Winter Camp Days for Kids!
December 23 – 27th, 2024 & December 30 – January 3rd, 2025
We offer Winter camp during Broward county’s holiday sessions. Enjoy near-perfect weather during these two weeks at Birch State Park in Ft. Lauderdale. Busy holiday schedule? Our flexible daily camp options are sure to fit right in!
Winter camp will be offered from 9:00 A.M. – 3:30 P.M. with optional Extended care available. Make sure to pack a hearty lunch for this camp session as there is NO LUNCH SERVICE available.
Activities Include: Each day can include Sports, Art and crafts, Beach Play, Canoeing, Hiking, Archery, Fishing, and Hands-on Science activities. Currently, swimming is not offered at Winter Camp, unless weather permits.
- Winter Camp Information
- Dates: December 23 – 27th, 2024 & December 30 – January 3rd, 2025
- Week 1: December 23 – 27th, 2024
- Week 2: December 30 – January 3rd, 2025
- Locations: Birch State Park in Ft. Lauderdale
- Time: 9:00 A.M. – 3:30 P.M.
- Camp Fees: $312.00 per Week / $85 per day ($15 Weekly Sibling Discount / $5 Daily Discount)
- Extended Care
- Morning Care (8:00am – 9:00am): $16 per week / $5 daily
- After Care (3:30pm – 5:30pm): $28 per week / $10 per day
- Both Morning and After Care: $34 per week / $15 per day
Get ready for a week of fun, adventure, and creativity! In Nature Explorers & Adventure Creators, your 5 – 13-year-olds will dive into the wonders of the outdoors while exploring exciting careers like wildlife biologist, outdoor survival guide, and creative artist. Each day is filled with hands-on activities—from animal tracking and kayaking to ice skating and creating art that expresses their feelings. Campers will discover the secrets of nature, learn new skills, and build friendships along the way! It’s the perfect mix of outdoor fun and creative exploration for your adventurer!
Nature Explorers & Adventure Creators: 4-Day Camp Outline
Monday, December 23rd: Let’s get Wild as Wildlife Biologists
- Science: Explore local ecosystems during a hike through Birch State Park. Learn about species roles in the environment and track wildlife using footprints and other clues.
- Art: Create a wildlife observation journal, documenting your findings with sketches and notes from the day.
- Teambuilding: Learn to work together, solve problems, have fun and challenge the obstacles to come together as a team.
- Archery: Hunt for the big Game- Target practice Deer Turkey or Hog which will you hit?
Tuesday, December 24th: Guiding Adventures and Survivor Skills!
- Science: Master navigation with a map and compass, and practice using a compass to locate treasures!
- Art: Beading Morse Code Bracelets, campers will create their own friendship bracelets, beading a secret coded message for themselves or a friend. Learning Morse code as they create.
- Paddling: Learn to paddle a Kayak or Canoe on the fresh water of Long Lake
- Survival Skills: Fire Safety, Fire building, Outdoor Cooking, S’mores and more!!
- First Aid: campers will learn the basics of wilderness first aid
Thursday, December 26th: Fish Tails and Fish Tales-Fun Facts and Fish Stories
- Science: Fresh Water vs. Salt Water vs. Brackish waters, campers will visit all three habitats to observe and record what fishes they find as Ichthyologist (scientists that study Fish) Identify different species of fish and learn about their habitats and conservation efforts.
- Art: Make your own print to take home using the Japanese art of gyotaku, we will use rubber fish to make our art.
- Fishing: Participate in this hands-on activity to safely catch, identify, measure and record your data before safely releasing your catch.
- Fish Stories – Who can tell the best story.
Friday, December 27th: Ice Burgs, Ice Cubes and Ice Skating– Field Trip
- Science: Explore the science behind ice and glaciers through interactive activities using ice and water. Glaciologists study how glaciers form and why they’re essential for our planet, while discussing climate change’s impact.
- Art: Have fun Painting with ice- creating an abstract watercolor using ice and pigments.
- Field Trip: Take to the ice and skate!!!
Week Two Winter Camp; December 30 – January 3, 2025; NO Camp on the 1st
Monday, December 30th: Let’s Get Buggy like an Entomologist!
- Science: What makes a bug a bug? How many legs, eyes, antenna campers will learn the science of entomology and why it’s important to have bugs around. Where can we find them? Under the leaves, in the dirt, in the lake- let’s go look for them
- Art: Upcycle and found materials into a bug of your own creation, six legs, antenna, and compound eyes- inspired by the art of Raku Inoue
- Team Building: Bees form hives, Ants make hills and spiders weave webs, what will your team create together?
- Paddling: Move across the lake like a water bug as you paddle a kayak or canoe
Tuesday, December 31st: Birds of a Feather, Let’s Flock Together
- Science: Ornithology- is the study of birds, campers will learn to identify and find birds. Observing and gather data on the birds in the park, in the field, on the beach and near the lake
- Art: Owls Sculpture foil, air clay, and found and upcycled items
- Migration Game: If you were a Piping Plover, could you survive the great migration from Massachusetts to Florida? Play the game and find out.
- Archery: Take Aim, Stay Focused and let your arrow Fly!
Thursday, January 2nd, 2025: The Fun and Funky Facts about Fungi
- Science: Mushrooms, what are they if they aren’t a plant and not an animal? Campers will learn How they grow, how they are being used to clean-up oil spills and make plastic alternatives.
- Art: Mushroom prints and painting
- Games: Great Connections Game, mycelium have extensive connections, campers will play a game that will help them understand why connections are important.
- Fishing: Leave the world of mushrooms behind as you unwind and relax by the water, trying to catch a puffer or a snapper.
Friday, January 3rd, 2025: Snakes, Lizards and Turtles oh my!
- Science: Herpetology is the science of scientific study of amphibians and reptiles. There are many species of them living in the park and Ranger Marc’s program introduces campers to them.
- Art: Make a Turtle box out of upcycled materials and air clay
- Game: Hungry Hungry Sea Turtle
- Canoeing: Take a Turtle Safari Trip on Long Lake- can you spot the different species of freshwater turtles living in the lake.
