2015 Camp Themes

Boston Nature Center ● 500 Walk Hill Street, Mattapan MA 02132 ● 617-983-8500 ● bnccamp@massaudubon.org

Boston Nature Center

Week 1 – June 22-June 26: Happy and Hardy Homes (Habitats and Ecosystems)

What kinds of animals can we find in the forest? What kinds of plants can we find in the meadow? Why are rocks, dirt and water important to those animals and plants? In this fun-filled week we will build a terrarium to observe, create fun experiments with water and soil, and create a play Search with us for living and non-living things found in meadows, forests, and wetlands and discover how animals and plants use water, dirt, and rocks to make hardy homes.

Week 2 – June 29-July 2: Colorful Creations (Art and Nature)

Hummingbirds love red, blue jays like blue; some butterflies like purple, while others like pink. Why do some animals prefer certain colors? Let’s discover the rainbow of colors found in nature while making colors of your own. Come get your hands a little messy while we explore and experiment with colors-mixing, matching, and creating! How many things could you find at the BNC that are red, green, or yellow? (No camp on July 3.)

Week 3 – July 6 -July 10: Water Wonderland (Water)

Have you ever wondered what happens when you mix water with sand and dirt? What about leaves, grass, paint, and clay? Join us as we spend the week exploring water through fun experiments, hands-on discovery, and creative art projects. Water games will keep us cool as we will learn how water behaves and why it is so much fun getting wet and dirty!

Week 4 – July 13-July 17: Can You Dig It? (Earth Science)

Can you make castles with mud and pies with sand? Just what is dirt, anyway? Prepare to get messy while we dig, sculpt, and investigate soil. This week will be filled with hands-on muddy activities, sandy and silty art projects, and dirt filled experiments. Discover the things that make up the sometimes rocky, sometimes moving, and always fascinating earth below our feet.

Week 5 – July 20-July 24: Insect Investigations (Insects)

Do you know how we can tell the difference between an insect and a spider? How many legs does an insect have? Join us as we explore the meadow and forest of the BNC to uncover the answers to these questions and many others along the way. We’ll create insect sculptures, collect and care for insects from the wild, and examine up close the unique body parts that make up an insect.

Owls: Age 5

2015 Camp Themes

Boston Nature Center ● 500 Walk Hill Street, Mattapan MA 02132 ● 617-983-8500 ● bnccamp@massaudubon.org

Boston Nature Center

Week 6 – July 27- July 31: Feathered Friends (Birds)

What makes a bird a bird? Is it the feathers, or making a nest, or being able to fly? Let’s observe our many feathered friends found at the BNC while we learn about the parts of a bird and how they function. We will investigate trails, learn about different bird beaks, and create bird-inspired art while discovering how our fantastic flying friends are unique in the animal kingdom.

Week 7 – August 3-August 7: Nature Detectives (Environmental Science)

Do slugs like to eat their vegetables too? Does a chipmunk clean its burrow? This week we will be nature detectives using science to learn about how animal behaviors might be similar to our own behaviors. We will design and carry out experiments where we test our abilities to flap our wings like a bird or build a nest that can hold delicate bird eggs. We will investigate the sanctuary to come up with questions and find fun ways to answer them - just like what scientists do!

Week 8 – August 10-August 14: What Big Ears You Have! (Adaptations)

Why do some animals have big ears and some have big eyes? Learn how wildlife at the BNC use their ears, eyes, noses and more to find food, avoid danger, and build homes. This week we will create a touch mosaic out of natural materials, go on a rainbow scavenger hunt, use our noses to find the right spices to use in homemade bread, and much more. All the while using our most important of tools this week- our five senses- to discover how animals use adaptations to survive.

Week 9 – August 17-August 21: Wily Wildlife (Wildlife)

Can you ride the wind like a red-tailed hawk or dash through the meadow like a rabbit? Can you hover like a dragonfly or tunnel like a centipede? Find out how animals hop, glide, and slither to escape predators, find food, and survive by joining us outdoors in this week all about wildlife. We’ll look for examples of wildlife movement outside and under a microscope. We’ll also pretend to be animals while hopping like a rabbit, singing like the bluebirds, and building like beavers.

