2015 Summer Exploration

&

Adventure Camps

Hiking, stream-stomping and bug-catching are a few of

the key ingredients that have made Riverbend’s summer exploration camp a sensation for over 30 years. Our eleven-week program offers children the opportunity to unwind, explore nature and most importantly, have fun! Through nature study and investigation, games, crafts, hikes and more, our professional educators will guide your children in hands-on exploration and science-based learning that only nature can provide.

New for 2015! At Riverbend, we understand that children’s interests and abilities change as they age and their mind matures. This year, we are breaking out our camps into three age categories, offering different themes to better meet the needs of children as they grow-up. Younger campers are focused on exploring their senses, strengthening their motor skills and working together; while older campers are ready to take on more challenges and apply their knowledge. To reflect their changing needs, we are offering programs that cater to each stage of childhood development.

SAVE THE DATE Camp Open House Saturday, March 14th 10:00 am-12:00 pm Camper OrientaƟon Saturday, June 6th 10:00 am-12:00 pm

1

Table of Contents Exploration Camps for 3 - 6 year olds 3 yr. olds: Tadpoles

4

4 yr. olds: Rangers

5

5 & 6 yr. olds: Adventurers

5

Exploration Camp Descriptions

6

Exploration Camps for 7 - 11 year olds 7 & 8 yr. olds: Explorers

8

9-11 yr. olds: Discoverers

8

Exploration Camp Descriptions

Adventure Camps for 10 - 13 year olds 10-13 yr. olds

11-12

Additional Information Camp Junior Volunteer Program (14-18 yr. olds)

13

Meet the Staff

13

Camp Registration

14

2

9-10

3 - 6 year olds Children in this age group are curious and full of enthusiasm, but they tend to need encouragement and adult guidance as they learn to explore and navigate the outdoors. They are still developing their fine and gross motor skills and learning to work cooperatively with their peers. To stimulate and encourage their development during this period of their lives, our camps focus on getting the kids outside for lots of hands-on exploration that will enhance the discovery of their senses.

What Skills Children are Developing Physical: Gross Motor Skills

3

How Our Camps Encourage Their Development Running, hiking, jumping, skipping, digging

Physical: Fine Motor Skills

Making crafts, cutting, gluing, shaping, and molding

Social/Emotional Skills

Our nurturing and friendly educators and interns act as role models, cooperative group games, sharing, imaginative play

Academic: Math Skills

Comparing, measuring, grouping objects, counting, recognizing shapes and patterns

Academic: Language Art Skills

Story time, vocabulary, descriptive words, nature journaling

Academic: Science Skills

Inquiry-based learning, making observations, classifying, comparing and contrasting, sensory experiences, categorizing

3

Tadpoles: 3 year olds Our Tadpole sessions are offered Tuesdays through Thursdays from 9:30-11:30 am. June 23rd -25th: Nature Explorers

Have you ever stopped to smell the flowers, touched a slimy salamander, or heard the croak of a frog? Join us as we use our five senses to explore the natural world around us.

July 14th-16th: It’s a Bug’s World

From meadows, to the forest, to the ponds, insects can be found all over Riverbend. Campers will learn all about these fascinating six-legged creatures!

July 28th-30th: Feathered Friends

Come fly with us as we learn all about what makes our feathered friends so special! We will go bird watching, make fun bird crafts and learn to talk like a bird!

Aug. 11th-13th: Splish Splash

Salamanders, frogs, and crayfish, Oh My! All of these critters depend on water to survive and so do we. This week we will explore our ponds and stream to learn why water is so important!

Price: $75/week

4

Rangers : 4 year olds Rangers are full of energy and imagination! Our Ranger sessions are offered either as a half-day option from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm or as a full-day option* from 9:00-3:30. June 8th-12th: Dirt Detectives June 15th-19th: Creature Features June 22nd-26th: Close Encounters July 6th-10th: Come Fly With Us July 13th-17th: Wild Inspirations July 20th-24th: Wet & Wild July 27th-31st: Messy Science August 3rd-7th: Enchanted Forest August 10th-14th: A Reason for the Seasons August 17th-21st: Captain Planet!® August 24th-28th: Fun in the Sun Price: $220/half day $350/full day *The full-day option is only recommended for children who are already participating in full-day programs.

