About This Activity
Campers grow their love of reading and writing through structured word inquiry (word science), outdoor environmental education (nature exploration), art, games, and more in the gardens of Fairyland, Lake Merritt, and the Kaiser Rooftop garden. Our young scientists sharpen their powers of inquiry as they observe, document, and explore both language and nature. Campers blossom into scientists as they explore the natural world in three different environments: our classroom ‘lab’, the St. Paul’s courtyard gardens and the diverse Lake Merritt botanical gardens. Campers will exercise their bodies as well as their brains on the SPES playground and in Lake Merritt's wide open fields. For the youngest campers, excursions are shorter distances and word science is tailored to beginning readers. Upper grade campers build confidence and skills through nature journaling and word science. With curiosity as our guide, we all explore both nature and words - reading is an adventure! While having fun in nature, campers develop critical literacy skills in: reading and understanding text enjoying text and using it for a purpose building oral and print vocabulary making connections between spelling and meaning practicing strategies to read unfamiliar words writing independently We de-emphasize reading for reading’s sake. Instead children apply scientific practices to studying language AND nature, such as: observing closely formulating questions recording data making predictions comparing evidence to hypotheses Of course, campers also enjoy a well-rounded summer camp experience by: playing collaborative and active games like Park Ranger and Favorite Word Tag creating art projects like seed mandalas and pop up books dancing and singing along to our favorite songs relaxing with friends, telling stories, and sharing meals exploring the natural world through bug hunts and food tasting parties
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