Water Olympics

On Friday the Young Naturalists explored the properties of water in Water Olympics! There were several stations set up at the outdoor picnic tables with different water activities.

At the boat station, campers strategized to fit as many pennies as they could on a piece of aluminum foil without sinking it! Many campers just kept the foil flat; others built it into a boat.


At the eye dropper table, campers were challenged to make the eye dropper go up and down inside the soda bottle without opening the bottle! Some people realized if you squeezed the bottle hard, the eye dropper would go up and down!


Campers tried to beat the record of how many water droplets could fit on one penny. I heard one camper say he got up to 32!


Oobleck was popular as campers got to feel a substance that behaved sort of like water in some ways, and not at all like water in others!

Rivers, Rivers, Rivers

The Explorers were busy yesterday, first visiting the Great Falls Discovery Center in Turner's Falls, and then exploring the river at the Mill River recreation area. Among the highlights in the river were a crayfish claw, a cicada that had fallen into the water ("it's an alien!" one camper said), and the favorite by far, a huge smelly dead animal we determined to be a possum. (There is a photo but I will spare you!) Campers were fascinated, wondering what it could be.

Below are some photos of the river village creation that the younger campers and older campers worked on together on Wednesday.

Jewelweed Pollinators and River Village Creation

Yesterday the Explorers had an opportunity to meet Carolyn, a PhD candidate from the University of Virginia who is doing research here at the Hitchcock Center. She told campers how she is comparing the pollinators of two different plants: native jewelweed, which campers are very familiar with as it grows all over the Hitchcock trails, and a non-native species of jewelweed from India that Carolyn brought in pots. Campers compared the two plants side by side, noting the differences in leaves and flowers. Then Carolyn invited us to observe pollinators, and see if they preferred one plant over the other. Not many pollinators showed up in the time campers were watching, but they learned that sometimes happens in scientists' research!




Meanwhile, it was the Young Naturalists' turn to visit Skinner State Park, the site of Mount Holyoke. First Ted visited in the morning, telling the campers about basalt and other special kinds of rocks found at the mountain. When it was time for the hike, the counselors were very proud: ALL campers made it to the top! Keegan's group had a lot of fun climbing around the rock structures at the top. When they were not hiking, they were building a "river village" in the wood chips outside. First they built their houses and towns, and then turned on the hose to make the river come through. The Explorers joined the younger campers for the afternoon on this project and had an awesome time! It's always a favorite activity here at the Hitchcock Center!

Water Scientists

"The River in Our Backyard," this session's theme, is all about water: water habitats, properties of water, and humans' use of water. Yesterday the Young Naturalists had a very busy day being water scientists. In the morning they went for a water table hike on the Hitchcock trails, stopping periodically to dig for water:



They noticed that in all the different habitats they tried, they couldn't reach water! We discussed why this was so in a discussion later. In addition to digging, they stopped at different water habitats along the way to collect water samples with test tubes, noting the color and temperature of the water:






After lunch and play time, campers discussed their findings of the water conditions: which was warmest, which was coolest, which was darker, which was lighter. Not all results were the same, we noticed.

Then Katie the camp director visited with a groundwater exhibit. In the exhibit, campers could see what wells, septic tanks, and lakes look like underground and how the groundwater flows through the ground. Campers took turns coming up and "polluting" the different parts of the groundwater exhibit with food coloring. They noticed that the pollution didn't stay in one place; in fact, it traveled through the groundwater and made it all the way to the Connecticut River, and ultimately the ocean!

We also discussed what the water table is and why we didn't reach water when we dug our holes today: could it have something to do with the lack of rain we've had lately? Perhaps would it be different if we dug for water at the seashore, or the desert?

Geology of the Valley and Animal Who Am I?

Today at camp the Explorers are hiking Mt. Holyoke, a geological wonder of the Pioneer Valley. To prepare for the experience, we had a visitor: Hitchcock Center naturalist Ted Watt. Ted began with a world map, explaining the breaking apart of the Pangaea supercontinent 300 million years ago. Two campers volunteered to draw the continents of Africa and South America on one large piece of paper, then did a demonstration of what happens when two continents collide. When the two continents were pushed together, a "mountain range" of paper formed! Then Ted pulled out a map of Lake Hitchcock, the huge body of water that covered the valley after the glacier melted. Campers were very enthusiastic about these geologic events, especially the parts involving lava and earthquakes. They also got to handle basalt, a kind of rock that can be found all over Mount Holyoke, which makes a cool sound when you hit two pieces together! Below: here they are after reaching the summit!


Yesterday the Young Naturalists kicked off the camp session with lots of get to know you games and a Hitchcock favorite: Animal Who Am I? In this game, campers try to guess what animal picture they have on the back. They go around the room, asking each other yes or no questions about their animal such as: Do I have fur? Can I fly? Do I eat meat? It is great fun and also a great ice-breaker!

Chocolate River

Wednesday the Explorers went to the irrigation pond at Bramble Hill to catch frogs, water boatmen and other pond critters.