Adventurers: 5 & 6 year olds Adventurers arrive at Riverbend ready to embark on a full-day nature voyage from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day. June 8th-12th: Dirt Detectives June 15th-19th: Creature Features June 22nd-26th: Close Encounters July 6th-10th: Come Fly With Us July 13th-17th: Wild Inspirations July 20th-24th: Wet & Wild July 27th-31st: Messy Science August 3rd-7th: Enchanted Forest August 10th-14th: A Reason for the Seasons August 17th-21st: Captain Planet! ® August 24th-28th: Fun in the Sun BONUS WEEK: Aug 31st-Sept 4th: The Best of Each day will feature “the best of” from one of our weekly themes offered throughout the summer. Whether we focus on our favorite science experiments, meeting our favorite animals, hiking to the Bamboo Forest or spending the day playing games like Sharks and Minnow - our days will be chock full of fun and excitement!

Price: $350/week 5

Exploration Camp Descriptions June 8th-12th: Dirt Detectives There is more to dirt than meets the eye! Let’s dig deep this week as we explore the wonderful underground world in search of animals that call it home! Let’s play in the mud, hold slimy worms, search for millipedes and learn why dirt is so very important! June 15th- 19th: Creature Features Hawk talons, sharp teeth, opossum pouches and snake tongues are just a few amazing adaptations that help animals to survive! Campers will spend the week learning all about how each animal is perfectly adapted to survive in their special environment! June 22nd-26th: Close Encounters Let’s get up close and personal with the animals that live at Riverbend! We will spend lots of time with our resident animals like Reggie the Ball Python and Willow the Rat, but we won’t stop there. We’ll also explore around Riverbend in search of animal habitats outside the barn! July 6th-10th: Come Fly with Us Are you ready to flap your wings? Come fly away with us on a search for things with wings! We will spend the week bird watching, using sweep nets to catch insects in the meadow and learning what makes these winged wonders so special. July 13th-17th: Wild Inspirations Mother Nature has inspired many artists with its natural beauty. This week we will find our inspiration in the beautiful surroundings of Riverbend’s meadows and forests through dancing, singing, drawing, and painting as we learn and explore nature! July 20th-24th: Wet & Wild Let’s get our feet wet this week as we explore our stream and ponds! We’ll hunt for frogs, turtles, and crayfish, compare and contrast water ecosystems from oceans to wetlands to rivers, and learn why water is essential to all living things. July 27th-31st: Messy Science Let’s make a mess this week as we perform chemical reactions that ooze and bubble, concoct glowing slime, make exploding volcanos, and unravel the mysteries of nature’s weirdest creatures! Aug 3rd-7th: Enchanted Forest The forest is a magical place full of history and mystery! Join us this week as we hunt for gnomes, make ogre traps, build fairy houses, learn Native American legends, and be inspired to use your imagination! Aug 10th-14th: A Reason for the Seasons Join us as we experience all four seasons in one week! Through crafts, experiments, stories, hikes and more we will learn about what goes on in nature in each season and how animals have adapted to survive all year round! Aug 17th-21st: Captain Planet! ® “Captain Planet, he’s a hero, gonna take pollution down to zero!” Let’s join forces this week to take care of the planet by learning all about the 3R’s: recycling, reusing, and reducing. Aug 24th-28th: Fun in the Sun There is no better place to enjoy summer days than at Riverbend! Let’s spend the week creek walking, making forts, rolling down the hills and making mud pies before school begins!

6

7-11 year olds Children in this age group are full of questions! They are

excited to find answers and learn the skills they need for the future. To stimulate and encourage their development during this period of their life, we have created a whole new set of weekly themes and curriculum for our camps for 7-11 year olds that focus on giving the kids hands-on experience using inquiry-based science to reinforce their knowledge while providing an environment that encourages and facilitates learning how to problem-solve by themselves and with their peers.

