7/10/26

Week 3 was proof that the strongest influence comes from being authentically you!

🖌️For arts & crafts, campers customized “All-about-me” phones made of paper, created hand puppets (and displayed them in a puppet show), made their own Paper “Squishy”, mosaics, and tie-dye projects. 

🧬 For STEM, they did “Magic Milk” (using food coloring in milk and dish soap on the end  for a Q-tip–a colorful explosion)

👟For physical activity, Dance with Miss Tina, dance relays, affirmation tag (like regular tag but campers say something positive to each other before tagging), and the algorithm challenge (one camper was the “app” and one was the “developer” and the “apps” carried out actions called out by the “developers”)

🧘‍♀️For Mind & Body, charades of different emotions, balloon breathing, “My Calm Corner Toolbox”, “Simona Says”, and stress and energy level activities.

Additional activities this week included the rhythm leader game and a 10-second impact challenge (come up with a short skit or a 10-second lesson to present on anything impactful)

🌟 For Wednesday dress-up, campers dressed to express themselves! They wore outfits that were authentic to their personality and how they would represent themselves as an influencer.

🚴‍♀️Bold Adventures visited the Mattatuck Scout Reservation (for adventures in rock climbing, archery, team-building, and more), Lake Compounce (to get a classic summer amusement park experience), and Stanley Quarter Park for paddle boat rides.

🎉We had two specialties this week! One brought to us by Phoenix Mental Health Solutions (a station where campers made self-appreciation ribbons and chain links, and another where campers played emotion charades while using instruments to express them). Our weekly Ellafi specialty dove into budgeting! Campers used a worksheet to identify things they wanted to buy from the “Ellafi Store” and budget with the “money” they were provided.  Based on their budgeting and their wanted items, they “purchased” items to take home!

NEXT WEEK – WEEK 4 “WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE” 🐾🐯🦎

NATURE EXPLORERS

Activities: Solar Oven S’mores, Scavenger hunts, Building bird feeders/pollinator stations, Outdoor team challenges

Learning Focus: Environmental STEM, Outdoor Exploration

Wednesday Dress-Up: Safari Guide or Animal Print

FIELD TRIPS (UNIT 7/8 and UNIT 9+)

Bold Adventures (U7/8) Field Trips:

• Monday – NO TRIP
• Tuesday – NO TRIP
• Wednesday – Horse Education and Riding at Meadow Ridge Farm (Meriden, CT)
• Thursday – NO TRIP – GOAT EXPERIENCE SPECIALTY AT PROGRAM CENTER
• Friday – Eventful Splat and Craft Studio (Meriden, CT)

Leaders in Training (U9+) Field Trip:

• Tuesday – Stanley Quarter Park Paddle Boats (New Britain, CT)

Please make sure Field Trip campers pack appropriate items for the trips, including cold lunch, water bottle, a light jacket or sweatshirt, bathing suit (when applicable), towel, sunscreen, and closed-in shoes for all trips (flip flops can be carried in a bag).

SWIM SCHEDULE 🏊

REMINDERS:

• LOST AND FOUND
  • Please LABEL all of your child’s belongings, so we may reduce the number of items that end up in the Lost & Found. Please check the Lost & Found throughout the week for any items your child may be missing. Unclaimed items will be donated or disposed of at the end of each camp week.
• LATE PICK-UP FEE
  • In order to account for staffing and maintain smooth operations, families will incur a late pick-up fee of $25 if your camper is picked up more than 10 minutes after their scheduled pick-up time. We understand that delays can happen, and we appreciate your effort in picking up your child on time. If you anticipate being late, please notify us as soon as possible.
• SWIM LESSONS
  • Please be advised, that during free swim time, beginner swimmers do have the opportunity to use life vests. However, during swim lessons, our swim instructor does not allow use of them for the following reasons:
    • They prevent proper learning of swim skills and managing body position.
    • They create a false sense of security. It’s important during lesson time that they create trust with the instructor in the water.
    • They interfere with learning water confidence!
  • All swim lessons are taught with an Water Safety Instructor (WSI) in the water with the camper at all times, and a lifeguard supervising from outside the pool.
  • If your camper expresses that they are not comfortable getting into the water, our WSI always allows them to opt out when it is time for their lesson.
• FOOTWEAR
  • To ensure the safety of every camper, please make sure your child comes to camp with closed-in footwear (Ex: sneakers, Crocs in “sport mode”, fisherman sandals or all-terrain sandals). Flip-flops and other open-toed or open-back sandals may be worn for pool-time only; closed-in footwear must be worn for all other activities. 
• UNIT 7/8 and 9+ LUNCH
  • Unfortunately, lunch is NOT provided by Meriden Schools for Unit 7/8 or 9+ field trips for the duration of Summer Camp. Please send your camper with a cold lunch on their field trip days. Free lunch is available for their days on-site at our Center.
    • Unit 7/8 – Lunch provided on Friday ONLY (Field Trips on Mon-Thu)
    • Unit 9+ – Lunch provided on Monday-Thursday (Field Trip on Friday)