Red & Purple made hummingbird feeders out of recycled water bottles! Here we have Red & Purple playing charades. Blue & Green learned about extinct species, and created “fossil footprints.” Black & White learned about tidepool creatures! Junior Naturalist Julia reads a story about insects at the Marsh. Turgundy went on an endangered species scavenger…

OK, well, maybe there weren’t any BEARS, but things got a little “fishy” today at the Nature Center!The Blue & Green group practiced the Japanese art of Gyotaku, or “fish printing.” Gyotaku (gyo=fish, taku=rubbing) was invented in the early 1800’s in Japan by the fishermen to record their catch. This was their livelihood (not sport…

They say knowledge is power. Our habitat helpers learned all about the animals and plants in their habitats today. In the photo above, the Black & White group explore the aquatic creatures that live in our Muddy Pond. Invasive, non-native species are the second greatest threat to endangered species, after habitat destruction. Turgundy learned about…

Today the ENC Nature Campers visited the Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano!The Folks at the EC were kind enought to provide organic, locally grown oranges for snack! They also gave us yummy organic animal crackers.Who says kids don’t like to eat fruit!?We recycled all of our cans and cups!Max gave us a tour of…

Making coffee filter butterflies.Learning about and making compost.Creating our own bandannas.Hiking through the tickle ferns.This dragonfly flew by during a hike to search for arthropods!Using magnifying lenses to search for arthropods.Checking on the Monarch caterpillars – they’re getting huge!

ENC Campers show off their re-usable water bottles. Plastic water bottles produced for U.S. consumption take 1.5 million barrels of oil per year (USA Today). That much energy could power 250,000 homes or fuel 100,000 cars for a year.In roughly the last 10 years, the amount of plastic bottles being recycled increased from about 775…

During Naturama Day, Campers rotate between 5 stations, where they spend time with each of the Camp Teachers & participate in fun activities!Meghan & Jeanine taught the kids about scat, then the kids made edible owl pellets! Looking at Bear Scat.Making edible owl pellets. Sama tells a hummingbird legend and Mark helps the kids make…

The highlight of our Zoo experience was definitely the petting zoo! This little goat’s name is “Unforgettable.” These are definitely the most spoiled goats I’ve ever met! Meghan competes for a seat in the petting zoo. Jeanine points out an Island Fox.  All of the animals at the OC Zoo and there because they are being rescued. Then we…

The Green & Blue Group fly kites during Wings & Things Camp at the Environmental Nature Center.

Leslie describing arthropods that can fly. Meghan shows her group why birds can fly – the kids feel the difference between a “hollow” bird bone and a mammal bone. Hefting the mammal bone. Feeling a delicate bird bone. Smelling (!?) a bird bone! Meghan shows the kids a real condor feather. Bob & Helen take…

Hiking though the Center. Flying our model airplanes. Frank – a REAL pilot, gives the kids some pointers. Meghan & Jeanine play a fun game to learn their camper’s names.

Mother’s Market was kind enough to donate canvas bags for us to use on Naturama Day – when all the campers rotate through 5 fun stations, creating take-home items. Now they can re-use their bags at any store, rather than using disposable plastic or paper bags!Camp Teacher Valerie talks about why using re-usable bags is…