What Skills Children are Developing Physical: Refining Gross Motor Skills

7

How Our Camps Encourage Their Development Running, hiking, jumping, throwing, catching, balancing, and climbing

Physical: Refining Fine Motor Skills

Tying knots, drawing, painting, making crafts, writing

Social/Emotional Skills

Team work, learning to get along with peers, recognizing and accepting differences

Academic

Problem-solving through inquiry-based learning, experiments, inventing, hypothesizing, testing and evaluating ideas, journaling

7

Explorers: 7 & 8 year olds Daily schedules run from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm with a Thursday field trip to a local nature area or museum and an optional Thursday night cookout complete with campfire and s’mores for an additional $20/week/child (cookout runs until 7:30pm). June 8th-12th: Down on the Farm June 15th-19th: What does the Fox Say? June 22nd-26th: Animal Insiders July 6th-10th: Wilderness Survival ($400) July 13th-17th: Nature By Design ($425) July 20th-24th: Life in the Watershed July 27th-31st: Eureka! August 3rd-7th: Enchanted Forest August 3rd-7th: Special: Advanced Science Exploration ($425) August 10th-14th: Let’s Power Up! August 17th-21st: Planet Protectors August 24th-28th: Fun in the Sun BONUS WEEK: Aug 31st-Sept 4th: The Best of Each day will feature “the best of” from one of our weekly themes offered throughout the summer. Whether we focus on our favorite science experiments, meeting our favorite animals, hiking to the Bamboo Forest or spending the day playing games like Sharks and Minnow - our days will be chock full of fun and excitement!

Price: $375/week

Discoverers: 9-11 year olds

Daily schedules run from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm (except Thursday and Friday) with a Thursday field trip to a local nature area or museum and an optional Thursday night camp out at Riverbend complete with campfire, s’mores, and tents in the field. June 22nd-26th: Animal Insiders July 6th-10th: Wilderness Survival July 13th-17th: Nature By Design ($425) July 20th-24th: Life in the Watershed July 20th-24th: Special: Advanced Wilderness Survival ($425) July 27th-31st: Eureka! August 3rd-7th: Enchanted Forest August 3rd-7th: Special: Advanced Science Exploration ($425) August 10th-14th: Let’s Power Up! August 17th-21st: Planet Protectors August 24th-28th: Fun in the Sun BONUS WEEK: Aug 31st-Sept 4th: The Best of See description under Explorers

Price: $400/week 8

Exploration Camp Descriptions June 8th-12th: Down on the Farm Have you ever wondered where your food comes from? This week we will get down and dirty as we delve into the future of sustainable food. We will learn about organic farming, aquaponics, visit a farm to meet some animals and forage for wild edibles. June 15th- 19th: What Does the Fox Say? What does the fox ACTUALLY say? Is it true that bees communicate by dancing? Can whales really communicate with other whales over 100 miles away? This week is all about the fascinating world of animal communication. We will learn how birds warn others by sound, how deer use their body language to communicate, and how bats find their way around in the dark of night. June 22nd-26th: Animal Insider Do you love animals? Would you like to get an up close and personal look at animal husbandry, the care of animals? Join us for a behind the scenes look at how we care for our resident animals and get lots of hands on experience. We will visit a local farm and a wildlife rehabilitation center to see how the professionals help care for different animals. July 6th-10th: Wilderness Survival Can you survive in the wild? Spend a week at Riverbend and you’ll leave with the skills to not only survive but thrive in the wilderness. You’ll learn how to start a fire, to identify edible plants, to find your way using a compass and map, and get a chance to test out your survival skills on an overnight camp out! (Camp out will be on Wednesday for Discoverers & Thursday for Explorers) July 13th-17th: Nature by Design I challenge you to take a walk in nature and not be inspired by its beauty. This week we will travel around Riverbend and beyond in search of inspiration as we try out several different art mediums, including watercolors, pastels and acrylics. We will meet a local artist and visit John James Audubon’s house full of his beautiful nature-inspired art. July 20th-24th: Life in the Watershed From macro-invertebrates like crayfish and water pennies to Black-nose Dace and Leopard Frogs our watershed is full of interesting creatures that depend on water to survive. Let’s get knee-deep in the stream this week as we catch animals and learn all about what a watershed is, why it is important, and learn how we can use science to test the health of our stream. OR Advanced Wilderness Survival: Let’s take our survival skills to the next level! If campers previously participated in our Wilderness Survival camp they can take part in our Advanced Wilderness Survival camp. We will spend the week strengthening our back country survival skills by learning how to make an underground still, how to make a leg splint, and even how to start a fire in the rain! This week will include a one night camping trip to test out the skills they have acquired. (Discoverers only) July 27th-31st: Eureka! Let’s channel the brilliant mind of Einstein this week as we explore the wonderful world of science! We will create potions, perform chemical reactions that ooze and bubble, concoct glowing slime, make egg geodes, explode CO2 sandwiches, and learn a cool experiment that could be the solution to oil spill clean ups!

