B   June 30 - July 11 (no camp July 4)
  5C   July 14 - July 25
  5D   July 28 - August 8

 

  $580 per 2-week session, $525 session 5B

 

June 16-27:  Space
Find about our planet Earth and the other planets in the solar system.  What is a star and how far away is the closest one to earth?  Can people live on other planets?  Build your own model of the solar system.  Become a rocket scientist and design you own rocket...ready, 3,2,1, blast off!

June 30-July 11:  Jungle
Who lives in the jungle?  There are birds, mammals, insects, amphibians and reptiles.  What do they eat?  How do they move and what do their homes look like?  Pretend that you are a jungle creature.  What is special about the jungle habitat?  Construct your own jungle diorama.

July 14-25:  Desert
How hot does it get in the desert.  Does it ever rain or get cold? Who lives there?  We will investigate what desert dwelling animals like to eat and how they find food and water.  Create sand art and meet an animal that lives in the desert.

July 28-August 8:  Under the Sea
Explore the wonders of the underwater world.  Meet many of the different inhabitants of the deep.  What do they look like?  How do they live?  What do they eat?  How do they move?  Pretend to be different sea creatures.  Discover which sea plants we eat and which mineral we sprinkle on our food.  Pull all your knowledge together to create your own underwater scene.

 

Grades 1 and 2 - Owls


Children entering grades 1 and 2 will learn about nature through classroom study, exploring our sanctuary, crafts, songs and field trips.  One field trip in the surrounding community is included.  School buses equipped with seat belts provide transportation.  Children should bring a lunch.  There are 20 children per group per session.

 

9:30 AM – 2:00 PM Monday through Friday

 
Owls-1  June 30 - July 3  (no camp July 4)
Owls-2  July 7 - 11
Owls-3  July 14 - 18
Owls-4  July 21 - 25
Owls-5  July 28 - August 1
Owls-6  August 4 - 8
 

$295 per 1 week session, $235 session Owls-1

June 30-July 3:  What Bugs Us
This week is all about bugs.  Study and explore the world of Bugs! There are many types of bugs in the world.  Learn the different parts of insects.  Some bugs help us while other bugs are hindrances.  We will travel to the New Canaan Nature Center and take a class on edible insects.

July 7-11:  Native Americans
We will head off to Milford Point for a program on Native Americans.  We will look for natural dyes outdoors and use them to create a variety of colorful projects.  Our campers will learn about and make Native American tools.  We will investigate Native American folklore, songs, games, clothes and instruments.

July 14-18:  At the Farm
Farms are interesting places.  Not only do they grow our food, they also house many animals.  We will spend time in the garden at Earthplace and plant some of our very own seeds to take home. We will enjoy a fun-filled field trip to New Pond Farm.

July 21-25 Under the Stars
When the night sky is out there are many things to investigate.  We will admire the night sky as we take a field trip to the Discovery Museum’s Planetarium.  We will make a constellation in a can and explore the animals, insects and sounds that are out at night.

July 28-August 1:  Flying High
Birds, birds and more birds!  This week we will investigate birds and discover why they are so unique.  What makes a bird a bird? We will take a closer look at mounted birds, artifacts and our resident bird ambassadors.   We will enjoy a field trip to Connecticut Audubon of Fairfield.

August 4-8: Under the Sea
Did you know that people eat seaweed?  We will learn about different types of seaweeds and their uses.  We will compare the differences between salt and fresh water.  Enjoy a day at the beach with our certified lifeguard.

 

 

Grades 3 and 4 - Hawks


Explore the natural community of Earthplace and other important habitats.  Activities will be hands-on and cover a great range of environmental topics.  Students will participate in one field trip per session to surrounding areas of ecological interest.  School buses equipped with seat belts provide transportation.  Every other session includes canoeing with our certified canoe instructor.  Children should bring lunch.  There are 20 children per session.

9:30 AM – 2:00 PM Monday through Friday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM on Field Trip Days

 
Hawk 1  June 30 - July 3 (no camp July 4) Canoeing
Hawk 2  July 7 - 11
Hawk 3  July 14 - 18                             Canoeing
Hawk 4  July 21 - 25
Hawk 5  July 28 - August 1                     Canoeing
Hawk 6  August 4 - August 8
 

$320 per 1 week session, $260 session Hawk 1

June 30-July 3:  A Day In the Sun– Canoeing
Do we really need the sun? What does it do for us?  How do plants and animals deal with the heat?  All of these questions and more will be answered this week.  We will capture the sun’s energy after making a solar oven.  During the week we will try our hand at paddling a canoe.

July 7-11:  Native Americans
We will head off to Milford Point for a program on Native Americans.  Look for natural dyes outdoors and use them to create a variety of colorful projects.  Make your own arrowhead!.  Learn about and make Native American tools.  We will investigate Native American folklore, songs, games, clothes and instruments.

July 14-18:  Geology Rocks!– Canoeing
The campers will act out the rock cycle and learn the different processes of making rocks.  Explore fossils and gems of Connecticut.  Did you know that some rocks float and that some can write on sidewalks?  This week the campers will explore Connecticut landscapes by canoe.

July 21-25:  Planets
Learn how every planet is unique in its own way.  Discover why Pluto is no longer a planet, but a dwarf planet.  Build a model of the solar system and figure out how gravity affects rotation of the planets.  What would it be like to travel in space?  We will travel to the Discovery Museum to explore the Planetarium.

July 28-August 1:  Birds of Prey– Canoeing
There are many different birds of prey located right here in Connecticut.  We will explore many aspects of these birds by looking a talons and wings and dissecting owl pellets.  Learn about  birds’ hunting skills.  We will spend a day out on the water spotting local birds of prey.

