Discovery Child Care brings nature into the classroom and takes the classroom into nature, offering an environmentally aware foundation of early learning for children, from infants to school-age. www.discoverychild.on.ca
Showing posts with label Summer Camp. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Summer Camp. Show all posts
Tuesday, 30 June 2015
Mud Day 2015 Kicks Off Our Summer Camps!
Mud Day was the perfect way to kick off our summer camp this year! We have many new friends in the program and we had plenty of fun getting to know one anther as we squished, rolled and even slid in the mud!
We ran out to the playground and much to our amazement there were buckets, pools, sensory tables, and more filled with MUD! We kicked off our shoes as quickly as possible and jumped into the buckets. We noticed that the mud was "squishy and wet and cold."
We enjoyed squishing the mud between our toes and making big mud splashes. Next, the children got the idea to paint the cars with mud. C said, " It's so cold on my feet! Wow it's nice!" We used the fly swatters and brooms to paint a large mural with mud. It was amazing to see the shock in the children's faces as the mud flew back and hit them in the face. The end result was an amazing mural of dripping mud and water. As it dried the children came to touch the mud. We enjoyed having a small water and mud fight and splashing each other.
In the afternoon, we came back out for some time in the mud kitchen. We filled the sinks up with water and mud and the children went wild cleaning and making lots of soup and pizza. We also put our mud kitchen to good use as we cooked up mud treats & decorated the walls with mud handprints.
This day was so exciting for all of us to explore this messy, muddy world! Our toddlers love any opportunity to get messy and explore. We wish that every day could be mud day! The children were super excited to play in the mud. Some were a little cautious at first while others dove in. Literally!! The pool full of mud was a hit. They jumped right in squishing it between their fingers and toes, sliding in it, making mud balls and even rubbing it all over their legs and arms. They also enjoyed the water and mud table. Some friends made "mud pies, smoothies and milkshakes".
Their favourite thing to do with all the mud was to chase Michelle with it. They got her good. She was covered in it! I think she had just as much fun as they did!
Indoors (after we hosed down and dried off) we enjoyed mud dough (playdough with coffee grounds in it), muddy water and brown mud paint. Getting dirty was a whole lot of fun today! Brooke made us a special afternoon snack in honour of mud day. Dirt n worms of course! Yum! (we'll also have fruit too).
Summer Camps at Discovery started June 29th and run until week 10, Sept. 4th.
Here is a list of our 2015 camp themes.
Week #1 Oh Canada, "Eh"? June 29 -July 3 Kicking off the summer could only be made better by celebrating our wonderful country together! We will have a week filled with red and white fun and facts and will learn about a wide range of all things Canadian. Children will be introduced to our nation’s diverse and interesting cultures and languages, lands, sports and leisure activities as we enjoy fun in the sun together.
Week #2 Globe Trotting July 6-10 A trip around the world in a week! Experience and learn about foods, crafts, culture and languages of other countries on the map. Children will also go on a “geo-caching” adventure this week.
Week #3 Eat This! July 13-17 Using our garden and smart grocery choices to learn and create healthy, nutritious and delicious concoctions together. We will also learn about herbs and spices, their health benefits and just how they change the flavour of the things we like to eat.
Week #4 Befriending the Forest July 21-25 Connecting with nature through daily forest adventures, hikes and picnics. We will get to enjoy a small taste of Forest School as we discover ropes, shelters and tool use together.
Week #5 CLOSED July 27-31
Week #6 Gelling with Geology Aug 4-7 What is a geologist and what do they do? Learning about rocks and minerals and how they are mined, where they are found and what they are used for. We will also explore and learn about fossils and where they come from.
Week #7 Community Helpers Aug 10-14 Learning about some of the many helpers and emergency professionals in our community, what they do and why we need them.
Week #8 Weather Wonders Aug 17-21 Examining weather together in its many forms from precipitation and temperature to wind, rainbows and extreme weather. We will also learn about why and where different types of weather occur around the world.
Week #9 Space is the place! Aug 24-28 Exploring the stars, satellites and planets. Learning about our solar system and what exactly those astronauts are up to and having fun with rocket ships and “aliens”.
Week #10 The Birds & the Bees Aug 31-Sept 4 Learning how to identify Ontario’s birds as well as how to attract them to our yards through feeding and gardening. We will also learn about the importance of bees in nature and the problems they are facing
For more information about our summer camps visit our webpage.
Friday, 15 August 2014
Trip to Landfill Great Learning Opportunity!
Today the School Agers took a break from daily life at the Centre and hopped on the bus to visit our local landfill! Upon arrival, we were excited to learn that we would get to tour the facility on the bus and see all of the different ways that garbage is sorted. We were surprised to see how clean and organised the site was and how many different categories of trash they had there!