9

Descriptions Continued Aug 3rd-7th: Enchanted Forest The forest is a magical place full of history and mystery! This week we will immerse ourselves in a fantastical world full of fairies, ogres, and unicorns. We will hunt for gnomes and trolls, make fairy houses and dragons, learn some mystical Native American legends, and see for yourself why the forest was inspiration for many of these magical tales. OR Advanced Science Exploration: Back by popular demand! Can’t get enough science? Then this week is for you! We will kick our experiments up a notch, pick the brain of a local scientist, visit the Franklin Institute and take on some new and exciting scientific challenges like making an ice tray battery! Aug 10th-14th: Let’s Power Up! The Earth is full of energy potential from geothermal, to solar, wind and water. This week we will harness the energy of the Earth to power our week. We will use the sun to make solar pizza ovens, use the wind to race sailboats, and use water to experiment with hydro-powered rockets! Aug 17th-21st: Planet Protectors Recycling, composting, saving energy, and planting trees are some of the ways that everyone can contribute and be a protector of our planet. We will learn about how we impact the environment and what we can do to take care of the planet by conserving our natural resources. Aug 24th-28th: Fun in the Sun There is no better place to enjoy summer days than at Riverbend! This week is all about the fun and joy of being outdoors. Let’s creek walk, make forts, and roll down the hills before school begins!

10

10-13 year olds Kids in this age group are ready for more independence! They are ready to take on more challenges and they are beginning to apply their knowledge and make real life connections. To stimulate and encourage their development during this period of their life, our camps focus on boosting their confidence by visiting new locations, meeting new people, introducing new concepts, and nurturing their curiosity to learn.

What Skills Children are Developing Physical Skills

How Our Camps Encourage Their Development Refining gross motor skills through kayaking, hiking, bike riding, canoeing, climbing, running, jumping 10

Social/Emotional Skills

Positive role models who support and encourage selfconfidence, team building activities, providing a friendly and accepting environment

Academic Skills

Introducing higher level concepts, analyzing data, debating ideas, implementing ideas, interpreting and classifying data

11

Adventure Camp: 10 - 13 year olds As campers get older, we understand that they want more options in their summer experiences. So for 2015, we are offering three amazing programs. The activities throughout the week take adventure to the next level while fostering teamwork, confidence and lifelong summer memories. Some sessions include overnight camping trips while others are strictly day programs.

June 22nd-26th: Adventure Excursions Are you tired of doing the same old thing every summer? Are you ready to experience some new and exciting activities? If so, join us for a week of adventure as we spend our summer days bike riding and canoeing in the scenic Lehigh Valley, rock climbing at the Philadelphia Rock Gym, creek walking, fishing and spending a day in the trees traversing a high ropes course. You will spend Monday at Riverbend (9-3:30 pm) getting to know everyone and then set out on day trips Tuesday through Friday (pick up and drop off times may vary each day.) Price: $650

Aug. 3rd-7th: Ocean and Beach Exploration Pack your bags and get ready to set sail with us to Assateague Island for a week of adventure! This beautiful paradise is home to pristine beaches, sand dunes, wetlands, marshlands, and countless animal and plant species for us to explore. We will go kayaking, dolphin and whale watching, seining for marine wildlife, and we will spend time exploring and relaxing at the beach. You will spend Monday at Riverbend (9-3:30 pm) preparing for the trip and then the rest of the week camping at the beach. Price: $750