Week 10 – August 24 – August 28: Plant Safari (Plants)

The oldest, the largest and the fastest growing creatures on earth are all …Plants! This week, we delve into the diverse world of plants through observation and experimentation. We will use our senses to discover the different traits of plants by creating texture mosaics, a smell chart for different flowers and make nature sculptures using only plant material. Each day we will also enjoy the bounty of plants by creating some tasty dishes from the garden.

2015 Camp Themes

Boston Nature Center ● 500 Walk Hill Street, Mattapan MA 02132 ● 617-983-8500 ● bnccamp@massaudubon.org

Boston Nature Center

Week 1 – June 22-June 26: Three Little Birds (Birds)

Are all birds the same? What kinds of birds do you see around your neighborhood? Are they the same as the birds we can find at the BNC? This week we’ll classify birds based upon similarities and differences and find out where they live at the BNC. We will create your own bird field guide, put feathers to the test, and discover how birds make all of those fun noises.

Week 2 – June 29-July 2: Feeling Right at Home (Habitats and Ecosystems)

Dens, dreys, and dog houses are all animal homes. In this week we will discover what an animal home is and why they are needed. We will search the BNC to find different homes, compare the forest and meadow to learn how animals meet their needs, and see if we can re-create some of these homes. It’ll be a real adventure! (No camp on July 3.)

Week 3 – July 6-July 10: A Green Adventure (Art and Nature)

Join us as we recycle and reuse, while reducing our waste! We will take a close look at worms, snails, and other recyclers found in the environment; study hermit crabs and Baltimore orioles and other animals that “reuse” found objects; and see what we can reuse and recycle. Find the artist inside you while making art projects from found, reused, and up-cycled materials!

Week 4 – July 13-July 17: Water Wizards (Water Investigations)

ALL living things need water. Water is an amazing substance that can freeze, turn into vapor, seep into very tiny places, and so much more! Come learn about water and the never ending journey it makes from sky to earth and back again. We’ll make new discoveries through scavenger hunts, ice cube races, and much more.

Week 5 – July 20-July 24: Weather Wonders (Earth Science)

What do you call it when it rains chickens and ducks? FOWL WEATHER! Weather is part of our everyday life and it is the same for animals and plants, so let’s discover how weather affects us all. We will build tools to measure the wind and the rain, create a cloud in a bottle, and play with parachutes to learn about the air that surrounds us. You may not realize it, but there’s a world of investigations outside your door.

Hawks: Ages 6 & 7

2015 Camp Themes

Boston Nature Center ● 500 Walk Hill Street, Mattapan MA 02132 ● 617-983-8500 ● bnccamp@massaudubon.org

Boston Nature Center

Week 6 – July 27- July 31: Hug A Bug (Insects)

Have you ever wondered if all caterpillars turn into butterflies or if ladybugs have spots when they are born? Help us delve into the fascinating world of insects and their amazing and varied lifecycles. Find out which insects start their lives underwater, and whether insect babies look like their parents. Join us as we discover answers to questions that may have been “bugging” you!

Week 7 – August 3-August 7: Green Thumbs (Plants)

Did you know that your t-shirt could be made from a plant? What about dollar bills and newspapers? The list of things we get from plants is HUGE! This week will be filled with fantastic projects including making paper from scratch, using plants to dye, and making musical instruments out of plants. We will explore some of the many items that can be made from plants, some obvious and some not so much.

Week 8 – August 10-August 14: Keep Calm and Predict On (Environmental Science)

How many times does a Red-Winged Blackbird flap its wings when it takes off from the ground? Does the Milkweed Beetle prefer one type of Milkweed plant over the other? How do field scientists know what they know about animals? Join us as we learn how to set up an experiment out on the nature trails and make close observations of animals here at the BNC. We will practice setting up different types of experiments and learn how to use the scientific method out in the real world.

