Archive for June 2010

Jun
29

Supplies on Wheels

Posted by in Camp

Our newest camp innovation - an Art Cart!

Every year we try to find ways to make our Summer Camp Zoofari run smoother while making things easier on the teachers.  This year, one of our innovations is the Art Cart – rather, the Art Carts, as we have three of them.

At a program at one of the local hospitals, Victoria (our camp principal) saw their art cart. With wheels on the bottom and a plethora of art supplies, this was a way to bring all of the art supplies to the participants.  When the kids may not be able to come to the art, the art cart can come to them.

Doesn't it just make you want to create some art?

We’ve took this idea for camp and ran with it.  Last year, every classroom had their own set of scissors and glue, and teachers had to collect their own paints, brushes, and construction paper every day.  The art carts relieve the need for all of that.  Now, the teachers just sign up for a time for the art cart and pick it up when it is their turn.  They only have to collect the more specialized items for their crafts, which saves them time in the mornings.  It also means we only have to stock enough scissors and glue for one classroom worth of kids per cart! 

Each of our art carts has enough glue and scissors for our biggest group of kids, bottles of paint in 11 colors, paint trays and brushes, googly eyes, clear tape, a stapler, and a rainbow of construction paper.  Our camp interns have taken on the task of keeping everything neat and refilled.  And the teachers enjoy having a few extra minutes and a mobile supply closet that comes to them.

I would say our art carts are a success!!

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Jun
22

Tracking Toads

Posted by in Camp,Classes/Programs,Featured

Toad Trackers measuring a Gulf Coast toad!

Have you ever wondered what the Zoo would be like at night? Do you have an interest in conservation and amphibians? Maybe you’ve always wanted to become an expert field researcher during the summer? Well this summer you can! During Toad Trackers, a week-long summer camp offered July 19th and July 26th children ages 10-12 can become field researchers while spending the night at the Zoo.

In this brand new conservation education program, students become familiar with local amphibians and field research tools such as kestrels, GPS units, calipers, microchips and scales.  Students practice using this equipment in order to perform tests and measurements when they search for Gulf Coast toads on Zoo grounds during their overnight.

In May of this year we had a home school group join us to pilot the program. We had two very successful evenings of tracking toads on grounds, where we found about four gulf coast toads each night. Each student that participated had a specific job during the field research portion of the evening ranging from catching the toad and placing it in the bucket to sexing and weighing the toad. After the students performed their tests they handed the toad to an employee of the Conservation Department that specializes in amphibians, who placed a microchip in the toad. The microchip allows the conservation department to track the toads for several years. Both the home school group and our summer camp groups play an important role in gathering information for this research project. Not only do these students have the opportunity to become a field researcher for the week, they also contribute to one of the Zoo’s conservation projects.

 So, if your kids are like me and spend lots of time outside getting dirty and collecting snakes, frogs, toads, salamanders or any other wildlife to bring back home-this camp could be for them! Spaces are filling fast, so visit our website to register now: http://www.houstonzoo.org/camp/.

Written by Martha, Education Programs Specialist

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Jun
09

Camp Zoofari is in Full Swing

Posted by in Camp,Classes/Programs,Fun on grounds

Summer Camp Zoofari 2010 kicked off last week with a bang as kids of all ages ascended upon the Houston Zoo.  Wearing their bright yellow camp t-shirts and eagerly awaiting a visit to each of the animal sections, the Brown Education Center was quickly transformed to a learning megaplex full of bright young minds ready to learn.  The camp runs from June 2nd through August 13th and is available to children ages 4-12.  This year there are two new exciting camps added to the roster for each age group including Colossal Creatures for 4-5 year olds, Natural Mysteries for 6-7 year olds, Feeding Frenzy for 8-9 year olds and Toad Trackers for 10-12 year olds.  With over 20 camps offered, including half day camps for 4-5 year olds, there is certainly something for everyone this year.  For more information regarding our Camp Zoofari program, please visit us at www.houstonzoo.org/camp.  Spots are still available! Join us as we embark on a summer of fun, learning and animals!