Aug. 10th-14th: Food for the Future “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Those words spoken by Mahatma Gandhi have never rung truer. In today’s world it is not enough to just know about the issues - but time to take action! This week will be full of exciting field trips and guest speakers who will introduce you to issues of our current food system and discuss ways that we can promote a more sustainable future for our food. We will learn about aquaponics, organic farming, sustainable foraging, and give you the tools to BE the change! Price: $500 Please l check h k our website b i for f more detailed d il d information i f i on the h trip i details d il and d venues we will ill be b using. i 12

Camp Junior Volunteer Community service, work experience, and leadership skill building - all while having fun outdoors this summer! Riverbend is looking for teens, 14-18 years of age, to assist our summer camp program and have a positive impact on the lives and education of younger children. Camp Jr. Volunteers will assist professional educators with group management, modeling of appropriate behavior, and providing nurturing and support of campers. In addition, volunteers will get to participate in activities with the campers, including games, nature exploration, field trips and more. Volunteers work primarily with our youngest campers and are a vital part to the success of our program. If you or your teen is interested in applying, visit our website to download an application form (www.riverbendeec.org/volunteer). All Camp Jr. Volunteers must participate in a four hour training session and commit to three full weeks of volunteering this summer. Space is limited so sign up early. Contact Kelly Myers, Camp Coordinator, at 610-527-5234 x 106 or [email protected] for more information.

Meet the Staff Riverbend prides itself on being a great place for children to explore and discover new things about themselves and the natural world. So that our campers have strong role models as they explore the natural world, we strive to provide the best educators for our education programs. Education programs are under the direction of Stacy Carr-Poole, Director of Education. Stacy has been with Riverbend for over ten years, including four years directly supervising our summer camp program. With a love of children and the natural world, Stacy works closely with staff to make sure that all children that visit Riverbend have a positive experience in nature. Leading our summer camp team is Kelly Myers, Camp Coordinator. Kelly joined the Riverbend team in 2011 as an Environmental Educator for summer camp and came back in 2012 as the Camp Coordinator. In addition to her education experience, Kelly also has extensive management experience which helps her manage 60+ campers, 10+ staff and 6+ volunteers each week. Environmental Educators serve as the main teachers for each summer camp group, creating the curriculum and adapting the themes to their individual group. These educators each have a college degree, or equivalent experience, and a passion for working with children in the outdoors. Camp Interns are a vital part of our summer camp team. These college students work in partnership with our educators to develop the activities and are especially important to our youngest groups of campers, providing a low adult to child ratio. To make the summer experience safe and fun for everyone, Riverbend does a background check on all educators and interns, and the summer staff completes a week-long training that includes First Aid and CPR certification, group management skills, and extensive information about teaching children in the outdoors.

13

How to Register • Register online at www.riverbendeec.org (Powered by Active Network) • Select the proper age group for your child and the weeks you would like them to attend. • Determine your extended day needs (Extended Day is from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and costs $100/week). Remember that the regular camp day is from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (For half-day 4 year olds, the regular camp day is from 9:00a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with no afternoon extended day option). • To register, a $100 NON-REFUNDABLE deposit is required to complete registration. • Tuition balances must be paid by June 1, 2015. Any unpaid balances will be charged a $25 late fee. • Schedule changes will be accommodated to the best of Riverbend’s ability. However, many weeks are full by summer and changes may not be possible. • Cancellations/Refunds: Deposits are NON-REFUNDABLE. If cancellation are made after June 1, 2015 NO refund will be given.

Riverbend Staff Executive Director Laurie Bachman

Volunteer Coordinator Jeanne Angell

Director of Education Stacy Carr-Poole

Development and Communications Associate Lisa Matthews

Camp Coordinator Kelly Myers

14

“Wonderful camp that exceeded my expectations! I think it is a great ‘classic’ summer camp – playing outside, getting dirty, learning about the outdoors. We are planning on making it a yearly camp for our girls.”

“He loves the outdoors, so when I found this program I knew he had to attend. What I didn’t expect was how much he would open up. So many kids today don’t enjoy these things (bugs & nature), so for him to meet other children who did meant the world to him. This 3 day program brought him more joy then any other thing we did all year.”