Some campers inside the Teen Center on Church Hill Road, Tuesday, August 16, were wielding wands, while others worked together on a project, at the Newtown Parks & Recreation Harry Potter-Magic Science camp.

It was the second day of the camp, which was overseen by Dawn Spatta and her helper Tyler Michaud. On the first day of the camp, Ms Spatta said the 17 students were sorted into houses, just like the characters in author J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series.

A description for the camp read, "All aboard for lots of hands-on fun. Join in the escapades of Harry Potter and his friends. Play Quidditch, make an edible wand; we will brew some fantastic potions to drink. Let's create and watch some amazing chemical reactions. Watch a mirage appear, you won't believe it! Wonder where the sorting hat will place you? Make cool crystals. Come join us where the magic of science, art, and literature meet."

By the middle of the camp day on Tuesday, Ms Spatta said the students had already played "Muggle Quidditch," created shields, and they were almost entirely wearing colors to represent the houses they were sorted into the day before.

In one corner of the Teen Center campers were using Cartesian divers, which resembled squids, multiple campers pointed out. The Cartesian divers were placed in plastic bottles, and as the students squeezed the bottle, the divers went to the bottom or top of the bottle. Ms Spatta explained the dynamic between the air and water that created the floating movements for the students.

Cousins and campers Ashley Guerrera and Addy Cordova shared two specimens of "crystal trees" the campers created, as part of an activity inspired by the Whomping Willow tree in the book series.

The girls also demonstrated an optical illusion the campers had learned about. Ashley held up a yellow board and a red board, and, depending on whether a board was held above or below, the board would appear larger or smaller. Addy explained the boards were the same size, but Ashley said they appear larger or smaller, which is the optical illusion. Both Addy and Ashley were wearing yellow shirts, representing the Hufflepuff house in the books.