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Week
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Camp Theme and Description
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May 28 - May 31 (Memorial Day Week 4-day camp) |
Unsolved Mysteries
Have you ever wondered how beautiful crystals can grow inside of a rather bland looking geode? Or why a garter snake always smells when you try to pick it up? Nature is full of the unknown; and uncovering those mysteries will be your task during this fun-filled and eye-opening week. All one needs in order to unravel the mysteries of nature is an open and curious mind, and a willingness to explore. So grab your magnifying glass, microscope, and other nature detective tools and join the fun. Help us to unravel the mysteries of nature.


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June 3 - June 7 |
The Science of Nature
Does your camper love to mix things together to see what will happen or have a curiosity about how things work? Then this is the perfect camp for the budding scientist! During the week, we will ask questions, hypothesize, experiment, and analyze as only the Nature Center can do. Using Dunwoody Park as our subject, we will begin to make sense of the natural world through hands-on activities. Nature, in all its abstract beauty, is full of things that we can better understand… if we think like a scientist!


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June 10 - June 14 |
We Love Bugs!
Kids love bugs! They are just plain fun, especially when you can spend a whole week learning about and scouring Dunwoody Park for ladybugs, roly-poly’s, ants, water striders and more. Campers will learn how to identify and classify creepy crawlies from insects to spiders. Bugs are hopping at the Nature Center during the summer and it is the perfect place to learn all about them while playing games, taking hikes, or making cool crafts. Kids will explore the world of bugs as they sing about them, move like them, paint them, and even hold them!


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Wonderful Water
Wanna be cool? Then come and spend a week celebrating water with us! We will study it, we will experiment with it, we will play in it, and we will see how far it flies. We will explore the wetlands and Wildcat creek and appreciate the delicate balance between who lives there and how we affect their ecosystem. Through games, experiments, crafts, and exploration, campers will learn the properties and importance of water.


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June 24 - June 28 |
Lizards, Frogs, and Snakes
If it slithers, croaks, or scampers, it will be fair game this week as our campers are immersed in all things reptile. Through nature exploration, games, and crafts, campers will leave no stone unturned learning about our cold-blooded friends. Our creek and wetlands are the perfect place to begin to understand what makes reptiles and amphibians so interesting. Sshhh... if we're quiet, we'll probably see some of our cold blooded friends as they bask in the sun, search for food, or swim in Wildcat Creek.


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June 24 - June 28 |
Junior Ranger Camp (At Island Ford)
Each day, campers will engage in nature discovery and games, using the Island Ford Facility on the Chattahoochee River as our classroom. Campers will practice strategies learned during the week from their Junior Ranger booklet by canoeing in the facility's pond and performing safety skills. We will learn about orienteering using both a compass and GPS to navigate throughout the park and we’ll explore the ponds/watersheds of the park while discussing conservation methods and the importance of the Chattahoochee River to Native American tribes such as the Cherokee and the Creek. Campers will learn more about native plants and animals and will learn to identify the various flora and fauna in the National Park. At the end of the week, parents are invited to join us as the campers receive their Junior Ranger badges in a presentation led by the Rangers of the Chattahoochee National River Area.
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Week
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Camp Theme and Description
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July 1 - July 3 3-Day Camp No camp July 4&5 |
Circle of Life
They say that "what goes around comes around" - this is true in nature as well. Campers will use the 4 habitats and 22 acres of Dunwoody Park to explore and learn about the circle of life that exists in nature. From the water cycle to the growth of frogs to dissecting owl pellets (yum!) campers will get a close-up and hands on look at the life cycles that make nature the dynamic and fascinating place that it is.


