Assabet River Mini-Camp Junior Naturalists July 19, 2011

Nature Discovery (ages 4-5) July 5-7 Discover a national wildlife refuge; each day we will visit a different habitat to learn about the diverse group of animals that live on the refuge. We will focus on mammals, amphibians, birds, reptiles & insects. Begin your initiation to the natural world through short hikes, hands-on and sensory awareness activities and crafts. Nature Exploration (entering grades 1-2) July 12-14 Lace up your boots and get involved with exploring the refuge's ecosystems and what lives in them. Simple observations and investigations provide a foundation of interest and desire to learn more about nature in years to come. Short hikes, hands-on activities, songs and creative endeavors round out the day. Junior Naturalists (entering grades 2-3) July 19-21 Grab your hand lenses and explore the refuge with a naturalist's perspective and learn how to identify plants, trees, rocks, insects and animals. Begin to piece together the web of life, to understand the meaning of community and how those fit into the greater ecosystem. Pond On! (entering grades 5-8) July 26-28 Splash into Assabet's wetlands and discover frogs, turtles, fish and other aquatic creatures. Discover the amazing adaptations of aquatic animals and predict the health of the water by water quality testing. Go for a canoe trip around the pond while exploring the corners of the wetlands and try to catch the big one while fishing. Nature Crafters August 2-4 (entering grades 3-6) Let nature inspire you! Use your creativity to find things in nature and turn them into art. Make paper and turn it into a journal to record your nature observations. Experiment with textures, shapes and natural materials to create an outdoor sculpture. We will explore the refuge to find motivation for your own earth-inspired designs. Nature Discovery (pre-k-k 2nd grade) August 9-11 Discover a national wildlife refuge; each day we will visit a different habitat to learn about the diverse group of animals that live on the refuge. We will focus on mammals, amphibians, birds, reptiles & insects. Begin your initiation to the natural world through short hikes, hands-on and sensory awareness activities and crafts. (Member price is available to members of Mass Audubon & Friends of the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge) Registration is required. Call 781-259-2200 for details. See http://www.massaudubon.org/catalog/listing.php?program_code=957-DFP11SU3 for more information.