Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 4-5-17

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16 I SUMMER CAMPS & OPPORTUNITIES I April 5, 2017 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE @MIDRIVERSNEWS MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM Summer camp STEM Scientific crafts make learning fun Duchesne High School Summer Camps During June and July, DHS hosts a variety of athletic and academic camps for students entering grades K through 8 to explore: Register online today! duchesne-hs.org/summercamps For more information, call 636-946-6767. Scientia Virtus et ESTABLISHED 1924 By JESSICA MESZAROS For some kids, making homemade slime and craft stick towers isn’t just a temporary distraction; it’s a crafty introduction to basic chemistry and an early lesson in engineering and architecture. Crafts are a long-standing summer camp tradition, plus some crafts can teach children valuable life skills in a way that’s more hands-on than a textbook lesson. For students with a passion for science, technology, engineering and math [STEM], crafts can serve to jumpstart valuable lessons outside the school environment. Summer camp is usually an outdoor experience, which means campers are literally surrounded by lessons in science and biology in all directions. Science lessons can be as simple as making a Discovery Jar of local plants or exploring constellations on a clear night. In addition to outdoor activities, crafts like homemade slime combine fun with a sneaky chemistry lesson. Slime kits can be purchased at many local craft stores or can be made from scratch by mixing glue and gradual amounts of liquid starch. Kids can customize their experiments with food coloring and glitter. For older campers, adding powdered black iron oxide creates “living” slime that can be manipulated with a magnet. Summer camp is usually seen as a chance to step away from technology. However, when it comes to STEM skills, educational mobile apps can serve as inspiration for crafty creativity. Apps like Scratch and Scratch Jr. provide elementary and middle school students with interactive stories, games and animations to explore. For older kids, apps like App Inventor allows young enthusiasts to invent their own app, and DroidScript allows aspiring code writers of any age and experience level to learn basic Javascript used for creating Android and Apple apps. It’s easy for kids to build small structures that highlight engineering skills without the use of toxic or dangerous components. Kids can build a variety of easy and harmless structures from craft sticks, clothespins, rubber bands and clips. Crafts that showcase engineering might also serve a functional purpose by teaching kids to work with their hands. Craft stick catapults and harmonicas require only craft sticks and rubber bands, and can be used as lessons about basic construction and physics. Math activities aren’t just limited to flash cards. One of the easiest ways to engage campers, or kids at home this summer, is to create a craft that focuses on counting, sorting or organization. Math Scavenger Hunts are a popular way to get kids to explore their environment. Ask kids to find math-related items in the world around them. A basic list of what to include on the hunt could include a percentage, a bar graph, a fraction, a polygon, a price with dollars and cents, a line longer than two inches, a number greater than one million and so on. The scavenger hunt can be adjusted depending on the math lesson and be done both indoors and outdoors. Baking is another activity that gradually teaches kids mathematical vocabulary and measurement skills all while working with various ingredients that can turn chemistry into tasty treats.
FACEBOOK.COM/MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE MIDRIVERSNEWSMAGAZINE.COM By JESSICA MESZAROS “Make new friends, but keep the old,” isn’t just a rule for Girl Scouts to follow. The advice extends to kids of all ages, especially with a variety of camps and new friends on the horizon this summer. Summer camp is a prime opportunity for kids to expand their social circle outside of the typical classroom environment. But for some kids, it can be difficult to step outside their comfort zones and master the technique of expanding their circles. Below are tips from local guidance counselors and school staff members that campers of all ages can keep in mind when making new acquaintances this summer: Keep it natural: It can be intimidating to take that first step into a camp environment and getting up the nerve to meet new people. But the best advice for students is to be yourself and don’t try to “put up a front.” Also, it’s helpful if mom and dad don’t try to help. Keep it real: While kids range from extroverted to introverted, everyone is in the same boat on the first day of a new experience. It’s normal to have some anxiety when making friends, going to a new place and meeting new people. In reality, everyone that gets off that bus on the first day is a little shy. Keep it positive: Summer camp provides a wonderful opportunity for students to navigate new places and meet new people, but it also can be overwhelming for some kids. According to Minichiello, a trick for coping with any anxiousness that might occur is to turn apprehension into April 5, 2017 MID RIVERS NEWSMAGAZINE Getting to know you Tips for making, keeping friends at camp positive energy and promote a change in mindset. Keep it social: Gone are the days of letters and long-distance phone calls. Keeping in touch with new friends after camp ends has never been easier, thanks to the prevalence of social media. The convenience of apps like Facetime and Snapchat might also encourage shyer campers to make connections knowing that future communication with new friends is a feasible option. As kids get older and [social media use] becomes appropriate social media can keep them in touch with their new friends, allowing their communications to stay current. Keep it open: Just because students make new friends doesn’t mean their old friends need to be put on a shelf. The important thing is to keep in mind is that within their circle of friends, there’s room for many. “If you’re worried about balance, just let the people in your life know that they are important to you,” high school counselor Erin Schulte said. Acknowledging the presence of old friends while remaining open to new friendships will help kids expand their circle of friends without others feeling left out or jealous. “I think friendships, in general, are just making the people you’re with and the people you’re friends with feel appreciated and important,” Schulte said. “While you’re at camp and you’re making new friends, be with them and enjoy that, but if you miss your friends from home, tell them ‘this would have been so funny if you were there.’” I SUMMER CAMPS & OPPORTUNITIES I 17 Foundry Art Centre Summer Camps 2017 Give your Child an Edge this Summer! Go to www.sylvanlearning.com/noel for the Sylvan nearest you! Resident Summer Camp 2017 YMCA CAMP LAKEWOOD 888-FUN-YMCA GROWING GREAT KIDS 90 minutes south of St. Louis camplakewood.org Children may sign up for multiple sessions of their favorite camps: ceramics, drawing, mixed media, painting, and sculpture VISIT US! Come to an Open House from 1-4 pm April 9 • April 30 • May 21 Tour the property & talk to staff For kids ages 6-17 5200 acres & private lake U.S. & international staff Traditional & wilderness camps Leadership programs Many exciting activities Register online or contact Evan educations@foundryartcentre.org (636) - 255 - 0270 www.foundryartcentre.org
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Mid Rivers Newsmagazine 4-5-17

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