Playing With Your Kids

By: Lonnie Lorenz

Swift Nature Camp is a Wisconsin Science Summer Camp for boys and girls ages 6-15. Our focus is to blend traditional summer camp activities with an appreciation for nature, animals and the environment. Here are some helpful activities we do at http://www.swiftnaturecamp.com Summer Camp. Try these next time you head for the park.

Naturalists are the first to tell us we need to be quiet to see what nature offers. Often this can lead to a desire and commitment to conserve and protect the natural world we live in. This is one of our fundamental principals at Swift Nature Camp

Walking or hiking through the woods is a regular part of http://www.swiftnaturecamp.com/science-atcamp.htm Summer Science Camp. However, with out having a purpose many times staff and campers merely walk along the trail without really noticing what is around them. They overlook the sounds, sights, textures and diversity of the ecosystem.

With not all that much preparation you can be purposeful on your next hike. You may need supplies but it will take only a few minutes to get them.

Once you feel you have a feel for these activities invite your children's friends to come along, I'm sure they too will enjoy being away from their scheduled lives and enjoy the peace of nature,

Find the Color

Supplies: Yarn and scissors

Ahead of time: Pass out the color strips.

Assignment: Look for colors in nature that match the color strip. Record what you find. You can collect any samples on the ground, but if the color is on a living plant, you can pick it only if there are six remaining after you have done so. You can even make this a race for younger children

Conversation: What did you find in the square or circle that surprised you?

Changes Everywhere

Supplies: Clipboard and writing utensils

Ahead of time draw a circle, square, triangle, heart, straight line and rectangle on separate cards. Pass out the cards to campers before hike begins.

Assignment: Stop along the trail and look into the woods. Imagine that the land had sold this plot of land to a developer to build. How would that development change things? What effect would it have on the habitat and food supplies of the animals living there? What would happen to the soil if the trees were cut down? How would the plants in the woods change? How would the threat of erosion increase?

Conversation: What additional changes would you see next summer?

Sounds of Nature

Supplies: Wildflower field guide

Ahead of time: look for a place on the trail where there is a variety of trees.

Assignment: Sit in the woods a slight distance from others, and be quiet Close your eyes and listen. When you hear a sound, see if you can recall the bird call,

Conversation: How are the flowers alike? How are they different?

Swift Nature Camp hopes this information give you few a simple projects we do at our camp out in Nature. If you child is interested in these sorts of activities Please look at our website and see if we might be part of your summer plans,


Bio:
As a http://www.swiftnaturecamp.com/Summer_Kids_Camp.htmm Summer Kids Camp Swift specializes in programs for the http://www.swiftnaturecamp.com/discoverytitlepage.htm First Time Campers as well as http://www.swiftnaturecamp.com/teen_camp.htm Adventure Teen Camps http://www.article-submission-express.com Article Submission by Article Submission Express