Summer Camp 2024

WEEK 1 July 1st - July 5th

Our first week of Summer Camp will focus on basic survival skills. The children will learn about the items that belong in a first aid kit, what they are used for, and how to use them. We will be building natural shelters throughout the wooded areas of the Kirkland Town Park. The children will learn about plant species - which ones are safe and which to stay away from! We will also be learning how to pitch a camping tent.

There will be no camp on July 4th in observance of Independence Day.

WEEK 2 - July 8th - July 12th

The second week of Summer Camp will focus on creating a clean environment. The children will learn about recyclable materials and why it is important to keep our natural surroundings clean. Children will learn how to reuse recyclable materials to make things like birdfeeders, floating boats, planters, and throughout this week we will be continuously cleaning up the park and the space around the school. During this week we will be visiting The Root Farm in Sauquoit, NY. The Root Farm has many activities planned for us surrounding the theme of Going Green! As a sneak peek, we will be learning about composting and making our own terrarium jars! 

WEEK 3 - July 15th - July 19th

For our third week of Summer Camp we will be introducing a NEW theme, Space Week! During this week we will be learning about all things outer space - planets, constellations, moon phases, and we will be having a visit from the Mobile Planetarium! Some of the activities during this week include making moon sand, crystal geodes, cup rockets, and we will enjoy homemade astronaut ice cream! 

WEEK 4 - July 22nd - July 26th

The fourth week of Summer Camp will be focused on Animals! The children will learn about different animals, their environments, their traits, and we will be playing a lot of animal-based group games. 

WEEK 5 - July 29th - August 2nd

Science Week has always been an all-time favorite at our Summer Camp. We will be conducting various experiments such as volcano eruptions, the classic mentos geyser, the egg drop challenge, and new this year - claymation! Our campers will learn about claymation and the work that goes into it. They then will be able to work in groups to create their own short claymation video!  

WEEK 6 - August 5th - August 9th

 The sixth week of Summer Camp will be all about different places around the world. We will focus on four different countries throughout the week. We will learn about foods, animals, and the traditions of each place. We will also learn and play different group games that originated from each place! Campers will make their own passports to document the things they have learned. At the end of the week, our counselors will be bringing in a dish from each of the places we learned about during the week. On Friday of this week, we will be exploring the Farmer's Museum in Cooperstown!

*All dishes will be allergy free, and parents will need to sign future communications for their child to participate*

WEEK 7 - Aug 12th - August 16th

Week Nine will be about all things CREEPY! The children will get the chance to locate and identify creepy crawlers throughout our outdoor settings. Counselors will have an insect scanning app to share with the children once they find creepy crawlers of their choice. We will be making insect habitats and learning about all of the different creepy crawlers that are around us. For our Fun Friday we will be having a Creepy Crawler Circus! We will have all the traditional circus games and activities - creepy crawler themed! 

WEEK 8 - August 19th - August 23rd

During the eighth week of Summer Camp, campers will learn about natural pigments and how colors can be derived from the natural resources around us! We will be painting with rocks and fruits, stamping leaves, making chalk balloon bombs, practice textured art, and for our Fun Friday, we will be tie-dying! 

Campers will need to bring a white t-shirt, white socks, or any white piece of clothing to tie-dye. 

WEEK 9 - August 26th - August 30th

 The final week of Summer Camp 2024 will prioritize Hamilton families but include both Hamilton and non-Hamilton families. During this week, we will be saying goodbye to Summer and hello to the new school year. The children will get as much outdoor time during this week as the weather allows. We will be enjoying water activities and outdoor group games. On our Fun Friday we will be visiting the Utica Zoo!