August 4-8:  Under the Sea
Did you know that people eat seaweed? Learn about different types of seaweeds and their uses.  Compare the differences between salt and fresh water.  Find out about many of the different inhabitants of the seas and how they survive.  Enjoy a day at the beach with our certified lifeguard.

 

Grades 5 and 6 - Eagles


Senior naturalists will lead campers in the hands-on exploration of  varied ecological topics.  Each session will include 3-4 field trips to areas of environmental interest.  Students will be transported via minivans.  Some sessions conclude with a Thursday OVERNIGHT program including night hikes and nocturnal ecology studies.  For those sessions, students arrive at Earthplace at 9:30 AM Thursday morning and are dismissed at 9:30 AM Friday.  Children should bring lunch with an ice pack.

9:30 AM – 4:00 PM Monday through Friday

 
Eagle 1  June 30 - July 3 (no camp July 4)
Eagle 2  July 7 - 11
Eagle 3  July 14 - 18
Eagle 4  July 21 - 25
Eagle 5  July 28 - August 1
Eagle 6  August 4 - August 8
Canoeing
Camping at Earthplace
Canoeing
Camping at Earthplace
Canoeing
Camping at Earthplace
 

$470 per 1 week session, $380 session Eagle 1

June 30 - July 3:  Summer Sports– Canoeing
Enjoy a week of playing out in the sun and exploring new sports.  We will try our hand at mini-golf, canoeing and flying our own handmade kites.  Spend a day at the beach swimming, playing volleyball and Frisbee.

July 7-11:  Native Americans– Camping at Earthplace
We will try our hand at dyeing with natural products and making an arrowhead.  Enjoy field trips to the Bruce Museum and Mashantucket Pequot  Museum.  Native American folklore will be shared around the fire as we enjoy our sleepover .

July 14-18:  Sea World-Canoeing
Enjoy behind the scenes at Mystic Aquarium.  Spend time exploring a submarine and a whaling museum.  Set sail on a schooner and try our hand at paddling a canoe.  Learn about whales and sharks.

July 21-25: Adventure Land – Camping at Earthplace
In this fun filled week we will enjoy horseback riding, participating in Project Adventure and high ropes.  We will enjoy some time rock climbing in an indoor gym.  This week will be filled with land adventures and conclude with a camp out.

July 28-August 1:  Adventure Water– Canoeing
This week, it’s all about water!  We’ll be in it and on it.  We will tube down the Farmington River.  Enjoy canoeing and kayaking in the sound.  Do you know the difference between the two?  We’ll even spend a day at the beach. We’ll even give sailing a try.

August 4-August 8: Weather– Camping at Earthplace
We will take a tour of a TV news studio to learn about local weather broadcasts.  Admire the clouds and figure out what they are telling us.  Set off to explore what weather has done to old tombstones and explore the effects of acid rain.  Can it really get hot enough to fry an egg on the blacktop?  We will find out.

 

Grades 5 through 9


Delaware Water Gap, Here We Come!

Pack up your hiking boots because we’ll be hiking part of the Appalachian Trail in New Jersey and camping in Stokes State Forest in Sussex County, accompanied by an Earthplace senior naturalist. Sharpen your camping skills by helping to pick a campsite, pitch and pack our tents and prepare food for the week. Enjoy hiking to a scenic overlook of Sussex County. Experience the thrill of whitewater rafting, led by a certified guide, and spend some time exploring waterfalls and ravines. 

9:30 AM  Monday to 4:30 PM Friday

 

June 23 - 27

 

$735

 

Counselor In Training
Age 14 and 15 CITS

Participants must commit to a full 2 week session.  There is an application and interview process to be accepted into this program.  Please call 203-227-7253 x 107 for an application and to set up an interview  before registering. Their day will begin at 8:30 on Mondays and 9 AM Tuesday thru Friday.  They will remain in their assigned class during cleanup until 2:30.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays the CITS will meet with their leader to discuss events of the day, behaviors, and ways to handle situations until 4 PM. During this time they will be able to ask questions and participate in role playing situations.  Download the CIT Application Form.

8:30 AM to 2:30 PM Monday

9 AM to 4 PM Tuesday and Thursday

9 AM to 2:30 PM Wednesday and Friday

               CIT 1 June 30-July 11
               CIT 2 July 14-25
               CIT 3 July 28– Aug 8
 

$200

 

 

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Registration Dates

January 9, 2008 – Earthplace members register their children currently enrolled in the Earthplace Nursery School; siblings register beginning February 6, 2008.

February 6, 2008 – Registration begins for children of Earthplace Members as of January 1, 2008.

February 27, 2008 – Registration begins for children of new Earthplace Members.

How to Register

  1.      On or after registration date, mail or bring completed forms and all registration fees to Earthplace.  Registration is processed on a first come, first served basis. 

  2.      Earthplace will notify you of your registration status within 14 days of receipt of registration form.  If accepted, included with your notification will be necessary medical forms, the final invoice and other important information. 

  3.      If the classes you requested are filled, your name will be added to the Wait List and all registration fees will be returned.  You will be notified if a vacancy occurs and have the option to enroll at that time.

General Program Policies and Information

1. The non-refundable Earthplace Family Membership is required ($75).  If your membership expires during your child’s attendance at the summer program you will be asked to renew your membership by the date the fee balance is due.
2. Payment in full is due at the time of registration.
3. Cancellation/Refund Policy: 75% of tuition will be refunded if you  cancel before May 1, 2008. There will be no refunds after May 1, 2008.
4. The medical form must be returned to Earthplace by May 1.  Note that the date of your child’s physical must be within 1 year of the session date.  If your child’s medical form expires in the summer, it must be updated at that time.

Camper Information and Session Registration Forms (2 pages)

Both forms must be sent in with your payment.

           


2007 Staff

View photos from Summer Camp 2007