River Day Camp

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? Friends of Guadalupe River Park and Gardens 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!

August 3 – 7
Monday:  Weather is Cool!
Tuesday:  Cultural Food Exploration!
Wednesday: The Sun is a Star!
Thursday: Who lives in our Park?
Friday: Bike Adventure along the River! (7-10year olds only)

August 10 – 14
Monday:  Orchard Pioneers!
Tuesday: Seeds, Soil, Buds and Bugs!
Wednesday: Dig and Discover!
Thursday: Build your Bodies!
Friday: World Record Exploration! (7-10year olds only)

All sessions are $40, see registration form for more details. To register by phone, call 408-298-7657. To view the .pdf registration form, click the link below. For session descriptions, scroll down or view form.

SummerCampReg09.pdf, (355 KB .pdf file)

DAILY TOPICS
5-7 Year-Olds

Week 2, August 3 – 7

WEATHER IS COOL!
Monday, August 3rd
Become a junior meteorologist as we look to the skies and discover what makes the weather happen everyday. Experience a simulated rainstorm using just your hands and make a rain gauge to take home. Measure wind, temperature, and other weather related numbers and put on your very own weather report.

CULTURAL FOOD EXPLORATION
Tuesday, August 4th
Ever wonder where your favorite food comes from? Does it magically appear at the supermarket? Discover where our food comes from as we explore the orchard and gardens at the Guadalupe River Park. Learn how food grows and how different cultures throughout the world use the same ingredients to make unique dishes. Take a walk to Trader Joes and explore the market as we see how food is delivered and packaged so it can be used in our homes.

THE SUN IS A STAR!
Wednesday, August 5th
A famous star will be joining us for a day of HOT activities – the SUN! Take a closer look at the earth’s nearest star as we learn how it formed, what it’s like, and what its future holds. Make sun prints, cook with the sun, and make a delicious sun tea as we learn all about this amazing star. Don’t forget your sun-screen; this is one day that is sure to be hot, hot, HOT no matter what the weather!

WHO LIVES IN OUR PARK?
Thursday, August 6th
Get sneaky as we explore the Guadalupe River Park and signs of animal activity within it. Learn what animal tracks, scat, calls and other clues they leave behind can tell us about their secret lives. Solve an animal mystery using forensic science and make an animal track to take home.

DAILY TOPICS
7-10 Year-Olds

BIKE ADVENTURE ALONG THE RIVER
Friday. August 7th
The Guadalupe River Park is 2.6 miles long and still growing! Explore the length of the park and the all the sites it has to offer with this special day bike exploration of the Guadalupe River. See all seven of the sister cities, find all of the hidden animals captured in sculpture and art in the park, take a ride on a salmon, humming bird, coyote or shark at the Arena Green Carousel, and learn simple bike maintenance. You must have a bike, helmet and lock in order to participate.

DAILY TOPICS
5-7 Year-Olds

Week 3, August 10 – 14

ORCHARD PIONEERS
Monday, August 10th
Imagine spending your summer working in an orchard to earn money for the coming school year or to help your family with the seasonal harvest. Today we will take a walk in someone else’s shoes as we make crafts and toys, play games, and explore our cities history when it was called the Valley of the Hearts delight. Sample fresh and dried fruit (if available) and help with the harvesting of the summer season.

SEEDS, DIRT, BUDS AND BUGS
Tues. August 11th
Do you have a green thumb? Or are you interested in growing one? Join us as we explore the world of plants and their pollinating friends. Gain an understanding of what plants need in order to survive and plant your own seeds to take home. Discover dirt, bugs and everything else good for plants in this day of gardening fun!

DIG AND DISCOVER
Weds. August 12th
Travel back in time as we explore the lost world of prehistoric beasts. Discover the different animals that once roamed this area, learn how fossils form and become a junior paleontologist as we complete a simulated fossil dig.

BUILD YOUR BODIES
Thursday, August 13th            
Start your week out right with outdoor activities in the Guadalupe River Park. Learn how your body works, practice proper stretching techniques, center your mind and spirit with Yoga, and get your heart rate up by playing some fun games. Bring your tennis shoes, workout clothes, water and energy for a morning of physical fun.

DAILY TOPICS
7-10 Year-Olds

WORLD RECORD EXPLORATION
Friday, August 14th
Do you think you break the world record high jump of a pig? Or the most spoons balanced on a person’s face? Bring your competitive side as we look at some of the world records, some interesting, others bizarre, and test our own skills and strengths against them. Perhaps you will discover a hidden talent of your very own to submit to the Guinness Book of World Records.