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July 8 - July 12 |
The Birds and the Trees*
This week will fly by and the kids won't want to leave as they spend the week learning about the birds and the trees. From bluebirds to hummingbirds and owls, campers will take bird walks, learn calls, feeding and nesting habits, and the importance of trees in the bird world. We will study the trees from the ground to the canopy and then end our week with our own Tree Climb with our partners from Tree Climb International (full day campers only). Campers will get a birds-eye view from high up in the trees! A truly unique week of camp fun.
*Additional fee of $15 for this full day camp for tree climb


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Junior Ranger Camp (At Island Ford)
Each day, campers will engage in nature discovery and games, using the Island Ford Facility on the Chattahoochee River as our classroom. Campers will practice strategies learned during the week from their Junior Ranger booklet by canoeing in the facility's pond and performing safety skills. We will learn about orienteering using both a compass and GPS to navigate throughout the park and we’ll explore the ponds/watersheds of the park while discussing conservation methods and the importance of the Chattahoochee River to Native American tribes such as the Cherokee and the Creek. Campers will learn more about native plants and animals and will learn to identify the various flora and fauna in the National Park. At the end of the week, parents are invited to join us as the campers receive their Junior Ranger badges in a presentation led by the Rangers of the Chattahoochee National River Area.
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July 15 - July 19 |
The Art and Architecture of Nature
From the simple beauty of a dogwood bloom to the intricate patterns of a newly spun spider web and the Fibonacci patterns of coneflower seed heads, nature is a wonderful display of art and architecture. This natural beauty can also be an inspiration to aspiring young artists and architects. Campers this week will be taken on a journey to discover the beauty found in nature and to marvel at the building skills of nature’s creatures. This is a perfect week for campers who want to appreciate nature in a new way and want to build and create beautiful works of art.


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July 22 - 26 |
Creek Week
Our campers love Wildcat Creek! This is a whole week dedicated to the crown jewel of Dunwoody Park. The campers will learn all there is to know about our creek: What feeds it? Where does it go? Who lives in there? What grows near it? And perhaps most importantly – how can we help to preserve this local treasure! Bring them prepared to get wet and go home happy!


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Week |
Camp Theme and Description |
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July 29 - August 2 |
The Music of Nature
Sounds are an important part of nature. From the melodious and diverse bird songs and calls to the ominous sound of thunder, nature can provide a symphony of sound. Campers will experience these phenomena first hand and investigate nature with a whole new sense of wonder! Not only can you hear the music of nature, but nature also provides many things that can help us make music. Our campers will enjoy creating their own musical instruments. By the end of the week – our campers will be ready to rock!


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August 5 - August 9 |
Mostly Fun with a Chance of Sun
The forecast for this week is for lots of smiles with no chance of frowns. Tornadoes, Hurricanes, even a good lightning storm... nothing fascinates us more than weather. It can be destructive and it can be picturesque, but either way, it's fun to learn about weather. Campers will investigate the science behind weather, learn the basics of measuring weather, and understand the impact that the weather has on us and our environment. We’ll also play weather games, do experiments, and maybe even try our hand at being a weather person!


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August 12 - August 16 |
We Love Bugs, Too!
Kids love bugs! They are just plain fun, especially when you can spend a whole week learning about and scouring Dunwoody Park for ladybugs, roly-poly’s, ants, water striders and more. Campers will learn how to identify and classify creepy crawlies from insects to spiders. Bugs are hopping at the Nature Center during the summer and it is the perfect place to learn all about them while playing games, taking hikes, or making cool crafts. Kids will explore the world of bugs as they sing about them, move like them, paint them, and even hold them!


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August 19 - 23 (Half Day Camp only) |
The Wing's the Thing
Floating like a butterfly or soaring like a hawk… nothing fascinates curious young minds like the magic of flight. The week will fly by as they learn about flight in nature. What makes bees buzz, how is a bat wing like a human hand, what allows a hawk to soar so gracefully yet hunt at speeds up to 40 mph. Through hands on discovery, fun games and crafts, our campers will earn their wings as they discover the magic of flight.

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August 26 - August 29 4-Day Camp (Half Day Camp only) |
Too Cool for School
Come join us for our last week of camp this summer. It’s hot, but we will stay cool as we learn how animals keep themselves cool when the heat is on! We will find the coolest places at the Nature Center and play games, do crafts, and explore the secrets of warm blooded and cold blooded creatures and how they stay cool! A great way to get ready for an exciting year of learning and growing!

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