Spy on Nature Camp Review

Our Spy on Nature Detectives discovered how to view nature in a whole new way! Camp Educators Kimberly and Angie guided campers in observing and capturing the natural world with a paint brush and a camera. They also made creative crafts such as nature names, a nano trail brochure, and pressed flower bookmarks. Campers also explored the far reaches of the preserve with hikes to the southern Mounds and Lisa Pond. Thank you to our campers for great memories, great fun, and great new friends in the great outdoors!

Here is a photo album so you can see some of our other adventures: Spy on Nature Photos

Ms. Angie also posted a little information on our photo blog: Photo Blog

BIG & little Critter Encounters Camp Review

Summer camp started on the wings of a cool breeze, but it did not deter our 18 campers from having a great adventure learning all about the BIG & little (and in between) of the natural world. Ms. Mary led the campers through 3 days of exploration as we investigated lots of insects, properties of water and measurement. Campers got to use cool tools like binoculars, magnifying glasses, microscopes and eye droppers, as well as making and keeping their own nature journals. Bubbles were a big hit (despite the rainy conditions) and so was doing some amazing experiments with water (even using a drop as a magnifier). We also visited with some of Ms. Mary's friends: a giant millipede, a mouse and a rat. Seems like the days were over just after they started!

Here is a photo album so you can see some of our other adventures: BIG & little Photos

Hope this camp was a BIG hit with your nature explorers! Thanks for your support of Tifft and hope you had a great summer!
Miss Caryn

2013 Summer Camps

It may still feel like winter outside, but it's never to early to start thinking about summer! This summer Tifft is offering brand new camps along with old favorites like Nature Rangers, and Scales, Scales, Scales. It's sure to be a summer full of fun, friends, wildlife, and science! Register before Friday May 17^th and receive $10 off the advertised price (excluding Adventures Afloat and Ashore). Buffalo Museum of Science members save 10%. All dates and prices included in the camp description. See you this summer!

BIG & little Critter Encounters Discovery Camp     

July 1-3

9:30 AM – 3:30 PM

For ages 5-7

What's underfoot and in the water? There's no telling what we will discover as we explore the macro (BIG) and micro (little) worlds of wildlife!  Pre-registration required. Please call 825-6397. Registration Deadline: June 26. Members: $90 per child. Non-Members: $100 per child. Late pick-up: 3:30 – 5:00 PM at $5.00 per 30 minutes/per child/per day. Arrangements must be made at the time of pre-registration. Campers are asked to bring lunch in a reusable container.

Spy on Nature Discovery Camp

July 9-11

9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

For ages 8-11

I spy... a wild time!  Explore the outdoors Sherlock Holmes-style as we combine the art of observation with nature journaling and photography. Drawing, story-writing, photography, and detective work are in store as we investigate the mysteries of the great outdoors and create artistic masterpieces of our own! Members: $121.50 per child. Non-Members: $135 per child. Late pick-up: 4:30 – 5:30 PM at $5.00 per 30 minutes/per child/per day. Arrangements must be made at the time of pre-registration. Pre-registration required. Please call 825-6397. Registration Deadline:  July 2. Campers are asked to bring lunch in a reusable container.

Adventures Afloat and Ashore

July 15-19

9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

For ages 12-14

Join Tifft Nature Preserve and Buffalo Urban Outdoor Education (BUOE) for a discovery adventure on water and land!  Campers spend two days afloat sailing on the tall ship Spirit of Buffalo, learning seamanship, team work and sailing skills, and participating in Science Learning Stations (plankton, water quality testing, invasive species, benthic exploration, navigation, helmsmanship, buoyancy using nets, live and preserved specimens, microscopes, visuals, maps and sampling techniques.)  Campers also spend time kayaking and experience traditional rowing in wooden bateaus upon the Buffalo River. Campers then spend two days ashore exploring the marsh, pond, grassland and forest habitats at Tifft Nature Preserve.  Highlights include an up-close look at the aquatic life of the marsh including mammals, birds, insects, reptiles and amphibians and fishing on Lake Kirsty.  To conclude the program, parents can join their camper for a morning ride on the ship, picnic lunch, and presentations at Tifft in the afternoon or join in for part of the day!  BUOE (Monday/Tuesday/Friday AM) and Tifft Nature Preserve (Wednesday/Thursday/Friday PM). Members:  $315 per child (includes lunch on Friday). Non-Members:  $325 per child (includes lunch on Friday). Late pick-up: 4:30PM – 5:00 PM at $5.00 per 30 minutes/per child/per day. Arrangements must be made at the time of pre-registration. Pre-registration required. Please call 825-6397. Registration Deadline:  July 1. Campers are asked to bring lunch in a reusable container.

