Themes Of The Week
Week 1 & 2
Geology
Week 3 & 4
Hydrology
Week 5 & 6
Ecology
Week 7 & 8
Topography
*Alternate Week
Astronomy
*Alternate Week
Climatology
Geology
“Geology is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other astronomical objects, the features or rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time.” -Wikipedia
Campers use hand tools and take soil and rock samples. They look at them under a microscope to look for clues about their origins and discuss the rock cycle.
Hydrology
“Hydrology is the scientific study of the movement, distribution, and management of water on Earth and other planets, including the water cycle, water resources, and drainage basin sustainability.” – Wikipedia
Campers visit the spring for the property to experience firsthand how water travels through the earth. We follow the path as the water cascades downwards as a stream and explore where the water goes. We discuss the water cycle in detail and use props to better understand the interconnectedness of us all.
Ecology
“Ecology is the study of the relationships between living organisms, including humans, and their physical environment. Ecology considers organisms at the individual, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere level.” – Wikipedia
Campers look for relationships between living organisms on the property and discuss their interdependence. This fuels our discussion about our human impact on our world today and the changes we wish to make for our future.
Topography
“Topography is the study of the forms and features of land surfaces. The topography of an area may refer to the landforms and features themselves, or a description or depiction in maps.” – Wikipedia
Campers learn how to read topographic maps and apply their understanding by making a topographic map of the property. We use these maps in a scavenger hunt.
Astronomy
“Astronomy is a natural science that studies celestial objects and phenomena. It uses mathematics, physics, and chemistry in order to explain their origin and evolution. Objects of interest include planets, moons, stars, nebulae, galaxies, and comets.” -Wikipedia
Campers build a sundial as a hands-on project to better understand the celestial bodies and their relationships. We compare and contrast a variety of objects including the planets, galaxies, comets, and white dwarfs to name a few.
Climatology
“Climatology or climate science is the scientific study of Earth’s climate, typically defined as weather conditions averaged over a period of at least 30 years.” -Wikipedia
Campers look at the history of weather data from our local environment and other locations around the globe to better understand climate science and how our impacts affect our future. Campers create biospheres and manipulate variables to alter the conditions to simulate global warming to better understand our warming planet.