For an idea of the kinds of offerings we'll host at camp, take a look at the ones we planned last year. We'll include many of the same themes and some of the same kinds of experiences, and we'll be dreaming up some new ways to connect kids with our glorious planet.  

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• Bread Baking: Young people will have access to different bread making ingredients and recipes and make a bread of their choosing. Young people can offer a piece of their bread for a later Bread Taste Test later in the day. In this offering, we can explore how people experience taste differently and not “yucking people’s yums.” Whenever we do a baking project that has leftovers, we take them to the Community Fridge located at Bok Building.

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• Recycled Material Sculpture Design and Building: Using supplies gathered from recycling bins, young people will design their own upcycled sculptures and use a variety of materials for adhesion. Young people may have the opportunity to paint and decorate their creations. 

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• Soap Making: With the support of a facilitator, young people will participate in each step of making their own bar of soap using local ingredients and natural essential oils.

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• Microscope Exploration: Young people will learn how to use a microscope to look at things up close and draw what they see. Young people can view prepared slides and find objects and materials they'd like to look at up close. 

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• Neighborhood Walks + Visits to the Playground: We'll take daily outdoor trips! We are centrally located to a number of playgrounds in South Philly, including Capitolo, Gold Star, and Columbus Square. We are also located near to a number of murals, Percy Art Street, and the Italian Market. 

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• Community Games: Young people and facilitators will come together to participate in large, gross motor games such as dodgeball, capture the flag, obstacle course building, etc. In these games, we’ll intentionally prioritize skill building in the areas of communication, teamwork, and understanding consent/non-consent.

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• Bugs and Plants: Young people will observe bugs in nature, learn safe handling of bugs, examine bug specimens with microscopes, and participate in plant dissection to gain a better understanding of pollination and the role insects play in making the magic happen. 

 

• Foraging: Young people will hike through the meadows to forage for edible plants and learn the difference between native and invasive species. We’ll use tool to help identify plants and discuss the importance of clear identification before consumption. Edible plants will be foraged in ethical and sacred ways and young people will be supported in processing plants to make tea, soap, sacred smoke, and for cooking together.​​

 

• Litter Clean Up in the Park: One of the most important volunteer jobs at FDR is litter clean up. This offering will begin with a safety lesson, and then young people will learn how to use appropriate tools (litter pickers, gloves, compostable bags). We’ll dig into systemic issues around litter control and sustainable practices for moving forward. Afterwards we’ll jump into a re-use art project to turn cardboard into fabulous creations with a professional art instructor.

 

• Watershed + Fishing: FDR is one of seven main subwatersheds in Philadelphia. Our community partner, Let’s Go Outdoors, will bring their watershed simulation for young people to explore. We’ll also collect water samples to test for common pollutants. Additionally, we'll learn all the ropes when it comes to fishing and practice these new skills in the lake!​

 

• Shelter Building: Young people will hike into the meadows to learn how to safely use tools to build stick structures out of found natural objects. We’ll use recycled fabric to create sunshields and reflect on what kinds of structures work best.

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• Cool Off Offerings: We’ll respond to the heat of summer afternoons with opportunities to play and connect while cooling off. We’ll play in sprinklers, test a slip and slide, make lemonade in the shady pine grove, etc.

 

• Natural Tie Dye: Using plants from the natural dye garden at FDR, young people will help harvest the plants and process them to create natural dyes. Young people will bring in light colored fabric items to tie dye.

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