Noisy Nature Discovery Camp

July 22-26

9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

For ages 8-11 

CROAK! BZZZ! CHEEP! Experience the symphony and (sometimes) cacophony of nature around us and explore what all that noise is really all about! Members: $171 per child. Non-Members: $190 per child. Late pick-up: 4:30 – 5:30 PM at $5.00 per 30 minutes/per child/per day. Arrangements must be made at the time of pre-registration. Pre-registration required. Please call 825-6397. Registration Deadline:  July 17. Campers are asked to bring lunch in a reusable container.

My Side of Tifft Discovery Camp

July 31-August 3

9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

For boys ages 12-14

Turn summer reading into a summer camp adventure, based on Jean Craighead George’s classic “My Side of the Mountain.” This boys-only camp will take a walk on the wild side, including an on-site outdoor overnight on Friday night. (Camp will conclude after breakfast on Saturday morning.) Members: $157.50 per child. Non-Members: $175 per child. Late pick-up: 4:30 – 5:30 PM at $5.00 per 30 minutes/per child/per day. Arrangements must be made at the time of pre-registration. Pre-registration required. Please call 825-6397. Registration Deadline:  July 12. Campers are asked to bring lunch in a reusable container.

Nature Rangers Discovery Camp

August 5-9

9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

For ages 8-11

Nature needs your help! While learning to preserve, protect and enjoy nature’s wonders, rangers will complete T.A.S.K.S. (Teamwork, Action, Skills, Knowledge and Sharing) to earn a TNP nature ranger badge. Members: $171 per child. Non-Members: $190 per child.Late pick-up: 4:30 – 5:30 PM at $5.00 per 30 minutes/per child/per day. Arrangements must be made at the time of pre-registration. Pre-registration required. Please call 825-6397. Registration Deadline:  July 31. Campers are asked to bring lunch in a reusable container.

Scales, Scales, Scales Discovery Camp

August 20-22

9:30 AM – 3:30 PM

For ages 5-7

What do fish, reptiles and butterflies all have in common? Scales! Investigate Tifft’s scaly species and get the scoop on the stupendous world of scales! Members: $90 per child. Non-Members: $100 per child. Late pick-up: 3:30 – 5:00 PM at $5.00 per 30 minutes/per child/per day. Arrangements must be made at the time of pre-registration. Pre-registration required. Please call 825-6397. Registration Deadline: August 14. Campers are asked to bring lunch in a reusable container.

Nature Girrlzz Discovery Camp

August 27-29

9:00 AM – 4:30 PM
For girls ages 12-14

It’s all about girl power! This girls-only camp encourages girls to get out and truly be ‘wild (young) women,’ while focusing on cooperation, self confidence, and leadership skills, and following in the footsteps of Jane Goodall and other great nature girls. Members: $121.50 per child. Non-Members: $135 per child. Late pick-up: 4:30 – 5:30 PM at $5.00 per 30 minutes/per child/per day. Arrangements must be made at the time of pre-registration. Pre-registration required. Please call 825-6397. Registration Deadline: August 21. Campers are asked to bring lunch in a reusable container.

WILD Winter Wonderland Discovery Camp

Well, this camp was definitely WILD, but more in the wild weather category than anything else! We started Tuesday with rain, which turned into snow and then bitter cold temps and wind, but we still managed to have a great 3 days (even having to be stuck inside all day on Wednesday). We focused a lot on adaptations and looking for clues in nature! We ended up learning a lot and making some great observations!

Here's a recap of our 3 days of winter nature fun!

