Week 5’s theme was Summer Sun
Week 5 was a very bittersweet week since it was our last week of camp! We made sure to end the month with a lot of celebration and fun memories.
Our friend Eva from Ney Nature Center visited the Explorers and brought real animal furs, bones, paw prints, and models of scat. We loved feeling how soft the furs were and touching the bear head!
Eva from Ney Nature Center showing different furs and paw prints to an Explorer
Eva also did a nature journaling activity with the Investigators. Thank you Ney Nature Center for coming back to see us!
Explorers touching a real bear head and furs
One of our favorite free time activities this week was perler beads! We used patterns to make all kinds of cute bead designs and then melted them together with an iron.
Explorers crafting with perler beads
Musician Tony Paul came back to do some African drumming with with both groups. We got to experiment with a variety of different percussion instruments from maracas to big Djembe drums!
Investigators leading the drum circle with Tony Paul
We had so much fun taking turns leading the drum circle with Tony and trying to match his beats! Our resident musician and camp guide Chris Smith joined in too!
Investigators trying out different African instruments
On Thursday, we invited campers’ families to GMCC for an End of Camp Celebration!
Camper taking a photo in the photo booth with her parent
Families watching a slideshow of camp photos
We had pizza (thanks to one of the parents) & refreshments, watched the campers’ stop motion projects & a slideshow of camp photos, and took silly photos in the photo booth!
Campers using the photo booth and props
Youth Program Manager Deeq Abdi preparing the audience for the puppet performances
The highlight of the day was our campers’ puppet performances, the culmination of our week-long residency with puppet artist Tara Fahey.
Camper putting on a puppet performance
Each group created their own puppet characters, props, & stories and then put on an amazing performance!
Puppet artist assisting a group with their puppet performance
We were also able to do a backpack & school supply giveaway, courtesy of MPR News. Thank you for donating 100 backpacks to our campers!
Camper with his parent
For our final day of camp, we took a field trip to the Maple Grove Community Center. We had a blast exploring the “Maple Maze”, a huge indoor playground with tunnels, slides, & more!
The Maple Maze indoor playground at Maple Grove Community Center
Campers playing in the Maple Maze
After lunch, we went for a swim in The Grove Cove Aquatic Center. We really loved riding the big waterslide, jumping from the swinging rope, and floating in the lazy river. What a great way to end the summer!
Campers and staff in the Grove Cove Aquatic Center
Thank you to our partners for this week!
And thank you so much to our youth funders for supporting our program!
Lastly, a HUGE thank you to our campers, families, and camp staff that made LYL STEAM Summer 2024 such a success! Keep an eye out for our camp wrap-video & yearbook!
LYL STEAM Summer 2024 staff (definitely not Photoshopped!)
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