2009 Summer Camps & Workshops
EXPLORING THE MAINE COAST —
A FAMILY NATURE WEEKEND, AUG. 7-9, 2009
The fun-filled and adventurous weekend offers families a chance to explore Maine's Southern coast with visits to beaches, tide pools, salt marshes, and even an organic garden. The weekend group will enjoy overnight stay in dorms and meals in the dining hall on the University of New England campus in Biddeford, Maine. Each day the group will be led by Ecology School naturalists for a wide variety of hands-on activities, games and experiences.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE:
- FRIDAY, Aug. 7th
After lunch and some time to move in, University of New England staff will lead tours of the Marine Animal Rescue Center and research labs, followed by a hands-on Marine Lab facilitated by Ferry Beach Ecology School staff. After dinner, families and FBES staff will embark on a sunset journey to the East Point Audubon tide pool site, to uncover intertidal zone creatures in their natural habitat during this beautiful time of evening.
- SATURDAY, Aug. 8th
After breakfast, we’ll travel to neighboring Saco and the Ferry Beach Ecology School campus to explore an extensive sand beach and dune system. After a picnic lunch, we’ll roll up our sleeves in the Ecology School’s organic garden, harvesting and tasting organic veggies, turning compost and getting to know the worms! Following dinner we’ll embark on a low-tide adventure to Stage Island, and catch the sunset from this unique island monument.
- SUNDAY, Aug. 9th
After breakfast we’ll travel to nearby Wells Reserve, a National Estuarine Research Reserve. While there we will explore the extensive river estuary and salt marsh system, discovering where the mountains meet the sea, following the river to its terminus in the Atlantic Ocean. We’ll enjoy a picnic lunch together on Laudholm Beach before saying goodbye to the rocky coast of Maine.
$400 per adult/child team for the weekend
($200 per additional adult/$150 per additional child).
Tuition includes all program materials, field trips, lodging and meals from Friday lunch through Sunday lunch. Grandparent / grandchild teams welcome!
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PARENT/CHILD SUMMER CAMP 2009
An exploration of Nature and local ecosystems with your family, ages 5 to 105 welcome! Join us in this summer for a five-day session held from 10 am to 2 pm at Ferry Beach Ecology School campus in Saco. Cost is $100 per child and $150 per parent for the weeklong session. Each day brings a new adventure for you and your child to explore together.
- MONDAY: NATURE DETECTIVES: Discover the difference between Pond, Stream and Salt Marsh ecosystems, and observe how these water bodies connect everything!
- TUESDAY: JUNIOR-ECOLOGISTS: Explore the Forest and Beach, and learn how to fully utilize your senses to enhance your outdoor experience.
- WEDNESDAY: SWAMP THING: Experience the Ferry Beach State Park, including the rare northern reaches of the Tupelo swamp, accessed by an adventurous boardwalk.
- THURSDAY: ECO-EXPLORERS: Uncover the hidden secrets of the Tide Pools — animal and plant organisms living in this unique and extreme environment!
- FRIDAY: BE THE CHANGE! Visit the Camp Ellis fishing village and learn about our organic garden — realize the human connection to nature!
Schedule is subject to change, based upon low tide times.
2009 PARENT/CHILD NATURE CAMP DATES:
Session 1: Cancelled (June 29 - July 3)
Session 2: July 6-10 ($250 per parent & child team)
Session 3: Cancelled (July 20 - 24)
REGISTER FOR PARENT/CHILD NATURE CAMP
For more information contact Meg Edstrom or call her at 207-283-9951.
GARDEN NATURE DAY CAMP FOR CHILDREN 1-6
Join us in the Ferry Beach organic teaching garden 9 am to 3 pm in July / August 2009 to play in the soil and learn about all the amazing things that help our food grow! We will spend time working in a greenhouse, harvesting fruits and vegetables and preparing and eating delicious snacks from the garden. Bring your creativity for garden arts and crafts projects and your sense of adventure for afternoon beach, salt marsh, forest and freshwater explorations. Afternoon activities will also include time to swim at the beach!
2009 GARDEN NATURE DAY CAMP DATES:
Summer Sprouts: July 13 - 17(grade 1-2, $175 per child)
Dirt Detectives: July 27 - 31 (grades 3-4, $175 per child)
Garden Ecologists: Aug 3 - 7 (grade 5-6, $175 per child)
We will begin taking registrations soon! For more information contact Meg Edstrom or call her at 207-283-9951.
SUMMER SPROUTS, 9 am to 3 pm July 13-17:
This session will focus on using our senses to discover the magic and mystery of a garden. Plant and harvest vegetables to snack on. Learn about the plants and animals that call the garden home. Make a garden craft to take home with you. We will also explore the forest and seashore through fun and creative activities, and afternoon time at the beach!.
DIRT DETECTIVES, 9am to 3 pm July 27-31:
This session will allow campers to dig deeper into the world beneath our feet. We will explore the soil as a home to many organisms and a place for growing yummy food. Dig in the dirt, learn about the compost cycle and look inside a worm bin! We may also embark on journeys through the forest and pond ecosystems, in addition to the beach!
GARDEN ECOLOGISTS, 9 am to 3 pm August 3-7:
Be a junior gardener for a week by participating in the daily tasks of running a garden. Plant seeds in the greenhouse and the garden. Harvest fruits and vegetables and prepare a nutritious snack. Identify plants and animals to make a garden field guide to take home with you. We will also visit other Ferry Beach ecosystems and explore how they are related to the garden, in addition to fun and sun on the beach in the afternoon.
REGISTER FOR GARDEN NATURE DAY CAMP
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ADULT PROGRAMS
Connecting Families To Nature: An Intro for Parents
This two-hour workshop is devoted to parents and adults interested in and concerned about the lack of time children spend outside in nature. Obesity, depression and ADHD are ailments that Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder, and some researchers are linking to children's limited experiences outdoors. Outreach Director Meg Edstrom will lead the program and offer parents innovative activities and ideas for creating a safe and more meaningful outdoor experience for their children. Topics to be covered include:
- Exploring your role in supporting your child’s experiences and trips outdoors.
- Learning activities for structuring outside time, and participating in a scavenger hunt using Ferry Beach Ecology School’s ecosystem field guide.
- Discover easy techniques to incorporate fun into your trip outside while discovering the amazing stories nature has to tell.
- Question and answer conversations focused on issues of structuring outside time, safety and awareness outdoors.
- Using new literature to support your child’s outdoor adventures.
- Gaining exposure to Ferry Beach’s unique, proven teaching methodologies using narrative education techniques.
- Collaborating with other parents and adults - make connections with others looking to head outdoors!
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EDUCATOR WORKSHOPS
At your school
Workshops can be designed for teachers and educators as in-service learning opportunities or afternoon programs at your school. A 2-hour ABCs of Ecology: Live and Unplugged! workshop for up to 20 educators is a terrific way to combine education, entertainment and inspiration into one afternoon.
At our seaside campus
We also offer Educator Workshops at our campus in Saco, Maine, with a cost of $15-$50 per participant depending on length and whether meals are included. Workshops are offered year-round, 7 days of the week.
During your school's Residential visit to FBES
While your students are out on an ecosystem lesson during their Overnight program, why not take advantage of our incredible outdoor classroom to expand your knowledge? We will work with attending teachers and administrators on specific content issues, teaching methodology, or addressing new NCLI legislation during on-site sessions. What better way to get those professional development hours? Cost is $15-$25 per participant, depending on length, for up to 20 participants.
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