Day 1

• Rain kept us inside for an hour so we read Rabbit's Winter Walk by Lorna Hussey to imagine we were outside.
• Rain stopped so out we went for a hike. Saw deer, cardinal, & investigated an uprooted tree and another tree that had a hollow area at its base that we thought made an excellent animal home
• Rain returned so we came back in and recorded observations in our journals
• Lack of real snow led us to investigate some 'indoor snow'- which is Insta-Snow powder (I told the kids I'd let them know where to get it so here is the link: http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/product/instant-snow) We did a variety of experiments with varying water amounts, salt and even food coloring
• After learning about salt and cold, we tried an experiment using ice cubes, string and salt. Since it didn't work the first go around, we added another variable and made the ice cube trick work!
• Snack was a science experiment too---we made popcorn in a big popcorn machine!
• Ended our day with q-tip snow storm/men painting

Day 2
This was an all indoor day (minus about 10 minutes) because of the single digit windchills and high winds but it was fun anyway!

• discussion of adaptation and what main types animals use in the winter
• Riley shared some nature scene clues from his house, including a praying mantis egg case, a snake skin and some deer bones (he even let each camper take a bone home!). Looked at the deer bones under a microscope
• Experimented protecting an 'insect' for winter with an insulation activity. Insect was small container of water that each camper tried to keep warm by protecting it with one of the following materials: feathers, wool, cotton, shredded paper, rocks, sand, and foam peanuts. (Look for our results in the picture slideshow)
• Our outdoor venture was to look for a natural item to use to make an ice suncatcher. While looking, we discovered a deceased red-winged blackbird. We made some visual observations about it and the campers worked together to bury it under the snow.
• Put together our ice suncatchers
• Made igloos out of cornstarch building blocks
• Created snowflakes out of old puzzle pieces
• Ended the day with a winter scene investigation map activity

Day 3
Despite another chilly day, we bundled up and headed out on the trails and it was worth the wait!
Today was also Bird Day-Birthday! One of our campers had a birthday and we celebrated by learning all about Birds!

• Learned how to use binoculars and made drawings in our journals of some bird mounts
• Hike took us to marsh, where we spotted beaver lodge and some fox tracks in the snow along the edge of the marsh
• Learned up close a little more about the black-capped chickadee
• Ended up spotting a trail of small blood drops that we followed to figured out what might've happened but the case ended up unsolved
• Hung up our ice suncatchers
• A couple of campers strapped on some snowshoes in the bit of snow we had and everyone had some free time outside
• Took a short walk up the mounds and stalked a large group of deer
• Made a pecking woodpecker craft
• Ended up making cardinal/chickadee headband

Below is a slideshow with photos from our adventures! To see the captions, roll cursor over bottom frame and click on the white balloon.



The time sure flew by and it was great to see some returning campers and meet some new campers! Before you know it, it will be summer and I'm looking forward to more camp fun!

Thank you so much for your support of Tifft and have a Happy Spring!
Miss Caryn and Mr. Jay

Winter Camp is Coming!

Wild Winter Wonderland Discovery Camp

Snow days in nature-no way! In store is snow-play, as we frolic through our frozen world to figure out the facts and fiction of how nature survives in winter. Daily snack provided. Please bring lunch in a reusable container.

Ages 5-8

Tuesday, February 19 -Thursday, February 21

9:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Non-Members: $100 per child

Late pick-up: 3:45 – 5:00 PM at $5 per half hour, per day

Arrangements must be made at the time of pre-registration

Tifft

Pre-registration required. Please call 896-5200, ext. 201. Registration Deadline:  February 12

Check out some of our favorite winter camp moments from 2012! 

Taking a lovely snowshoe stroll

Spotting Tifft's wildlife

Playing outside in the snow

Constructing snowflakes

Herp, Herp, Hoorah! 2012 Camp Review

Herp, Herp, Hoorah! Campers' Families-

Hoorah for Herps! Our largest group of campers for the summer helped end our summer camps for 2012 with a lot of energy and excitement. Here's a recap of our 3 days together.

Day 1: Introduction to Tifft and Herps

• An adventure hike to explore the grasslands, forest and marsh areas of the preserve started our day off. We saw lots of frogs and turtles in the marsh, as well as birds and deer, but not any snakes.
• After a picnic lunch and some free time, we played "Herp or Not", as we discussed what makes a herp a herp.
• Pairs worked on puzzles of different herps to learn a little more about them (the puzzles had facts & myths on them, which we reviewed upon puzzle completion)
• For snack, we made turtles out of cream cheese, Ritz crackers, thin pretzel sticks & raisins. The kids were very creative in making their own turtles.
• After snack, we read Turtle Crossing by Rick Chrustowski together and learned a lot about the life of a turtle as it grows up from an egg to an adult.
• We finished the day by turning some small petri dishes into turtles. The campers got to design the shells either by mosaic, drawing or a combination of both. This bunch again showed their creativity with this activity.