Week 9 – August 17-August 21: Plant Problem-Solvers (Adaptations)

What would you do if your feet were stuck in the ground? How would you find food, protect yourself from the weather, or keep away from predators? In your wildest dreams you could never imagine all of the amazing strategies plants have to solve these challenges and more. Through discovery, experimentation, and even art, we will dive in to the green world of plants to learn about the different parts of plants and why they are important.

Week 10 – August 24 – August 28: Oh Deer! (Wildlife)

Food, shelter, water, and space are the basic needs that all living organisms have. Join us as each day we step into the world of a different animal each day right here at the BNC and learn how they work hard to meet their basic needs. For example, an ant might gather thousands of seeds and lift 50 times its body weight. We will

build shelters, play games, observe nature objects, and think about organisms need to survive in a city environment.

2015 Camp Themes

Boston Nature Center ● 500 Walk Hill Street, Mattapan MA 02132 ● 617-983-8500 ● bnccamp@massaudubon.org

Boston Nature Center

Week 1 – June 22-June 26: Ecosystems -- The Good the Bad and the Symbiotic?

(Wildlife)

From a tiny parasite living in the fur of a deer to squirrels competing with blue jays for acorns -- it’s a dangerous, wild world at the BNC for creatures big and small. Wildlife can have many types of relationships beyond predator and prey. We will become detectives and learn about these relationships through science experiments, arts & crafts, and nature games. The week will end with a web of life project!

Week 2 – June 29-July 2: Feathery Fun (Birds)

Turkeys sleep in trees but make nests on the ground; robins build nests in trees but spend much of their time on land. You can learn a lot about birds by observing what they are doing and where they are spending their time - everything from the food they eat to the predators they are trying to hide from. Join us as we trek across the sanctuary to study birds and compare the different habitats they live in. (No camp on July 3.)

Week 3 – July 6-July 10: An Excellent Earth (Habitats and Ecosystems)

You might know that forests produce fresh air but do you know that forests can cool a city in the summertime? Or that wetlands can clean pollution right out of the water? Join us to discover the many ways healthy ecosystems help us and the world around us. Come explore how changes, big and small, can affect an ecosystem, while taking part in stewardship projects that preserve and protect these great spots.

Week 4 – July 13-July 17: The Curious Naturalist (Art)

Are you curious about what you can make from natural materials? What kinds of art can be made from things you find while walking on a trail? How are professional artists using natural materials in their work? This week, we will explore this idea and use natural materials as a medium to design and construct art projects. Can you create a sculpture out of fruit and seeds for the birds to enjoy?

Week 5 – July 20-July 24: Every Drop Counts (Water)

Have you ever wondered what happens to puddles on the sidewalk after it rains? Where do they go? When we brush our teeth can our waste water end up in Boston Harbor? Join us as we explore this amazing life-giving resource and learn how we can be expert water conservationists. We will track its descent from the sky and back up again. We’ll learn why it is so important to all things living and how we can make sure we are not wasting a single drop.

Falcons: Ages 8 & 9

2015 Camp Themes

Boston Nature Center ● 500 Walk Hill Street, Mattapan MA 02132 ● 617-983-8500 ● bnccamp@massaudubon.org

Boston Nature Center

Week 6 – July 27-July 31: Wonderful Ways the World Works (Earth Science)

Can you build dams like a beaver or construct nests like a cardinal? How do humans imitate nature to solve common problems? Find out for yourself as you draw from nature to solve building and engineering challenges. We will build bridges, a web maze, and so much more.

Week 7 – August 3-August 7: The Bee’s Knees (Insects)

Did you know there are over six million different species of insects in the world? Or that bees are found on every continent except Antarctica? Join us as we explore and investigate the different habitats at the BNC while we will try to figure out what insects live where, and why. We will discover all types of insects and other invertebrates in their natural habitats as we decide what makes each habitat the perfect place for that insect. The Falcons will camp overnight inside the nature center for one night. It is optional for everyone and there is no extra cost.

