Audubon Center Day Camps

For Children

SOUTHBURY — The Audubon Center at Bent of the River will offer weeklong Junior and Senior Naturalist Day Camps from 9 am to 2 pm, June 23 through August 15. Junior Naturalist Day Camps are designed for students who will be in the second and third grade staring this fall, while Senior Naturalist Day Camps are for students who will be entering the fourth and fifth grades.

The unique and diverse setting at Bent of the River provides the perfect environment for the development of an understanding and appreciation of the natural world. The center is at 185 East Flat Hill Road, off Route 172.

The day camps feature hands-on activities designed to teach young students about the environment. Participants will learn about aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems at the Bent. They will investigate water quality, learn to identify common plants, and play games designed to teach about scientific concepts including adaptations, biodiversity, food webs, and carrying capacity of an ecosystem.

Writing and art activities will complement the science activities, and participants will be encouraged to make connections between the natural environment and human activities. Students will enjoy daily hikes and learn to keep a journal of their observations in the Bent’s varied habitats.

Group size is limited to 12 students each week to ensure that each student will receive close supervision and individual attention. Instruction by the Bent’s educators will emphasize the tools used by field scientists, including binoculars, mist nets, aquatic nets, magnifying lenses, and water quality and soil testing materials. Since the Naturalist Day Camps are not centered around recreation, applicants should be interested in learning about science in a natural setting.

Registration for day camps will begin on March 15, and advance registration is required. Students will be enrolled on a first-come, first-served basis. For day camp applications and more information, contact the Audubon Center at Bent of the River at 264-5098.