Very little of what is brought there actually ends up in the landfill. We thought this was wonderful. As we entered, our bus went onto the scale. With our bus driver, 5 teachers and 36 children, the school bus weighed 10710kg!!!! We never would have guessed! (We certainly tried)
We learned that vehicles are weighed while entering and exiting the landfill in order to find out how much garbage they had dropped off.
Inside the Education centre, we learned about sorting our disposables at home and which bins (grey, blue, green or garbage can) different items belonged in. We were very proud that we were already pretty good at this! We also talked about our ecological footprint (which is the affect we have on our planet) and ways we can keep our footprints small such as recycling, conserving energy, composting and reusing items.

Did you know that the education centre building at the landfill is built with reused bricks from a home, glass block/windows from old city hall and has a driveway that was created from the pavement dug up from Ann St when it was repaved? It also has a carpet in it that is made from recycled plastic bottles! How cool is that???

Outside, we enjoyed a scavenger hunt in the breezy fresh air, a relay race though tires to sort “discarded items” and even planted flowers from seed paper into pots made from compostable plant food! In all, it was a very FULL, FUN and INTERESTING morning and were pleasantly surprised to receive gift bags (lunch bags) filled with all kinds of cool recycled items to bring home!
Thank you City of Barrie for this wonderful learning opportunity!

Discovery Child Care offers interesting and educational before and after school programs. Call us for a tour. We'd love to meet with you and your child! 705-733-2052

Very little of what is brought there actually ends up in the landfill. We thought this was wonderful. As we entered, our bus went onto the scale. With our bus driver, 5 teachers and 36 children, the school bus weighed 10710kg!!!! We never would have guessed! (We certainly tried)
We learned that vehicles are weighed while entering and exiting the landfill in order to find out how much garbage they had dropped off.
Inside the Education centre, we learned about sorting our disposables at home and which bins (grey, blue, green or garbage can) different items belonged in. We were very proud that we were already pretty good at this! We also talked about our ecological footprint (which is the affect we have on our planet) and ways we can keep our footprints small such as recycling, conserving energy, composting and reusing items.

Did you know that the education centre building at the landfill is built with reused bricks from a home, glass block/windows from old city hall and has a driveway that was created from the pavement dug up from Ann St when it was repaved? It also has a carpet in it that is made from recycled plastic bottles! How cool is that???

Outside, we enjoyed a scavenger hunt in the breezy fresh air, a relay race though tires to sort “discarded items” and even planted flowers from seed paper into pots made from compostable plant food! In all, it was a very FULL, FUN and INTERESTING morning and were pleasantly surprised to receive gift bags (lunch bags) filled with all kinds of cool recycled items to bring home!
Thank you City of Barrie for this wonderful learning opportunity!

