2014 - 2015
Mini Classes

FEATHERED FRIENDS - BIRDS
FIELD TRIP - TRACY AVIARY
http://www.tracyaviary.org/

MAKE BIRD FEEDERS:
peanut-butter-bird-treats

MAKE BIRDS NESTS:
Make: Bird Nests

HAND PRINT PEACOCK:
Handprint Peacock

TREASURE HUNTERS
Field Trip: Utah Indoor Archery
http://www.jakesarchery.com/indoor_archery_range

TREASURE HUNTING IN UT:
http://www.cs.utah.edu/~robison/treasure/treasure.html

With the theme music from any Indiana Jones movie start off a scavenger hunt or treasure hunt. Scavenger hunts have a lot of appeal because groups can have instant success by finding things on their list right away. With a treasure hunt the “prize” is at the end.
Instead of having a treasure hunt where groups find one clue after another, at each “check point” the group must perform a task or solve a physical mystery. Think Amazing Race style.
Geocahing is very popular. Set up a geocahing course.
Make treasure chests out of shoe boxes or craft sticks.

Renaissance
September 26th - Renaissance field trip at Thanksgiving Point
http://www.utahvalley.com/events/details.aspx?ID=3527
http://utahvalleyrenaissancefaire.com/

All food must be eaten by hand. Bring out the turkey legs.
Teach how to juggle. Start off with silks and gradually make your way to tennis balls.
A Renaissance Man (or Woman) is considered to be someone who excels in multiple fields.
Sword fighting and archery were two martial disciplines of the time. For archery set up a sandbag dummy with an apple on his head.

Music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3znw4gCk5R0

History of the Renaissance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhd-uwFonog

Food of the Renaissance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA-nCgIkFAg

Dancing and Clothing of Renaissance:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0zH6UeRl1Q

How to play chess:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-uwGvx4V_A

Archery:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_4LaEprsvU

Fencing 101:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8IdfA5fXJs

Weapons and Armor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4xRQhJYsng
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnveFLcgoG0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbDhQYvetr8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rp3nve9CJk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5_4uC3-Xu8

Jousting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48BS6mM8vd4

Myths and Legends

UTAH'S LEGENDS:

http://www.enjoyutah.org/2011/09/series-utahs-mysteries.html

FIELD TRIP:

UINTAH MOUNTAINS

Tell this legend and hide gold:

http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm9_002221.pdf

Have Merlin do a magic show as though he is performing for King Arthur.

Crafts - use modeling clay to create their own mythical creature. They can paint it as well. Personally, I would like to see a dragon/unicorn hybrid.

Hold a game of flash light tag or capture the flag and the teams can be vampires vs. werewolves.

Have scripts for students to act out that are based on Greek mythology, Indian folklore or even fables like Jack and the Beanstalk or The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs.

Music Makers

FIELD TRIP - MUSICAL PERFORMANCE

Have the students do their version of Stomp using trash can lids, sticks and other things.

Have a drum circle.

Dance blindfolded. Many kids are self-conscious when it comes to dancing. Why? Because they are afraid that other kids will laugh at them. Yet they will dance at home when nobody is watching. Taking students out to an open area during the day and blindfolding them takes that fear away. Make sure they have plenty of room. Tell them to try and stay where they are. Then play some music, and with the sun in their face and wind in their hair they will eventually let go and dance. Let them know that dancing is all about moving and feeling the music, not trying to impress others.

Play instruments they would not normally have the chance to try out. From a complete drum set to a Reverie Harp. Banjos, Ocarina flute,Ring flute. the musical jug and the Jew’s harp are all fun and different instruments that students would love to try out.

Make a music video.

Imaginarium

Set out all your crafts supplies and let the students create whatever they want. You can even hold a contest for the most original craft.

Create a theme park. What rides would they have? What kind of food would be served? Would there be themes? How about shows?

I can’t remember where I read about the activity “Whatcha-ma-call-it” but I’ve used it many times. At least half of the supplies must be natural (sticks, rocks, etc.). Then they have another 15-20 minutes to create a product using the supplies. Each group gives a sales pitch for their new product.

Gather a ton of Legos and let each group create their own masterpiece.

Set out a set of balls, cones, wood planks, goals, Frisbees, rope, or whatever you have and let each age group design their own challenge. Once the challenge has been designed the age groups will return to their groups and play the game/challenge to see who wins.

Dry Ice Science:

What is Dry Ice and how does it work?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpHdPn0vW2s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVmIAqwgIRo

Why is Dry Ice Dangerous?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haXZZvmDJsE

What will happen if you microwave dry ice?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WABthlGTy74

How does Dry Ice Explode?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpHdPn0vW2s

5 Dry Ice Science Experiments:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNeVl6rjqrM
Smoke Ring Launcher
Bubbles
Reaction to Sink full of water
Frozen Flower - Rubbing Alcohol and Dry Ice

Dry Ice Carbonated Ice Cream:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epsr4c_oZoM

Can Dry Ice turn into Bubbles?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpHdPn0vW2s

The Disappearing Flame trick with Dry Ice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygyD9jQxQ7Y

Can Dry Ice Blow up Balloons?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygyD9jQxQ7Y

Can Dry Ice make a Quarter Scream?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygyD9jQxQ7Y

Theme of the Day – Symphony of the Five Senses

JANUARY 26, 2010 BY CURT "MOOSE" JACKSON 5 COMMENTS

http://summercampprogramdirector.com/theme-of-the-day-symphony-of-the-five-senses/

As always I will kick off the theme with five suggestions. Then it’s your turn to leave your awesome suggestions and ideas in the comments area below.

