2006 Eco-Friends Summer Camp

May 30, 2006

2006 Eco-Friends Summer Camp

The Eco-Friends Summer Day Camp is preparing for its 10th exciting summer! Held at Cooper Marsh in South Lancaster, and run by the St. Lawrence River Institute of Environmental Sciences with the collaboration of the Raisin Region Conservation Authority and the Cooper Marsh Conservators, the camp gives children ages 6 to 11 the opportunity to explore nature by participating in activities such as nature walks, frog catching, pond-dipping, games, arts and crafts, and science activities.

The Eco-Friends Summer Day Camp develops children’s interests and skills in environmental science and technology through fun and interactive programs. To cater to everyone’s interests, each week of camp is based on a different environmental theme. Some of this year’s themes include: ‘Something’s Fishy’, ‘Creepy Crawlers’, ‘Our Wild World’ and ‘Mad Scientist Week’.

Returning camp programmer, Heather Robertson, is looking forward to another fun-filled summer. “I am especially excited about our new science-based activities like radio-tracking, fish dissections, and microscope explorations. We’ll also be using global positioning systems together with compasses, binoculars, and digital cameras on our scavenger hunts.”

Renée Lalande, another returning counsellor and the camp’s art specialist, is equally enthusiastic about this summer’s activities. “This summer we will explore the marsh to discover its beauty and to interpret what we observe through art and creativity”.

This summer’s camp is sponsored in part by Ontario Power Generation and the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. Their financial contribution will be spent on a variety of new equipment and resources for the camp including: interpretive books for the Cooper Marsh library, bird house kits, a digital camera, material for a terrarium, and craft supplies.

The Eco-Friends Summer Day Camp program begins July 4 and continues until August 18. The popular program fills up quickly, and parents are encouraged to register their children as soon as possible. To register or to receive more information about this year’s camp, please contact the River Institute at 936-6620.