Looking for something different this summer for your child? Do you find it difficult to commit to weeklong camps because of scheduling conflicts or preplanned vacations? Guadalupe River Park Conservancy offers a fun half day camp with exciting daily topics built around your schedule. Sign up for individual days based on your availability and your child’s interests. Do something different this summer – explore the natural world right in downtown San Jose.

SummerCamp2010RegForm.pdf
(424 KB .pdf file)

Group A, Ages 5-7, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Fossil Detectives
Do you know what a paleontologist is?  You could even be one for the day!  Many years ago the animal life in our area was very different and today paleontologists are able to uncover the evidence of this.  Together we will be paleontologists and “dig up” facts about primitive beasts and Native Americans, while we see how they left us proof they walked through Guadalupe River Park.

Food Factor
Have you ever seen fruit growing on a tree?  What happens after it gets picked?  Let’s walk through the Guadalupe Orchard to see where our produce grows. We’ll then walk to Trader Joes to see where it goes next.  Get a behind the scenes tour and see what happens to your food from the orchard to your local market.  Help pick out fruit from Trader Joe’s to make a Fresh Fusion Fruit Salad.  PLEASE let us know if your child has any food allergies.

Animals In and Out
Want to meet some animals up close?  Let’s track down some animals in their natural habitat?  Come meet the animals in our Critter Corner and after we’ll roam the wild side of the Park and identify the outdoor critters, as well.  We will distinguish where their homes are, detect what they eat and discuss how they are all important to us.  What animals are native, which are non-native and which are even harmful to our environment.  Get a chance to watch a carnivore eat lunch, and then help prepare a meal for an herbivore before you have a snack of your own.

Wheelin’ Down the River
What a great time to ride along the Guadalupe River Trail.  We’ll go over bike safety tips and practice our riding skills as we visit some of our sister cities sites along the path.  Let’s even take a ride on the carousel at Arena Green and have a picnic lunch together.  Bring your own bike, helmet, and all necessary safety gear with plenty of water, snacks and bag lunch while we cruise around and investigate the Guadalupe Trails.

Orchard Keepers
Do you like to help around the house?  Does your family have a garden and have you ever helped out with it? What if you had no choice but to work all summer in your family’s orchard?  Think about having to make your own soap, candles and meals.  No fast food, no grocery stores and no movie theatres. Everything you wanted or needed had to be made, and this includes the games you played.  Participate in “Pioneer like” activities while you make games, pick fruit and experience some of their daily duties.

Geology Rocks!
Have you ever felt the earth shake, rattle and roll?  Did you ever wonder about the rocks beneath your feet?  Rocks are COOL! Come learn about the earth including its dynamic and physical history.   Locate on a map the various volcanoes around the world, determine the tallest mountains in the world and how they were created, and distinguish the different compositions of rocks and find out that some are harder than others.

Demolish Debris
Do you think that it is possible to have zero trash in your house or close to it?  Ever wondered what the symbol at the bottom of your water bottle means?  Turn old common items into new items for entirely different uses.  Learn how to reduce your carbon footprint by properly reducing, recycling and reusing everyday items.  Assist in a successful compost project, including seeing our squiggly, wiggly, worms at work!

Solar Powered
How does solar power work?  Have you ever used solar power?   Master what the sun can do for you, including keeping you healthy and happy.  Make art using the sun as well as a yummy treat using solar power!  When the sun sets, find out what the stars are up to.  Bring to light what is residing in the deep, dark sky.  What planets will make an appearance for you to see at night?

Budding Botanists
From seed to plant, to flower to seed.  Also, plants depend on animals for survival, on more ways than you might think.  Animals help to plant seeds, help them to grow and even pollinate various plants in order for them to “make the cut”.  Take some seeds home and help give them the proper necessities that you’ll learn in order to soon turn them into a plant.

Where in the World are…YOU?
North, South, East, West?  Longitude, Latitude?  What? Where?  Me????  Want to learn how to geocache?  Want to learn what geocache is?  Find some hidden treasures throughout the park and leave a few for others to find as we “cache” our way through the Guadalupe Parks and Gardens.  Learn how to not only use a Global Positioning System (GPS), but learn what the important symbols means that are displayed on them.  It’ll be a great adventure together.
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Explosive, Corrosive…TOXIC
Let’s learn fun, and safe ways to play with wondrous chemicals!  Use everyday substances to create new and cool feeling, substances.  We’ll behold the wonders of chemistry right before your eyes. Let’s watch a solid become a liquid and a liquid turn to gas.  What do you think happens when two liquids are combined?  Pop in and see what’s happening as we experiment as chemists do.