Week 8 – August 10-August 14: Secret Agent Plants (Plants)

How does something that cannot change its location survive when faced with extreme temperature changes and other adverse conditions? It adapts! But how, and why? Through exploration we will learn about plants that crack concrete, ones that look like stones, and plants that shimmer like jewels. Come explore the mysterious powers of plants in the gardens, forest, and fields of the BNC.

Week 9 – August 17-August 21: The 3 R’s - It’s Easy Being Green (Environmental Science)

Every year in Massachusetts we throw away enough garbage to fill Fenway Park 74 times! Recycling is not the only way we can reduce the amount of waste we produce. This week we will dive in and learn about the positive impact reducing,

reusing and recycling can have right here on our BNC community. Together we will learn how to make our own paper and design experiments to learn how much waste we are generating here at the BNC. Creativity is key as we rethink how to reuse “stuff” in our everyday lives here at camp.

Week 10 – August 24–August 28: The Right Stuff (Adaptations)

Have you ever wondered why birds sing a pretty song in the spring, or why hawks make lazy circles in the sky? It’s all about survival! Learn why animals look and act the way they do and how it helps them survive. We’ll closely observe the behavior of birds, insects, and other animals at the BNC, and compare this to the ways that we, as humans, behave. We will explore the trails, create nature-inspired art, and play predator-prey games to help us understand animal adaptations.

2015 Camp Themes

Boston Nature Center ● 500 Walk Hill Street, Mattapan MA 02132 ● 617-983-8500 ● bnccamp@massaudubon.org

Boston Nature Center

Weeks 1 – June 22-June 26: Changing Critters (Adaptations)

How have you grown and changed throughout your life? Plants and animals grow and change too! This week will involve lots of fun games and activities that help us understand how animals evolve and adapt. With an emphasis on animals that live here at the BNC we will see tricks that prey use to outsmart predators, while they look for their own food supply as well.

Week 2 – June 29 -July 2: Wondrous Wildlife (Wildlife)

Did you know some bird like to make their nests on the tops of buildings, while other birds like to use birdhouses? This week we will explore how wildlife interacts with the world around them. Buildings and rocks provide shelter and protection for some animals; can we find any examples here at the BNC? (No camp on July 3.)

Week 3 – July 6-July 10: Bird Brains (Birds)

While the BNC may have plenty of gobbling turkeys, it wasn’t always that way. Sometimes birds need a little help! Birds are smart and crafty, but there are also ways that we can help to keep them safe. We will spend a week creating bird houses, making birdfeeders, and looking for signs of bird activity. Grab a pair of binoculars and see what birds make the BNC their home!

Week 4 – July 13-July 17: Weaving the Web of Life (Habitats and Ecosystems)

What are you eating for lunch? The fruit, vegetables, and meat that we eat all play an important role in the web of life. Predator/prey relationships are all around us and each has a large impact on the way we live our lives. Get ready for a fun filled week of ecosystem games and activities as we see how food chains naturally change over time and as a result of human impact.

Week 5 – July 20-July 24: Beautiful BNC (Art and Nature)

Think of the swirling rings of a tree stump and how each line tells the tale of the tree’s life. Join us as we observe the bright colors of berries, the design of a bird nest, and the many uses of mud. These will be our inspiration to build structures and create natural art projects. We will look at famous examples of natural art and try to create our very own BNC Masterpiece!

Ravens: Ages 10 & 11

2015 Camp Themes

Boston Nature Center ● 500 Walk Hill Street, Mattapan MA 02132 ● 617-983-8500 ● bnccamp@massaudubon.org

Boston Nature Center

Week 6 – July 27- July 31: Wet and Wild Ecosystems (Water) Do you know that Earth is about 70% water? Water is a basic need for all living things. Camels and cactus conserve water because it’s hard for them to find. Other plants and animals can only live in water. Let’s take a look at the bodies of water we have here at the BNC and investigate some unique water ecosystems!

