2025 STEAM Summer Week 2

Week 2’s theme was Flora & Fauna

Our second week’s theme was “Flora & Fauna” so we learned all about plants & animals! Explorers (grades 1-3) started off the week with fruit-themed activities. They got to build their own fruit salads while learning about each fruit – a fan favorite were the strawberries – and colored drawings and made paper crowns with fruits on them. Later in the week, Explorers did a chemical reaction experiment with tea they brewed. All these activities were really fun AND delicious!

Explorers trying different fruits

Speaking of delicious, Pollinate MN came back for a third year with fresh honey to taste test and a hive of live bees! Many students remembered Miss Erin (aka GMCC board member Erin Rupp) from her previous visits. Investigators and Explorers both got to observe the bee hive, learn about bee anatomy and biology, try on beekeeping suits, and taste test different kinds of honey and honeycomb. They couldn’t get enough of the honey; some went back for seconds, thirds, fourths, and so on…

Explorers observing the hive and trying on beekeeper suits with Pollinate MN

“Oh my gosh, it tastes SO GOOD!” – Camper tasting the honey

Investigators tasting honey and looking at dead bees

Investigators (grades 4-8) researched plants native to Minnesota and made art using flowers, plants, and rocks. Explorers also got to plant their own basil!

Explorers planting basil and Investigators making nature art

Both groups went to Powderhorn Park for plenty of outdoor and swim time, but the highlight of this week was our visit from the UMN Raptor Center. We got to see live rescued birds, including Rowan the red-tailed hawk and Lois the great-horned owl. The Raptor Center taught us all about how they hunt for prey, demonstrating how each bird has unique head, body, and eye movements and different kinds of beaks and talons. We also got to hear about their wildlife rehabilitation efforts and see various feathers and talons.

Raptor Center showing us Lois the great-horned owl and different talons & feathers

GMCC staff member Len did a nature photography lesson with the Investigators. We got to use our newly refurbished Nikon DSLR cameras, donated to us by Urban Ventures and Carl Wegener of Cameras for Kids. The group split into pairs and went to the Midtown Greenway to take photos of the plants, architecture, and each other! We even had a few kind bikers stop and give us permission to photograph them. They had lots of fun and took HUNDREDS of amazing photos!

Investigators showing each other their photos

“This is the best thing we’ve done so far!” – Investigator after the photography lesson

Investigators posing for photos at the Midtown Greenway

For our Friday field trip, we got to visit Whetstone Farm in Amery, Wisconsin again. Farmer Klaus took our group on tractor rides across the farm, where we got to see horses, cows, and sheep and throw them vegetables to eat. We harvested lots of crops, including plantain leaves, cherry tomatoes, mint, dragon’s egg cucumbers, golden raspberries, and gooseberries. They even grilled some sweet corn for us to eat! And of course, we spent lots of time in the sandbox, on the trampoline, and petting the farm dogs & cats.