Mini Paleontologists & their Dinosaurs (7+) – July 5th

Dinosaurs were a huge hit in the late 1800s and early 1900s! Even though paleontologists didn’t know much about them, they still wondered over the huge reptiles. We’ll examine the differences between what scientists have thought and what they know now, including how these Mesozoic monsters died and if we’ll ever be able to create a real live Jurassic Park!

Campers will get their very own copy of Scientific America from the 1900s and read excerpts from one of the

earliest fiction novels staring dinosaurs – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World.

Taught by a previous Instructor at the Royal Ontario Museum, our mini paleontologists will also learn about and excavate ‘fossils’ that they’ll wrap up in a ‘field jacket’ -­‐ a plaster cast used to transport fossils to a museum.

 

Gardening & Bug Hunting (all ages) – Friday July 12th AND Aug 30th

Did you know the early Canadians believed tomatoes were poisonous but planted them with flowers because they were so pretty?! Many families in early rural towns relied on homegrown vegetables for their meals.

In July, campers will learn how to tend to a garden and assist in planting seeds for plants that continually grow

throughout the year, such a peas. In August, they will help pick ripe vegetables and learn how they can be prepared.

Campers will learn about healthy eating and how Pioneers used other aspects of plants for their daily lives, such as leaves and flowers to dye fabric. Crafts for the days include hand dying or spatter-­‐painting using flowers and leaves. Afterwards, we’ll go on a nature hike and discover flowers and bugs using 100-­‐year-­‐old field guides!

 

Candle and Lantern Making (8+) – July 19th

Early Canadians would collect wax to reuse to make new candles. These candles would then be put to use to create loving mementoes of family members! One would trace the silhouette of another’s profile using their shadow. Campers will melt down wax to create their own candles. As the candles dry, they will set to work making a small lantern for it to sit in. The lantern itself can also be considered a work of art, as the holes punched into it will create amazing patterns on the walls. After lunch, campers will create beautiful silhouettes and paper frames to take home.

 

Carving (7+) Limited to 8 children – July 26th

In Pioneer times, boys would wile away the hours with a bar of soap and a small knife, making small animal carvings. When they were older, they would use soft woods that they could transform into wagons or toys.

Under careful supervision, let your child experiment with easy to carve items such as soap and play dough. As their skills grow, they can help make a whirly doodle, a toy that spins using only vibrations!

 

Penmanship, Letter writing & Storytelling (9+) – August 2nd

One of the most revered aspects of an early Canadian was their penmanship. This was how one judged a person’s status in society. If you were an upstanding member of society, your penmanship had to be impeccable. Campers will practice letters using a quill and straight pen and try to master the flowing letters of the past.

After getting comfortable with these new tools, campers will tour the village and be regaled with stories of early Canadians, how they lived and what they did for fun. Volunteers will share stories and the Headmistress will read from century old books to inspire new stories in the imagination of each camper.

Before the day is over, each child will practice the dying art of letter writing and create a letter and addressed

envelope to a fictional individual inspired by the day’s events.

 

Zombie Invasion (10+) – August 9th  AND 16th

What if George Romero was right? What if one day a virus makes us crave brains?!

Will you be prepared for the zombie apocalypse? You’ll have a better chance if you take this day camp – and happen to be at the museum when they attack.

Campers will tour the museum, learning escape routes, hiding places and their available weapons. They will

learn about zombie strengths and weaknesses, taken directly from the definitive scholar, Max Brooks, writer of “The Zombie Survival Guide.” Over the course of the day, campers will devise a plan of attack and retreat and challenge one another in a zombified version of Capture the Flag.

Each week will feature different guests, including war re-­‐enactors and make-­‐up artists!

 

String Theory (all ages) – August 23rd

Become overwhelmed by string! Learn where it comes from, how it’s made, what it can be used for – the possibilities are endless. Throughout the day, campers will be introduced to a variety of skills. Master weavers, embroiderers and cross-­‐stitches will demonstrate how looms and hoops work and show off their beautiful  products. Campers will have a chance to try their hand at a mini-­‐loom, corking, string games and learn to stitch a felt ‘stuffie’ – a little friend that they can take home and use a wall decoration or ornament.

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