When classes end this December, the learning is just beginning! From December 28- January 1, Noah's Landing will be holding a special weeklong Junior Zookeeper camp for kids from 6-12 years old. Each day, kids will participate in games, crafts, and hands-on science classes to learn more about the animal kingdom. It's also a unique opportunity to go "behind the scenes" at Noah's Landing by participating in daily volunteer time.
Each camp day will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. The day beginswith "wake-up call," designed to get the adrenaline pumping and followed byvolunteer time, where kids actually clean and care for teh animals at Noah's Landing. The rest of the day is divided by animal interaction time, crafts, zookeeper logs, and classes on science and zookeeping. Campers are asked to bring their own lunches although snacks and drinks are provided throughout the day.
The cost for winter break camp is $50/day or $200/week. Pre-registration and a non-refundable $50 deposit is required.
Classes will include:
Science in Action
Our "Science in Action" classes focus on basic science skills, teaching campers about scientific classification, conservation, ecology, or the food chain. But we're not interested in making our camp feel like "school." So we don't talk about oil spills, we drop oil into a lab pan and see what happens when we drop feathers in or try to clean it up with a spongue. We don't just think about the food chain, we dig into an owl pellet to see what they've eaten. And we don't memorize classification charts, we compete in classification "scrambles" and then head around the nature center on a classification scavenger hunt.
Zookeeping 101
We know that many of our campers want to be veterinarians or animal keepers when they get older. So we design classes that focus on the specific roles that animal caregivers might take. During a class on enrichment, kids might build toys and treats for the animals at Noah's Landing. Or they might design an ideal habitat. Sometimes ,we bring in guest speakers from the community to talk about their jobs. In the past, we've welcomed veterinarians, wildlife rehabilitators, wildlife protection officers, and exotic animal handlers.
Volunteer Time
"What's your favorite part of camp?" Every time we ask our campers, their answer is the same: volunteer time. Each day, campers work with our staff to care for the animals at Noah's Landing. They might make fruit bowls or help with cage cleaning. It's a unique opportunity for them to get one-on-one with many of our animals. Volunteer time is closely supervised by our staff and there are limits to what the campers can do. We only let the kids work with animals that are "kid-safe" and we structure the experience to be as safe as possible.
Animals in Focus
These classes focus on the unique characteristics of specific animal groups, further exploring specific behaviors, physiological traits, or diets. During a class on insects, campers might collect bugs and then diagram their parts to learn more about their bodies. Or older campers might dissect a giant grasshopper.
Games and Crafts
Each day, we'll do games and crafts that relate to the overarching theme. In the past, we've created "mammal pots" painting Terracotta pots, "Bird Coozies" by decorating foam coozies with feathers, Tie-dye shirts, clay paw prints, foam gliders, and animal visors. We also design games that reinforce the daily lessons. You might compete against your peers in a scent marking contest or test your insect senses during a mating game.
