The Camp Compass Newsletter Come explore and learn with us!
Camp: Week 4 7/12/10-7/16/10
FEATURED THIS WEEK AT CAMP MONTESSORI
Heat wave and flash flood storms prevented campers from going outside and doing activities outdoors, aside from the pool, so campers had to remain indoors for the majority of the week. Despite the heat, the older campers, Kindergarten to 6th grade, were still able to go to the pool. The campers in the other wing, our Infants to Preschoolers, fought the heat with morning water play.
WHERE WE ARE TRAVELING
7/15 Wilderness Canoe
It was a trip down the Brandywine River for Room 26 this week! Some canoes had trouble getting into the rhythm of rowing, but eventually, the group of canoes found a steady pace down the river. The water was high, the river was fast, and the campers had a fantastic time. They even hit some class 4 rapids! The 2 ½ hour journey down the Brandywine River allowed children to admire nature and the animals. They saw turtles, blue and white herrings, and ducks. The journey took them from Smith’s Bridge in Chaddsford, down to Thompson’s Bridge. The travelers took a break during their trip to have lunch at a park on the side of the river.
SPECIALTY CAMPS THIS WEEK
Morning Yoga Adventure
This week, several campers had an exciting time doing yoga in the Great Room. After learning the basic steps and poses, the children moved on to some more advanced positions. They had fun playing yoga games and doing animal poses they learned from books. Children played an activity called plow pass, where everyone sits on the floor and passes a ball to their neighbor. The trick is: only your feet can be used to pass the ball. This activity helps with strengthening the core and leg muscles, and improving balance. Campers also took adventures to the beach, the jungle, and other places. The kids would pick a method of transportation (the favorite was the magic carpet) and then they would use a pose to get to their destination. Upon arrival, they would use their binoculars to see what they could find. They then posed for the different animals and things they found. Campers ended the week by decorating their own yoga mats to take home with them.
American Girl Camp
Room 16 was filled with girls and their American Girl Dolls this week. At American Girl Doll camp, girls spent each day learning about one of the different American Girl Dolls. They did projects and activities that related to the each doll and the time period from which the doll came. For the doll Kit, girls made piggy banks and played some shopping games. They also got money workbooks to help them learn about finances. The next doll, Molly, led to crafts for soldiers. Girls made cards and snowman soup for soldiers. Their cards and soup will be used for the Stockings for Soldiers drive in the winter. Addy, the American Girl Doll who was a slave, allowed the girls to learn about slavery. They made letter cookies because Addy taught her mother how to read by making letters out of dough. They also made friendship beads. Girls even learned about Crissa, the newest American Girl Doll. She is the doll of today. For Crissa, the girls made friendship boxes and motto boxes with papers inside reminding them of their own strengths. By then end of the week, the girls had a much better understanding of their favorite dolls.
Drama Workshop in the Afternoon
Our newest actors and actresses have been hard at work this past week. The afternoon of drama always began with warm ups. Children would first stretch their bodies, and then they would warm up their voices. After learning about what it means to be an actor, campers were ready to broaden their own skills. They spent a lot of time learning how to use their bodies as props. Children enjoyed playing the statues game. Every day they would divide into groups and each group would have to come up with something. They would then make the shape with their bodies and everyone else would have to guess what was being made. The children also did group exercises in which they made commercials. A popular game was park bench. This game helped children learn how to control their facial expressions and emotions. Two children would sit on a bench and another would come up and try to get the children to move by making them laugh. The campers also spent time working on the play they performed on Friday.
CAMP ACTIVITIES:
UP ONE HALL AND DOWN THE OTHER
Room 1
Room 1’s Infants were very sad about the weather keeping them inside this week. They made the best of it, though, with their fruity mixed berry and peach smoothies. Children continued to enjoy their buggy rides around the school. They also had fun exploring the new games and toys in their room. Campers started a new theme this week: turtles and frogs.
Room 2
This week in Room 2, sea shells were used for many different activities. Children did several different sea shell related art projects. They made sea shell imprinting and shell molds. They also made fun and exciting sea shell designs on cardboard. Campers had fun playing outside when it wasn’t raining or too hot.
Room 3
The Toddlers in Room 3 learned about Sea Life this week. They tasted pomegranate seeds and did some exciting water work. They also learned the Slippery Fish song to go along with their sea life theme. Campers took a walk around outside after all the rain. They were able to see how powerful the rain was by looking at all the broken branches and the way in which the dirt had been shifted.
Room 4
Room 4 beat the heat by making pineapple juice from fresh pineapples this week. They later rooted the top of the pineapple to try growing their own pineapple plant. Campers did a lot of artwork and painting as well. They made seascapes of the ocean floor and did some water exploration with sea creatures. Children had fun doing yoga in class and playing soccer in the gym.
Rooms 6, 7, 8
This week, the Preschoolers were learning about the continent of South America. They began with Chili. They learned that people in Chili speak Spanish. Next, they looked at Brazil where people speak Portuguese. The final country they explored was Columbia. Children were very excited to have a guest speaker from Columbia come and talk with them. She spoke to them about the three different colors of the Columbian flag: yellow, red, and blue. Campers sang Spanish songs and ate food from each of the countries they learned about.
Room 25
The 1st graders had a horse theme this week. They did several different horse related crafts. Campers had fun designing and decorating their own horses. They also spent time creating and decorating bookmarks. Friendship bracelets have been a huge success in Room 25 the past few weeks. Campers are having a blast making bracelets for their friends. Children did a lot of baking this week. They made biscotti, cake, and a special afternoon snack.
Room 26
Room 26 was very busy preparing for their canoe trip this week. Campers went for an exciting canoe ride down the Brandywine River. They spent a lot of time this week repairing their archery awning. They also worked on securing a shade cover for the pond they constructed in the courtyard. The beginning of their clothing drive was very successful, and Room 26 will continue collecting gently used clothes for the rest of the summer.
Room 27
The Kindergartners began to study China this week. They did a lot of China-themed art work and crafts. Children made paper lanterns and colored Chinese houses. Some also colored Chinese dolls. Campers did some baking this week and made biscuits for snack. They had fun playing twister in their room. Some even made their own music with instruments while others danced along with scarves.
Room 28
This week, Room 28 had a Western theme. They held a pony express race down the hallway and did western activities. Children made paper plate cowboys and cowgirls. They also made cowboy key chains. Many made rain dance rattles, too! Inside, children played games that did not require boards or props. They learned how to have fun without having to spend money. Campers also took time out of their week to write letters for the soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