The Explorers played one of Hitchcock's best-loved group challenges yesterday: Chocolate River. The object of the the challenge is to make it from one side of the chocolate river to the other stepping only on marshmallows (carpet squares). However, there are only a limited number of marshmallows to begin with, and the hungry chocolate monsters (counselors) will snatch the marshmallows away if there is no campers touching it. Campers have to rely heavily on each other, especially when they decide to exchange things like their sight, speech or a limb for another marshmallow!





They also went to the Smith College Greenhouse to explore the many plants indoors, as well as the botanical gardens outside. They retreated to the Hitchcock Center in the nearly 100-degree heat for an air-conditioned lunch, and then jumped in the pool at Mill River to cool off!

Maizie the Snake and more!

Wow is it hot! The Young Naturalists have been alternating outdoor exploration and indoor (air-conditioned!) activities to beat the heat. Tuesday campers watched Maizie, our resident corn snake, eat her weekly meal: a mouse. We watched with rapt attention as she snatched her food head-first and swallowed it whole! No chewing necessary. It all happened in a matter of one minute!



Wednesday the Young Naturalists explored the parts of a flower. They braved the heat of the Smith College Greenhouse to get a look at plants from habitats found all over the world: desert, rainforest, temperate woodlands. Then they chose flowers growing at the Hitchcock Center and dissected them, making bookmarks with the pieces.





On Thursday, campers ventured to Bramble Hill Farm next door in the searing heat for a treat that was well worth it: Hans the farmer spoke to us about compost, and then took us on his tractor for a tour around the farm! First we saw Hans' smaller three-part compost system at McGregor's Garden, all in different stages of decomposition, and then we rode way back past Old Friends Farm to see the HUGE compost piles there! Campers had a wonderful time riding the tractor and seeing parts of the Larch Hill conservation area that they normally wouldn't see.

Join Us For Nature Discovery Days!

Enjoying your summer at the Hitchcock Center camp? There's more where that came from. We are offering our Late Summer Nature Discovery Days for campers ages 6-9 again this year the week of August 15-19. Join us for as many days as you wish for a camp-style week to enjoy nature discovery at its finest. We will explore our nature trails, ponds and many habitats all within walking distance of the Hitchcock Center. Songs, crafts, games and live animal observations are all part of the learning experience. Bring a snack, lunch, water bottles, and a bathing suit for sprinkler play. Space is limited, so sign up soon!

Farm Visits and Nature Play

One of the Young Naturalists' favorite parts of the day is outdoor playtime, an unstructured recess-style time after lunch. During this time, counselors step back from teaching and campers have a chance to just be outside in whatever way they choose. Some find worms to feed to Speedy the box turtle. Some take it upon themselves to organize a game such as "Ghosts in the Garden". Some collect sticks or seeds or other treasures. And some just wander around in nature. This is one of the most important parts of camp and reflects one of the Hitchcock Center's most fervent missions: to give kids time to just play in nature. We believe that free playtime in nature is crucial to the healthy growth of children in mind, body and spirit. Counselors supervise but do not interfere as campers are left to their own imaginations in the great outdoors every day.


The Nature Explorers have been busy visiting two different farms. On Thursday, Farmer Hans of Bramble Hill Farm gave us a tour of the farm he manages and campers lent a hand while sampling some yummy vegetables. Friday they journeyed to Many Hands Farm, a new farm in Amherst for a tour and to dig in the soil. Farmer Ryan had prepared a HUGE hole in the ground so campers could see the different layers of soil, take temperatures, and even go inside! Ryan lowered kids into the hole to feel the difference of temperature for themselves (it was much cooler than the topsoil!). After a tour of the farmland and crops (and some sampling of green beans and lemon cucumbers!) campers took out their tools and did some digging of their own. By the end of the day they had taken data from three different habitats, so they shared their observations in a discussion at the end of the day.

Guess How Many...

...flower species the Explorers found on their flower walk yesterday? Campers spent the morning walking - no, running - around the Larch Hill conservation area and adjacent Bramble Hill farmland, counting as many flowers as they possibly could. No one could believe their final tally: ninety five! In the afternoon they dissected flowers they found around our gardens, arranging the flower parts on bookmarks using contact paper. Campers used flower part identification sheets to help them identify the parts of their own flower. One found that pollen makes a good ink for writing!
Meanwhile, the Young Naturalists have had a busy couple of days learning about the layers of soil and picking blueberries. On Tuesday, campers got into groups equipped with trowels, buckets, sifting screens and thermometers. First they visited a meadow habitat, digging holes, taking soil temperatures and observing the different layers of soil. Campers sifted out the different layers of soil, feeling the textures and seeing the colors. Then they trekked up to shady Larch Hill, where they dug more holes and compared the soil of a forest to the soil of a meadow. Most campers agreed that the forest soil was cooler in temperature and richer in organic material. In the photos, campers show off their "edible soil" and solar print art.