Exploratorium Summer Camp » Daily Posts

Session 3, Day 10, 2009

anner — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:15:56 +0000

In our morning activity campers experimented with trays of bubble solution, string, and straws and they made bubbles of all sizes and configurations.

These campers are working together to make a ‘carousel’ of bubbles.

Trying to catch the bubble before it pops!

Campers making big bubbles using only their hands and the bubble solution.

On the last day of camp we use the Exploratorium’s McBean theater for a camper talent show. We had fun watching skits, a magic show, seeing homemade instruments, and listening to the violin and the piano.

This camper is showing us his homemade string instrument.

Session 3, Day 9, 2009

anner — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:05:13 +0000

It was another fun filled day of marble machines, stomp rockets, and wind tubes. Today the all the campers had a chance to try out the activity that they didn’t do yesterday.

Campers working in pairs to create a path for the marble.

Campers watching their contraptions float in the tube.

Getting ready for a big stomp!

Stomp the bottle and a rush of air through the tube sends the rocket to the sky!

Session 3, Day 8, 2009

anner — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:13:57 +0000

Today we split the group in half. Half of us campers did a WIND TUBE activity! We also made rockets called STOMP ROCKETS. “Mine flew the farthest and the S.S. Landon went the highest!”- Camper

Campers building their rockets from paper and old playing cards.

Watching to see how high the rocket will fly!

The count down to blast off!

The other half of the campers make MARBLE MACHINES! According to one camper, it was “challenging” and “hard”, but he liked it! Tomorrow the groups are going to switch and do the other activities!

Testing out the marble machine.

Taking a moment to think about what to try next.

Session 3, Day 7, 2009

anner — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:02:21 +0000

Today we had a special visit from Exploratorium scientists, Caitlin and Cassie, and they brought with them lots of sea urchins for the campers to observe! They lead us in loads of fun activities that helped us better understand things like how a sea urchin moves and eats.

Campers making a ‘race course’ for their sea urchins.

Camper holding the sea urchin- they tickle a little!

Campers working together as a team to move like a sea urchin, each one playing the role of a tentacle!

In the afternoon, some campers did a behind the scenes tour of the ‘hidden’ exhibit, Sound Column. Afterward they worked in pairs to imagine and create their own Exploratorium museum and drew it out on big paper.

These campers have a tactile dome and a ’smell dome’!

Session 3, Day 6, 2009

anner — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:11:10 +0000

Mondays are always a fun day because the museum is closed to the public and we can do special activities out on the floor.
Today we made a (Exploratorium artist inspired) huge plastic caterpillar, got out the VandeGraaff Generator, launched parachutes from the second floor, and took the sea urchins out from the tanks in the Biology lab to study and draw!

Playing with the giant plastic caterpillar!

It is made from just a box fan and a long roll of painters plastic.

Helping another camper fly the trick kite at Crissy Fields during free time.

Exploring static electricity at the VandeGraaff Generator!

Session 3, Day 5, 2009

anner — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 00:01:40 +0000

Today we split up into teams and played a friendly game of frisbee golf around the lagoon. Each camper took a turn throwing the frisbee towards the hoop and we had to work together to get the frisbee through some challenging hoops (one was hung up on a tree!)

Getting ready to throw the frisbee.

The summer theme at the Exploratorium this year is ‘Reflections’. Campers shared some of their favorite exhibits that used reflections (and there are many!) and then they made a reflections collage using lots of fun materials that reflected light in an interesting way.

Camper finishing her design and getting ready to glue.

Carefully gluing the pieces together.

Camper checking out her reflection in the cylindrical mirror.

Session 3, Day 4, 2009

anner — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:58:04 +0000

Today the campers could choose from many different activities in both the morning and the afternoon: camera dissection, instrument building, cow eyeball dissection, exploring light, teamwork puzzles and games, and solar print making!

Campers dissecting a disposable camera and looking at the parts inside.

In the light activity, the campers explored white light and prisms and then…

…explored light and color under a sodium light that only shines a pure yellow light.

It was a beautiful day out at the beach and a lot of the campers had fun playing in the sand.

In the afternoon, campers made some very creative instruments using everyday materials.

Session 3, Day 3, 2009

anner — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 00:16:41 +0000

Today we had a special visit from Luigi the Amazing Magician! He came to our camp and performed magic tricks that wowed us and he also told jokes that kept us laughing.

He brought with him his little red friends ‘peanut, butter, and jelly’.

The counselors also have a few tricks up their sleeves and they taught magic tricks to the campers.

In the afternoon some campers experimented with pinhole viewers and through them they saw things in a whole new way!

Some campers chose to dissect cow eyeballs and learn more about how we see.

Session 3, Day 2, 2009

anner — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 00:20:07 +0000

Enjoying snack by the lagoon.
Today the campers did an obstacle course of hopscotch, walking a line, moving in a figure eight… but they were wearing goofy goggles. The lenses on the goofy goggles are made from prisms and when you look through them everything looks kind of funny and on a slope. These same goggles are also used at the exhibit, Hoop Nightmares.

Hopscotch!

The teams cheered on their teammates.

Walking the line with the goofy goggles is a lot harder than it looks.

In the afternoon some of the campers experimented with sound and played records using a pencil, tape, a needle, and a piece of paper.

Session 3, Day 1, 2009

anner — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:09:34 +0000

First day of camp! We started camp off with a very popular Exploratorium camp activity- Egg Drop! The campers make something to protect their egg, launch it off of the second floor of the museum, and hope that it doesn’t break when it hits the ground. Each pair of campers had the same materials to use: a sheet of plastic, four pieces of string, two feet of tape, a styrofoam plate, and a piece of paper. First time ever- a total of 4 eggs didn’t break from the fall!

Campers testing out their contraption.

This egg did not survive.

We counted down together and watched them fall!

In the afternoon, some campers start on a project that uses recycled plastic bags melted together with an iron. Tomorrow they will cut and sew a wallet or purse from the new material.

Some campers tried a bunch of fun activities using static electricity.