Campers joined SPREE in March and April to learn about the South Platte River at Johnson-Habitat Park. During spring break week, we explored small critters on land and in water, creating our own “mini-beast” mascots. On April 11th, we dove into the world of macroinvertebrates, a SPREE favorite!
We started spring break week searching for aquatic insects, learning about their life cycles, and crafting our own dragonfly out of beads and pipe cleaners. Campers studied the differences between grasshoppers and crickets and made an ant colony in the park’s sandbox. We enacted the waggle dance bees use to communicate their food sources and also made mason bee homes out of recycled materials. Click here to learn how to make your own mason bee home!
Our learning continued as we made camouflage butterflies and learned about the chemoreceptors butterflies have at the ends of their antennas and on the bottoms of their “feet”. We searched the soil for decomposers and then closed the week with arachnids. Campers made their own trap-door spiders and wove webs like the orb-weavers.
Campers presented their mascot creations to the group on Friday. From flashing fireflies to trash-eating mosquitoes and mayfly nymphs, the SPREE Force has many new friends!
On April 11th, campers learned about water quality through conducting basic water tests and studying what macroinvertebrates we found in the River. We played a game to learn how stoneflies, caddisflies, and mayflies are affected by a decrease in oxygen levels. Campers learned about the amazing adaptations of these aquatic animals and created their own macroinvertebrate. Chompers was happy to hear we closed the day with a trash clean up to help our park and the River.
Thanks to all who joined us! We still have opening for summer campers at Joe Shoemaker School (Brand new and exciting location on the Cherry Creek in southeast Denver) and Johnson Habitat Park. See more here. Stay tuned on our website for upcoming spring holiday camps, when school is off but work isn’t!
Thanks to all who joined us! We still have opening for summer campers at Joe Shoemaker School (Brand new and exciting location on the Cherry Creek in southeast Denver) and Johnson Habitat Park. See more here. Stay tuned on our website for upcoming spring holiday camps, when school is off but work isn’t!
