Description

2014 Safari Summer Vacation Camp

For Grades K-5

June 23-August 29

Seaside Safari is a fun-filled learning adventure that takes advantage of the natural classroom just outside our doors in historic, 135-acre Odiorne Point State Park. The Center’s hands-on exhibits, scientific instruments, and teaching technology of the Gregg Interactive Learning Studio, help to reinforce what campers learn outdoors. Lessons, activities, art projects, games, and stories combine for a full day of learning, excitement and fun!

Seaside Safari counselors have, or are working towards, a degree in environmental education, marine biology or a related science. They all have experience working with children. The maximum camper to staff ratio is 7:1.

Campers are grouped by grade and sessions are defined by date. Each session focuses on a different theme. Although all ages join together for introductions and end-of-camp festivities, campers in K-5 use the Sugden House as home base.

Sessions run from 9am-3pm. Pre-care is 7:30am-8:30am, After-care is available until 5:30pm.
Weekly Cost: $275 members, $300 non-members
Pre-care: $10 per day
After-care: $12 per day
You must have a family membership valid through June, 2014 to take advantage of the member rate.

How to Register

Registration for members opens January 15; non-member registration opens February 1. Join today and take advantage of our valued member benefit, as well as program discounts. Membership must be valid through June, 2014 to take advantage of discounts. First, choose among the sessions offered for each age group and then complete the registration form. Demand for Safari is high. Sessions fill quickly and spaces are assigned on a first-come-first-served basis.

Please select your child's group based on the grade they will have completed by June 2014. Once you complete the form and camp selections, you will have the opportunity to sign-up additional children in different grades by selecting "register for another event"

Kindergarten: Periwinkles
Grade 1: Sea Stars
Grades 2-3: Green Crabs
Grades 4-5: Seafarers
Grades 6-8: Stewards

Weekly Themes

SESSION 1 June 23-27: Exploring the Ocean Blue
(Gr. 2-3 Green Crabs: FULL )
From the shallows to the depths, we’ll discover how scientists uncover the mysteries of the world’s oceans with underwater vehicles and SCUBA diving. Get hands-on experience with some of this cool gear and watch an ROV in action. What was the latest ocean discovery made by scientists? Come find out!

SESSION 2 (4 day week, no camp July 4) June 30-July 3: Kelp! I need some water!
(Gr. 2-3 Green Crabs: FULL)
The tide is out and it’s time to head for the tidepools. Try your claw at picking up a juvenile lobster or one of the many crabs that live along our shore. Shake arms with a sea star and tickle a frilled anemone. If knotted wrack looks like green linguine, what kind of pasta would you compare to rock weed?

SESSION 3 July 7-11: Art in Nature
Every day this week will feature hands-on art projects inspired by the natural world around us. We’ll be visited by a number of guest artists who will share their expertise and help us to create some pretty cool works of art to take home. Bring your imagination and get creative!

SESSION 4 July 14-18: Wild and Wonderful Weather Experiments
(Gr. 2-3 Green Crabs: FULL)
Do you like seeing things go POP! Do you wonder why it did so? By making discoveries about wind and water, heat and pressure, and even ELECTRICITY, we can learn a lot about how the weather of the earth works, and how it is tied to the ocean. Join us for a week of fun and exciting experiments!

SESSION 5 July 21-25: Ocean Odyssey
(Gr. 2-3 Green Crabs: FULL)
Our oceans are alive with a wonderful assortment of plants and animals, from giant blue whales to microscopic plankton. With fun games and activities and plenty of tidepool exploration, we’ll discover why it is important for us to learn as much about the ocean as we can.

SESSION 6 July 28-August 1: Walk the Plank! Pirates and Sailors at Sea
(Gr. 2-3 Green Crabs: FULL)
Join us as we tell stories of legendary swashbucklers and salty dogs who spent their days on the open sea. Hear stories of shipwrecks and perilous ocean crossings. One day this week we’ll all dress up like pirates and play pirate games! Arrrggg!

SESSION 7 August 4-8: Growing up Between the Tides
(Gr. 2-3 Green Crabs: FULL)
You’d be amazed at what a sea star looks like when it first hatches from an egg. Using magnifying glasses we’ll investigate the life cycle of many of the rocky shore creatures that we find while exploring the intertidal zone.

SESSION 8 August 11-15: Exploring Odiorne's Habitats
(Gr. 2-3 Green Crabs: FULL)
This week we will visit many of the unique habitats of Odiorne State Park, from the salt marsh to the rocky shore. With fun games and scavenger hunts, we’ll get to know the plants and animals that live in these special places. Come explore the park with us!

SESSION 9 August 18-22: Seacoast Legends and Lore
(Gr. 1 Sea Stars and Gr. 2-3 Green Crabs: FULL)
Our seacoast has many stories to tell, from the time the first colonists made contact with the Native Americans, through the days when the area was a WWII fort, up until the present day Park and Seacoast Science Center. Travel back in time with us as we look for clues to uncover the past, while exploring landmarks, stone walls, and old foundations.

SESSION 10 August 25-29: End of the Summer Ocean Pallooza!
This week will feature all of the favorites – tidepooling, pirates, sharks, marine mammals, and more. Share your favorite ocean topics with your camp group and we’ll spend time learning more about it!

Become a Member

Members of the Center are entitled to reduced camp prices and early summer camp registration. Membership must be active as of June, 2014 to receive the discount for camp. Click here to learn more about all the great member benefits, join, or renew your membership.

Cost

The weekly rate is $275 members, $300 non-members, plus pre- and after-care, if applicable. All session rates are listed on the form.

Camp Hours

Seaside Safari meets Monday through Friday, 9am–3pm. Drop off begins at 8:30am. For an additional fee, pre-care is available from 7:30–8:30am and after-care from 3-5:30pm. Neither are extensions of camp activities; they are supervised free time. When you register you can sign-up by the day or by the week.

Camp Groups

Campers are grouped by the grade that they are in currently or will complete in June 2014.
K: Periwinkles
Gr. 1: Sea Stars
Gr. 2-3: Green Crabs
Gr. 4-5: Seafarers
Gr. 6-8: Stewards (See separate registration form for this age group)

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations that are made prior to two weeks before your child’s first day of camp begins will receive a 50% refund. No refunds will be given after that time.

Camp Fund

The Center has created a Camp Fund to offer financial assistance to those otherwise unable to attend. We encourage your support of this fund; please make a donation. Your contributions are tax deductible.

Confirmation

You will receive a confirmation packet by email. You can also print the confirmation packet here contains guidelines confirmation packet and a medical health form. The health form requires your physician’s signature. We must have a current, signed, completed health form two weeks prior to your child’s first day of camp or your child cannot attend. Information pages and forms are available on the Programs, Environmental Day Camps page of the Center’s website. If the session you requested is full, you will be contacted and may opt for another session or be wait-listed.

Questions?

Contact Henry Burke at 603-436-8043, ext. 16 or h.burke@seacentr.org.