Sight – Have campers do a trust walk. This is where campers buddy up and one camper in each pair is blindfolded and the other camper leads them on a walk that the counselor takes them on. Once all the campers have had a turn being blindfolded the group discusses trust and the sense of sight. This, of course, can lead to some great discussions.

How do our EYES work?

Smell – Blindfold the campers and have them smell different items (flowers, grass, foods, etc.). Can they tell what it is? Make a challenge out of it and have one camper from each group come up and smell the item. The first one to correctly identify the smell gets the point.

How does your Nose work? How can we smell?

Touch – Have you ever been to a Halloween party where they pass around different items that you can’t see but are supposed to touch. They tell you that your touching eyeballs when it’s really peeled grapes, or that your putting your hands in a bowl of brains that is actually cooked spaghetti noodles. Do the same thing. Set up a few tables with boxes that the campers have to reach into and see if they can identify the objects, which can be just about anything (just stay away from cactus, okay?).

Hearing – I love taking campers to an area and having them sit down or lay down and not say a word for a few minutes. It’s amazing all the sounds that can be heard that we normally just block out. What can you hear? Birds, traffic, a plane, the wind, laughter, a squirrel scurrying around are some examples of what campers will notice by just stopping and listening.

How does our HEARING work?

Taste – When I was a kid I was at a county fair and Pepsi was doing it’s “Pepsi Challenge”. When I got to the front of the line I took a drink of soda from a Dixie cup. Then I ate a cracker and took a drink of soda from another Dixie cup. I was then asked which soda I liked more. I chose the second cup. It happened to be Coke. From that day on I was a Coca Cola fan. Have your own Pepsi Challenge. I know that soda is not the preferred drink these days so how about using different brands of juice, or better yet, water. Not all water tastes the same. Aquafina doesn’t taste like Arrowhead. Do your own taste test. You’ll see.

How do we TASTE?

I took a class in college about team building. One of the things we did is get in groups of 3 and each of us had to take turns being mute, blind, and armless. One of each thing at a time. THEN we found out we had to DRIVE to the Pizza Hut, order food and eat while staying within the confines of our disability. It was not only a crazy experience, but very enlightening and a great team builder. We had to watch over each other and protect each other in so many different ways, even feeding each other! AND we drove my car, with manual transmission. THAT involved some serious communication and I was mute for the transportation decision and car ride!

Explosions

5 Amazing Natural Explosions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIstOoBTLZE

Exploding Whale

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBgThvB_IDQ&list=PL20AF0A7EE84DB46F

Animated Version of the Exploding Whale:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM4pgnkGUgE&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PL68C491CB892CC611

How does dynamite work?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYjl5jiwSH4

Dry Ice/Water Explosion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpHdPn0vW2s

Old Faithful

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE8NDuzt8eg

Old Faithful Explosion - Exploding Soda
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjbJELjLgZg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y71u18_Euxg

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bring-science-home-coke-mentos/

How does Old Faithful Explode?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WEHgBaC--g

Exploding Toads

http://www.youtube.com/watchv=Kghuy9aq8e8
start @ 6:10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYfF6MWIGqg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU22_E0_mc0

Experiment:
Can soap explode?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Djlwyc5ctY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmS20rgn6kk

Limnic Eruptions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIg-LQQdbrM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNrgjWJeeMY

Demonstration:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xuAS9Z1e_4

Exploding Pringles Can:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvvSQ8x5ufM

Tunguska Event

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-BD4M-c0gQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiXpp-i442s

Experiment: A boom in the Room
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlmsiPxEuK0

Cooking Mini-Class

Chocolate Cheesecake Bars

No oven required! These quick microwave treats feature a crunchy bottom layer made with crushed chocolate sandwich cookies.

No-Bake Cookies Tip: To crush cookies for this chocolate crust, place cookies in a resealable plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin.

http://www.bhg.com/recipe/chocolate-cheesecake-bars-1/

Three-Layer No-Bake Bars

Layers of creamy vanilla pudding and melted chocolate top a buttery graham cracker crust in this no-bake cookies recipe.

http://www.bhg.com/recipe/cookies/three-layer-no-bake-bar-cookies/

No-Bake Butterscotch-Pretzel Bars

Salty peanuts plus complementary butterscotch make these bars a tasty no-bake cookie option.

http://www.bhg.com/christmas/cookies/quick-christmas-cookie-recipes/#page=11

Yummy No-Bake Bars

Topped with a creamy layer of chocolate, these fuss-free peanut butter bars are the ideal take-along for a last-minute cookieexchange invitation.

http://www.bhg.com/christmas/cookies/quick-christmas-cookie-recipes/#page=13

Frozen Fruit Bites

http://spoonful.com/recipes/frozen-fruit-bites

So simple but clever - S’mores Pops. Marshmallows on a stick, dipped in melted chocolate and rolled in crushed grahams! So good!!

Use a melon baller, scoop out apple bites and soak them in water to keep from browning then put a skewer in each one and dip them in caramel...mini caramel apples!