Discovery Child Care offers interesting and educational before and after school programs. Call us for a tour. We'd love to meet with you and your child! 705-733-2052
Tuesday, 20 May 2014
Our Summer Camps are So Much Fun!
Summer Camps at Discovery Child Care Centres are all about FUN and LEARNING! We combine outdoor activities, field trips, with exciting themes for learning and play. Here's a slide show of a traditional camp activity - making SMORES!
Our weekly programs include:
Our weekly programs include:
Computers
Creative arts & crafts
Dramatic play
Music & Movement
Cognitive & science activities
Cooperative games & sports
Organic gardening program
Field trips and/or visitors (may be an extra charge as needed)
1-3/4 acres at Harvie Road, 1-1/2 acres at Big Bay Point including; soccer, baseball, tether ball, gardening, art easel, sand box, dramatic play, and at Harvie Road - a wonderful sports court that includes opportunities for tennis, basketball, ball hockey, 4-square, and much, much more!
Contact us today to enrol your child in a Summer Camp at either Harvie Road or Big Bay Point, Barrie.
Week #1 CREEPY CRAWLIES
June 30-July 4
Examining, exploring and learning about all of the tiny, slimy and sometimes beautiful little critters we find underground, in the sky and in our gardens. Let's discover what these things that 'bug' us mean to our planet and why they are important. We are in the planning stages of having a few quests visit us each week: A beekeeper and a Monarch Butterfly specialist. Stay tuned for dates/times.
Week #2 ENERGIZE THIS!
July 7-11
Taking a look at various means of eco-friendly/alternative energies such as: wind, solar & geo-thermal. We will be investigating how they work and finding ways to put them to use ourselves. Children will be involved in hands on activities and we are in the planning stages to take a trip to see geo-thermal in action!
Week #3 FROM FARM TO TABLE
July 14-18
Discovering how the products we consume make their way from farms & fields to our homes and dinner tables. We will be investigating the various procedures and hard work that is required for this to happen. We will take a trip to an organic farm in our community.
Week #4 FOREST ADVENTURES
July 21-25: We will be learning about the types of forests around us and how they, and the animals who inhabit them are in danger and most importantly, what we can do to help. We are planning trips to a forest, arboretum and/or tree seed farm. Gwen Petreman, Author, Environmentalist and board member of Living Green Barrie, will kick off the week as a guest speaker on Monday.
Week #5
CLOSED July 28-Aug 1
Week #6
OCEAN KEEPERS with the David Suzuki Foundation
Aug 4-8
We will be hosting an OCEAN CELEBRATION using a kit provided by the David Suzuki Foundation. We will introduce the children to the magic and wonder of the ocean. Through many games, experiments, arts/crafts, stories, and even foods, we will explore how oceans contribute to all our lives and inspire the children to protect it.
Week #7 ROCK ON!
Aug 11-15:
Identifying all kinds of rocks, gems and minerals. We will learn where they came from and how they get to where we find them in our daily lives from household items to jewellery.
Week #8 SURVIVOR WEEK
Aug 18-22:
Children will learn about Canadian forests and how to survive in the Canadian wilderness. We will talk about how to make a fire, create shelter, the dangers and wonders of the forest and how to survive in different weather. Can you survive? We are in the planning stages for a trip to Tiffin Conservation area. (Note to parents: this will be taught in a fun, play-based, non-threatening manner!)
Week #9 NATURE ART WEEK
Aug 25-29
Children will use a variety of mediums to plan, construct and display artwork created from nature. Children will be using paints, dyes, tools, paper and other natural materials that they have found (or created) in nature.
Discovery Child Care offers interesting and educational before and after school programs. Call us for a tour. We'd love to meet with you and your child! 705-733-2052
Discovery Child Care offers interesting and educational before and after school programs. Call us for a tour. We'd love to meet with you and your child! 705-733-2052
Tuesday, 30 July 2013
Our Summer Campers Visit Nicholyn Farms
Our Summer Campers took a trip recently to Nicholyn Farms to learn about where food comes from. The children saw plants growing, livestock such as sheep and chickens, and had a great packed lunch. Have a look at the slideshow below and you'll see what a perfect school trip it was!
Learn more about Nicholyn Farms:
"Since 1982 our family operated farm has been ever evolving to meet the changing needs of your family. Our pleasant store specializes with meeting the growing demands of health and environmentally conscious people. We take pride in offering a one-stop shopping experience for locally produced, certified organic and traditionally raised products. Your local farmers thank you! We are able to make available our own sustainably raised pork, beef and chicken products. Our animals are raised without antibiotics or growth hormones, eat an all vegetable diet with no animal by-products and are treated with dignity and respect. Our beef cattle graze on pasture, the pigs enjoy fresh air and sunshine, and the chickens scratch in the earth!"
Call us to find our more about our exceptional educational programs, including our award winning Nature Explore classroom. 705-733-2052 Visit our website to learn more..
Learn more about Nicholyn Farms:
"Since 1982 our family operated farm has been ever evolving to meet the changing needs of your family. Our pleasant store specializes with meeting the growing demands of health and environmentally conscious people. We take pride in offering a one-stop shopping experience for locally produced, certified organic and traditionally raised products. Your local farmers thank you! We are able to make available our own sustainably raised pork, beef and chicken products. Our animals are raised without antibiotics or growth hormones, eat an all vegetable diet with no animal by-products and are treated with dignity and respect. Our beef cattle graze on pasture, the pigs enjoy fresh air and sunshine, and the chickens scratch in the earth!"
Call us to find our more about our exceptional educational programs, including our award winning Nature Explore classroom. 705-733-2052 Visit our website to learn more..
Monday, 22 July 2013
Discovery Child Care Kids Visit the Ontario Seed Plant
Summer Camp photo's from our Discovery Child Care Summer Camp, 2013. These pictures were take during a recent field trip to Angus, to visit the Ontario Seed Plant.
The tree seed facilty was established in 1923. It plays a key role in the protection of Ontario's rich natural heritage. The facility collects seeds from about 50 different native species and supplies smaller nursery operations, large forestry companies and the public. It also maintains a seed bank of native tree specieis from across the province and makes seed available for reforestation.
Call us to find our more about our exceptional educational programs, including our award winning Nature Explore classroom. 705-733-2052 Visit our website to learn more..
The tree seed facilty was established in 1923. It plays a key role in the protection of Ontario's rich natural heritage. The facility collects seeds from about 50 different native species and supplies smaller nursery operations, large forestry companies and the public. It also maintains a seed bank of native tree specieis from across the province and makes seed available for reforestation.
Call us to find our more about our exceptional educational programs, including our award winning Nature Explore classroom. 705-733-2052 Visit our website to learn more..
Sunday, 14 July 2013
Summer Camp at Discovery Child Care! Pizza and Paperbag Gowns..
From make your own Pizza to outdoor Plays - the kids are having a great time at Summer Camp at Discovery Child Care!
Call us to find our more about our exceptional educational programs, including our award winning Nature Explore classroom. 705-733-2052
Call us to find our more about our exceptional educational programs, including our award winning Nature Explore classroom. 705-733-2052
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)