Week 7 – August 3-August 7: Mean Green Solar Powered Machine (Earth Science) Do you know that the BNC gets most of its electricity from the sun? Energy is all around us. This week we will look at ways nature provides us with energy from the sun, water, and the Earth’s heat. Along the way we will talk about energy conservation. How does recycling help to save energy? As environmental stewards we will think green and learn about sustainable energy sources! The Ravens will camp overnight inside the nature center for one night. It is optional for everyone and there is no extra cost.

Week 8 – August 10-August 14: Stop Buggin’ Me! (Insects)

Do you know squirmy worms and buzzing bees are responsible for a lot of the food we eat? Do you know that some bugs can make trees really sick? This week we will garden, sweep for bugs, and use microscopes to get a better understanding of the roles insects have in our ecosystem. Pollination games and a closer look at the butterfly garden will help us understand how plants and food grow.

Week 9 – August 17-August 21: Peculiar Plants (Plants)

What makes a tree a tree? Why do some trees have broad leaves and others have needles? This week we will hit the trails and find what all plants have in common and what makes them unique. We will learn about how invasive plants are different from native plants. From plants that eat insects, to plants that make their own sunscreen -- join us as we explore the amazing and diverse world of plants.

Week 10 – August 24-August 28: Citizen Scientist to the Rescue! (Environmental Science)

Citizen Scientists have made huge contributions to society from tracking song bird migration and to discovering celestial bodies. This week we will learn how to do real scientific experiments – let’s put down planks in the woods to conduct a salamander count. If we work together we have the ability to collect a lot of information and learn what is going on in different habitats here at the BNC.

2015 Camp Themes

Boston Nature Center ● 500 Walk Hill Street, Mattapan MA 02132 ● 617-983-8500 ● bnccamp@massaudubon.org

Boston Nature Center

Week 1 – June 22-June 26: Design by Nature (Environmental Science)

What do suction cups, Velcro, and airplane rudders have in common? They are all human inventions inspired by natural structures. Limpets, burrs, and bird tails have been thoroughly tested in nature’s laboratory. How can we take advantage of these designs to improve our world? Challenge yourself as to imagine, construct, and refine solutions to problems of shelter, transportation, and convenience.

Week 2 – June 29-July 2: BNC Survivor (Adaptations)

With all of our modern conveniences, we sometimes forget that for most of human history, people have lived outdoors. Have you made shelters from sticks and leaves? Have you ever had to work with other people to get things done, win challenges, or set up tents? Well, come see if you have what it takes to survive in the wild. Build on success and learn new skills while constructing creative solutions to several challenges while learning how to use appropriate tools and materials. Join us as we create, design, take apart, and build on our ideas. (No camp on July 3.)

Week 3 – July 6-July 10: Kaleidoscope Kingdoms (Wildlife)

When you scoop a bucket of pond water, you’ll probably know which things are plants and which are animals. But there are also some mysterious organisms! Which group would algae go in? What about amoebas and other microscopic critters? We’ll learn how scientists classify living things by collecting as many organisms as we can - the cute, the strange, and the weird – and using microscopes and guides to identify them.

Week 4 – July 13-July 17: Shake a tail feather (Birds and Conservation)

Forty years ago the Bald Eagle, our national bird, was on the way to becoming extinct. Through the Endangered Species Act, and the actions of dedicated citizens, it is now thriving. What stories can we tell about the birds that live or visit our sanctuary? Join us as we become Citizen Scientists and become experts on the birds that live here at the BNC. At the end of the week we will use our art and design skills to build accurate life size models of the birds we study.

Week 5 – July 20-July 24: Leave No Trace (Habitats & Ecosystems)

How can you have an adventure in nature and make sure you’re taking care of the outdoors? Why should you care about the earth while having fun? During this session we will learn about great outdoor hobbies including orienteering, letterboxing and photography while learning tips and tricks to ensure the health of the environment around us. Through erosion experiments, bird counts, litter pick-ups and more we will have a deeper understanding of human impact on an ecosystem in both positive and negative ways. Come learn to tread lightly on the Earth while having a great time exploring.

