This hands-on look at how things grow will introduce preschool children (ages 4-5) to basic environmental science. Children will learn about a different part of the garden during each session and as a group will build a mural to add the different parts of the garden they learned about that day. Each session is three hours in length and provides children with opportunities to perform experiments as well as to play some games related to the specific theme of that day. A story will be read to them while they enjoy a snack; the story also follows the theme of the day. 

Every day has a different theme:

Soil and Seeds
Children will learn all about where things grow and learn about the different characteristics of seeds as well as explore what seeds become. They will dissect seeds and compare them to pebbles, learn about the different ways seeds are planted in nature and how they are moved from one place to another. They will make their own seed badges to take home.

Sun, Wind and Rain
Children will discover the different elements of weather that are vital for the growth of a garden. They will identify the weather of that specific day; will perform an experiment to learn about how water falls on a garden and how wind can help a garden. The preschoolers will make their very own sun hats to wear while they work in the garden. 

Plants and Leaves (not in 4 day camp)
Children will learn about the different parts of plants and leaves. They will try some activities to learn more about the characteristics of leaves and plants and will even do some leaf rubbings to add to their camp journals. They will examine plants and leaves using a magnifying glass and will make their very own budding bean necklace to take home.

Flowers, Fruits and Veggies
After learning about the different elements necessary to help seeds grow into plants, students will learn about the flowers, fruits and veggies that seeds become.  They will examine the different parts of flowers, fruits and vegetables with their magnifying glasses and will create their very own plants and flowers in their journals.  They will make prints of fruits and vegetables and make a placement to take home.

Butterflies, Ladybugs and Bees
On the last day of the camp children will learn about the other things that live in a garden like butterflies, ladybugs and bees and the importance of having these creatures to help the garden grow and develop. They will learn about pollination, see how bugs see and learn all about the different parts of bugs. Finally they will make their own butterfly bracelets to take home along with their camp journal that they have been creating throughout “the Science in Your Backyard camp. 

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