Penikese Science + Nature Camp
Summary: Activity Ideas for Counselors + Core Theme Lessons
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TWO ESSENTIAL LESSONS for Monday afternoon & evening (these may extend through the week spontaneously):
● History of Penikese (during island tour): Learn about the island and tell the stories as you visit locations
● Birds of Penikese with a focus on endangered terns & MA Fish & Wildlife program on the island (some may also be incorporated into walking tour). Just a brief intro of birds on Monday, we will have a lesson with BiodiversityWorks each Tuesday and birding will be pretty constant/continuous all week;,so give them a decent foundation afrom the start!
Ideas for Journaling Prompts
● Daily Prompt: Announced each morning at breakfast, to be accomplished at some point during the day, whenever each camper takes the time during a free moment.
● Daily Reflection (Writing, sketching, either/both)
● Data, Notes, Art for each Guest Lesson
● Reflection following each Guest Lesson
● Check out other journal ideas from titles listed on our Mindfulness sheet
Other Lesson Ideas for Wednesdays and after Guest Instructor Visits:
→ This is just to throw out any and all possibilities for activities! There is material about much of this in your Lessons Folder and more background available here: Penikese Camp Activities Pinboard
→ Activities can be as short as 15min or as long as a few hours
Science
● Marine Debris / Ocean Plastics
● Water Quality
● Intertidal zone / Beach / Wrack Community
● Climate Change
● Geology
● Weather/Wind/Clouds/Tides (Grace?)
● Marine Mammals (Grace?)
● Orienteering/Navigation/Using a Compass (Lavinia?)
● Night Sky (constellations, celestial navigation, meteor showers)
● Team Nature Scavenger Hunt (Observation)
● Lichens Identifications Walk & Count
● What is Sand?
● Interview an Organism
● Choose, Observe & Record Changes in a Square Yard for 5 Days
● Flora Identification Walk & Count
● Insect Identification Walk & Count
● What’s Up in the Garden?
Arts
● Biological Illustration
● Landscape Painting
● Sketching
● Flower Pressing & Crafts
● Fish Printing
● Nature Looms
● Foraged Art
● Mosaics with Found Objects
Recreation/Physical Activity Focused:
● Yoga / Stretching
● Martial Arts
● Horseshoes
● Team Relay Races
● Kick-the-Can
● Capture the Flag
● Ball Games
● Circumnavigate the Island
● Morning Aerobics / Calisthenics
● Mindfulness Exercises: Listening, Breathing, Seeing (e.g., Annaka Harris)
● Reading
● Journaling, Writing, Composing Poems, Prose, etc. (see Mindfulness Idea Sheet)
● Meditating
● Perhaps have a “mindfulness minute” before dinner each night, or a gratitude moment?
● Or everyone could share their “high” (and “low”?) of the day.
Discussion/Conversation Focused:
● Women & Feminism (women in science, women in sports, women in history)
● Women’s Bodies & Health
● College, Gap Years & Other Options
● Diversity
● Population Growth & the Earth’s Carrying Capacity
● Climate Change
Classic Camp Activities:
● Singing (w/fun gestures)
● Learning to Tie Knots
● Secret Pals
● Friendship Bracelets
● Lanyards
● Fancy Shoe Lacing
● Cats Cradle
● Make Up Penikese Lyrics to Familiar Songs
● Skits