2009 Jr. Nature Explorer Camps!

The Jr. Nature Explorers Program -
combining learning with fun!


2009 marks the 5th anniversary year for the Jr. Nature Explorers Program, and once again we have expanded our offerings of reasonably-priced classes and camps for children ages 4 to 7.

This year there are 10 camps to choose from, each with a different theme- sign up for one or several! The themes of each camp are listed below, along with the space available as of August 20th:

2009 Jr. Nature Explorer Camps for children ages 4-5:
• June 22-24 Roots and Shoots- this camp was a blast- thanks to a great group of campers!

• July 6-8 The Wiggly World of Worms- this camp was a blast- thanks to a great group of campers!

• July 13-15 Pollinator Power- this camp was a blast- thanks to a great group of campers!

• July 20-22 Beetles on Parade- this camp was a blast- thanks to a great group of campers!

• August 3-5 Winged Wonders- this camp was a blast- thanks to a great group of campers!

• August 10-12 The World of Water- this camp was a blast- thanks to a great group of campers!

• August 24-26 Flowers and Fruits- this camp was a blast- thanks to a great group of campers!


2009 Nature Explorer Camps for children ages 6-7:
• June 29- July 1 The Wiggly World of Worms- this camp was a blast- thanks to a great group of campers!

• July 27-30 Beetles on Parade-this camp was a blast- thanks to a great group of campers!

• August 17-19 Roots, Shoots, Flowers, and Fruits- this camp was a blast- thanks to a great group of campers!

Each Jr. Nature Explorer camp day includes activities in the Warren G. Magnuson Park Children's Garden, as well as hikes through the nearby grassland and forest trails, the Native Plant Border, and the Community Garden P-Patch.

Children who attend Jr. Nature Explorers programs experience the benefits of teamwork, along with the joy of discovery and sharing what they’ve learned with one another. When parents arrive at the end of the day’s activities, expect some dirty knees and fingernails, along with your child’s happy smiles and an excited recitation of their adventures!

All the camps are filled with fun, age-appropriate, hands-on activities that encourage curiosity and understanding of the natural world around us. For a detailed description of the activities planned for each individual camp, click on its listing in the right hand column on this page.

Here is a summary of the fun and educational experiences your child will have in a typical Jr. Explorer camp:

* sensory walks
* exploring the worm bin
* creating nature art to decorate the garden
* learning about the plants, animals, insects, and birds that live in the park
* planting, tending, harvesting, and snacking in our organically-grown P-Patch garden
* playing nature-theme games
* free play, storytime, and quiet time
* creating nature crafts to take home
* building homes for the creatures who live in the garden.
* and last but not least, a picnic lunch each day in the garden!

Each camp is held Monday through Wednesday from 9:30am-12:30pm.
The fee for each camp is $90.00

The Jr. Nature Explorer Program is sponsored by the Warren G. Magnuson Park Community Center, which handles all the registration and fee collection for the program.

For more information, or to register for any Jr. Nature Explorer programs, call the Warren G. Magnuson Park Community Center at 206-684-7026, or download a quarterly brochure from their website at http://www.cityofseattle.net/parks/centers/magnuson.htm


Additional 2009 Magnuson Park Environmental Events include:

• July 12th- Family Workparty in the Children's Garden from 1-3pm. Come enjoy the fun after camp, and help us keep the garden growing strong! Tools and gloves provided for adults and children to carry out simple and easy garden tasks.
  
• August 7th-Free family activities in the Children's Garden from 6-8pm during the Recess Monkey concert in the Magnuson Amphitheater. Visit http://magnusonchildrensgarden.blogspot.com for more info.
• August 15th- Family Workparty in the Children's Garden from 1-3pm. Come enjoy the fun after camp, and help us keep the garden growing strong!
  
• Sept 19th- Seattle Works Day in the Children's Garden from 10am-2pm. Come enjoy the fun of creating a special new feature in the garden, and help us keep it growing strong! Tools and gloves provided for adults and children to carry out simple and easy garden tasks.
• October 17th- Seattle Works Day in the Children's Garden from 10am-2pm. Come enjoy the fun of creating a special new feature in the garden, and help us keep it growing strong! Tools and gloves provided for adults and children to carry out simple and easy garden tasks.

• Field trips for schools and child care centers to the Magnuson Community Center Bird-Friendly Landscape and Children's Garden. Visit http://birdfriendlylandscape.blogspot.com and http://magnusonchildrensgarden.blogspot.com for more info.

• Magnuson Park is a proud participant in the annual National Environmental Education Week, which was held this year on April 12th-19th. The Children's Garden and Magnuson Community Center Bird-Friendly Landscape hosted 4 educational events that week for school-age children!
  

For more info on National Environmental Education Week, visit http://www.eeweek.org