Day 2: Amphibians

• We ran out of time on Tuesday to observe George, our box turtle, so I didn't want to pass up the opportunity to do that before the end of the week. George was a little timid, but the campers got to touch his shell and see some of the cool adaptations he has.
• Out to the marsh to make some more observations of amphibians. We saw lots of frogs again, as well as a young snapping turtle crawling around in the marsh mud. 
• On our way back to the cabin, we went up the mounds and played "capture the prey", which is similar to 'red light, green light'...camper tried to sneak up on me (a mouse) as they (snakes) came down the mounds. If they were spotted, they had return to the end of the line.
• After lunch, Miss Kimberly led them through a frog catching fly craft. The campers made some really great patterns on their frogs. 
• Story time today included If Frogs Made Weather by Marion Dane Bauer and some poems from Toad By the Road by Joanne Ryder. 
• After snack, each camper 'became' a frog, and they learned about different calls of frogs. We then played "frogs on the  move", where groups of frogs moved across the 'pond' collecting eggs. They could only move if their species call was heard. 
• We ended the day by breaking out the playdoh and working through frog metamorphosis: egg, tadpole, growing legs, up to adult frog.

Day 3: Snakes

• Painting project started our day: we used pieces of citrus fruit trays to make snakes. The campers got to make whatever pattern/colors they wanted.
• Before our hike, we set up an experiment to check temperatures of different colored snakes. 
• Another hike in search of snakes found us one water snake in the marsh, and some cool birds (including egrets and a green heron)
• We checked on our snakes after lunch and discussed the hard life of being an ectothermic (cold-blooded) animal.
• In the afternoon, Miss Kimberly treated us to a visit with her two snakes: Guinness, a black rat snake, and Sausage, a ball python (with a missing tail).
• We read Slither & Crawl by Jim Arnosky, which talked about different types of reptiles.
• Today snake snacks were a big hit. Campers used a banana and rolled them in cinnamon/sugar to give them some color. They then could add sunflower seed scales and a fruit leather strip tongue before eating them.
• Sophia showed her salamander to the campers, and then we headed outside to run off some of the sugar from snack. Some of the campers ended their time by working on a beaded snake project.

Time flies by when we're having fun! I learned some new things again this year about herps and I hope the campers did too.
Below is a slideshow with photos from our adventures! To see the captions, roll cursor over bottom of frame and click on the white balloon.




Thank you so much for your support of Tifft and giving your nature explorers a chance to learn some new stuff with us!
Enjoy what's left of the summer & hope to see you again soon.
Best,
Miss Caryn

Nature Rangers 2012 Camp Review

What a week we Nature Rangers had!

16 campers ventured into a week-long adventure, exploring TASKS (Teamwork, Action, Skills, Knowledge and Sharing) and earning their Nature Ranger Badge.

Here's an overview of our week of TASKS.

Day 1:

• of course we started out our time with a great hike around the preserve, while introducing the importance of observation as a Nature Ranger
• we also played an observation game later in the day
• played Arrows, which was an observation game and a mind game too. The first round campers had to point and say the direction that the arrow (held by me) was pointing. To make it interesting, the other rounds we did opposites. They had to point the opposite way and say the direction, or say the opposite direction while pointing the correct direction. This was a little more difficult for them but they had a lot of fun.
• we learned a lot about the sun today too (besides that it made us hot and sweaty)
• we made sun dials
• teams worked together on a sun scavenger hunt
• we used solar-activated fabric to make a print to attach to a bandanna later
• we learned about a solar oven & our snack was cookies baked in it (yum!)