Adventurers: Ages 12 & 13

2015 Camp Themes

Boston Nature Center ● 500 Walk Hill Street, Mattapan MA 02132 ● 617-983-8500 ● bnccamp@massaudubon.org

Boston Nature Center

Week 6 – July 27-July 31: Eco-Art (Art & Nature)

Nature has been the inspiration for art from cave paintings to ballets. Now people are using music, painting and dancing to connect people to the outdoor world and bring awareness to many injustices. How can we use art to build a bridge between nature and people? Learn to use different art mediums to create educational messages and inspire those around us to stop and enjoy nature. Join us as we use art to change the world!

Week 7 – August 3-August 7: Water World (Water)

Seventy percent of the world is covered in water, but is it a scarce resource? Let’s explore different ecosystems and how important water is to their functioning. We will investigate different bodies of water using real tools to test their health. What lives there? What is a watershed and which one are we in? How much is water really a part of our lives? How does water change land? How do the plants and animals of the BNC rely on water?

Week 8 – August 10-August 14: Amazing Race (Earth Science)

Learn about the land under our feet and the weather around us as your team races to complete challenges, solve clues, and avoid roadblocks. Our city is filled with mysterious habitats and unique niches all due to a particular set of landforms, water movements, and weather conditions. Through a fun game setting we will map out watersheds, find evidence of past glaciers, and record and predict weather. There is a whole new world out there, right under your feet. The Adventurers will camp overnight at Mass Audubon’s sleep away camp, Wildwood. It is optional for everyone and there is no extra cost.

Week 9 – August 17-August 21: Eco Buzz (Insects and others)

Towers, nests, webs, and mounds are just a few of the amazing ways that insects and other small creatures build the world around them. About 80% of the Earth’s animals are insects and their creations have inspired inventors, architects and scientists around the world. You will learn about the materials insects make, how they use them and how they help the humans around them. You will create your own paper like wasps, study spiders webs to build bridges, and take a closer look at honeycombs to make candles. In this hands-on week, you will discover why and how these industrious animals build by imagining, inventing, and constructing our own fantastic structures.

Week 10 – August 24-August 28: Top Chef (Plants)

The garden offers a variety of fresh food, which can be made even tastier with some simple kitchen tricks. Think carrots, salad greens, peas, radishes...the flavor possibilities are endless when combined with fresh herbs like basil, oregano, and chives. Through food challenges and experiments, you will learn about the plant world and hidden dynamics in garden life. Field trips will include neighborhood farms, farm stands and orchards. In between challenges and harvesting, we will map and design future gardens, water and weed, and even create art projects with items found in our garden.

2015 Camp Themes

Boston Nature Center ● 500 Walk Hill Street, Mattapan MA 02132 ● 617-983-8500 ● bnccamp@massaudubon.org

Boston Nature Center

Explorers Week 1 – July 20-July 24: Passport to Mass Audubon

Discover the diversity of Massachusetts as your group spends each day hiking the outdoors in and around Boston. Our state is filled with mysterious habitats, rare and endangered wildlife and puzzling natural artifacts. Our quality of life is directly tied to the land and the water around us, and to all the organisms that share our urban ecosystem. How does soil control the climate? How do plants work to protect against floods and mud slides? Find the answers to these questions and more while meeting scientists, community leaders, local historians and others as you explore the wild areas right at our fingertips.

Leaders-in-Training

Session A – July 6-July 10

Session B – August 3-August 7

Leaders-in-Training (LITs) is a special camp program designed to develop important leadership skills and prepare older campers to volunteer at camp. LITs practice skills such as communication, working with others and public speaking. They participate in team building activities, art and science learning and field trips. They will put their new skills into practice by working with younger campers and gain confidence in themselves, while making new friends and discovering new talents.

LITs are eligible to volunteer at camp for up to 2 weeks after finishing the LIT week.

LITs & Explorers: Ages 14 & 15