Day 2:

• Wetland and Water was a big theme today. 
• Big adventure  was out to the wetland to learn about the water quality and life that lives underwater. Due to the lack of rain, sun and little snowfall from the winter, our marsh was pretty dried up along the edge, but we still found some interesting animal life and learned that the water is pretty clean. Mr. Bob, one of our volunteers, worked with the campers to test pH, nitrate, dissolved oxygen, nitrate and ammonium levels in the water. We also used our dipnets to find macroinvertebrates such as dragonfly, damselfly and mayfly nymphs, snails, and backswimmers, as well as a few fish and one crayfish exoskeleton. 
• after lunch, the campers learned more about the marsh and its importance through a game called Wetland Metaphors, and also dissected some pieces of two marsh plants, cattail and purple loosestrike, as they learned about invasive species and the adaptations that make them successful.
• Direction/Map/Compass was the other focus today.
• As a group, we went on a scavenger hunt of Tifft, which served as an introduction to directions and how to read a map. 
• We then did a compass reading activity, which was a bit challenging but the campers seemed to get the basic idea. 

Day 3: TREE DAY

• We started the day with "We All Need Trees", where each camper was given an item and had to determine if the item had anything to do with trees. Each item, which ranged from maple syrup to a rayon skirt to cork and paper, was actually made by some part of a tree. 
• We also set up an experiment using a plastic bag to cover leaves on part of a tree and sealed it up to see what happened. Campers thought it was going to blow up like a balloon.  Thursday, we discovered that it had inflated a bit, but that it was also filled with water that had been transpired by the leaves. It was a good discussion of other important benefits from trees.
• Today was our big action day. We worked with Mr. Andrew to help out Tifft's forest. Campers learned earlier in the week that Tifft wasn't always a nature preserve and looked much different when the Native Americans used this land as a hunting grounds. The forest has also changed since Tifft became a preserve and Mr. Andrew told campers about the forest project that's been happening over the last 3 years (over 1500 trees have been planted). To help these new trees have a good chance to survive and to also get rid of some invasive plants (Japanese knotweed and European buckthorn), the campers worked on spreading wood chips around the bases of the saplings planted along Rabbit Run East. They also pulled out some newly growing knotweed and buckthorn, and even watered the tree saplings, which needed it with the lack of rain this summer.
• After lunch we ventured back out and learned about some survival skills and the Rule of 3 (ask your campers if they remember that one!). After a brief discussion, the campers worked together to create a survival shelter out of items found in the forest. Due to time, the shelter wasn't completely finished, but they had fun crawling into it anyway & were sad when we took it apart, which was the last step in the shelter process.
• Snack was a skill-lesson, as the campers learned about building a proper fire with edible items. We made an A-Frame fire, learning about tinder, kindling and fuel, as well as proper fire building etiquette. The favorite part, of course, was being able to eat the fire. 
• Our last activity of the day was called Birds and Worms, where campers became birds and had to collect pipe cleaner 'worms' that were scattered on the ground. The game required teamwork and also touched on camouflage and why some animals have bright colors versus drab colors. 

Day 4:

• Morning activity was fishing. Campers worked well together to help bait hooks with squirmy worm and enjoy the beautiful day by the lake. The group caught about 10 fish, including bluegill, pumpkinseed, yellow perch and green sunfish. We had a few campers catch their first fish ever, and many had 'the one that got away'.
• Another action project was in store as we did a shoreline sweep along Lake Kirsty, collecting enough garbage to fill 1/4 of a blue Buffalo garbage tote. 
• The relaxing morning pent up some energy so the campers played freeze tag to run around and get some exercise. 
• We also played two teamwork games called Insanity and Alligator Alley. 

Day 5:

• Rain threatened to come in on our last day, but stayed away to allow us to be outside. We had another guest, Mr. Walt, who did a nature journaling workshop with the campers. Mr. Walt was a graphic designer before retiring and enjoyed showing his nature drawing tricks with the campers.
• We then walked to the top of the mounds, after getting to see some wild turkey polts (young) with their mom. On our way down the hill, we played a Native American stalking game.
• Another teamwork game called Star Wars after lunch was followed by another round of Alligator Alley, popsicles for snack (the sun did come out and heat things up) and two fish games: Keep the Fish in the Pond (water balloon in a parachute) and Pass the Fish (water balloon).  
• Our last activity was making little fish out of beads.

Campers earned their Nature Ranger badges and also received a Leave No Trace card to remember some of the rules of being respectful to nature.

Below is a slideshow with photos from our adventures! To see the captions, roll cursor over bottom of frame and click on the white balloon.


It was a hot week, but it was lots of fun and it was great to meet some new campers and see returning faces as well. Hopefully you will learn something new from your Nature Ranger and enjoy the rest of the summer.Thank you for your support of Tifft as well.
Best,
Miss Caryn