Science Camp

[Jul 8-12]

The 4-H Sustainable You! Adventure Science Camp for children 9 to 12 years old will be offered at the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center (HREC) from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. July 8-12.

Camp participants will learn about the planet and its resources with fun, hands-on activities in the beautiful oak woodlands on this 5,358 acre research facility. Each day campers will consider how we use the earth’s resources including water, land, air, food and energy and the importance of scientific investigation in making decisions concerning these resources.

This is the third year that HREC has run the camp. “We love seeing new campers, and now have some great teen counselors joining camp who have been with us every year. The 2019 camp is supported by a $5,000 grant from the Mendocino Community Foundation, Environmental Education and Conservation fund. The fund has allowed us to: offer scholarships to some campers; purchase materials for camp, including solar car kits and garden boxes; and to employ Taylor Woodruff, a Mendocino College student, as our camp intern for the summer,” said Hannah Bird, HREC Community Educator.

With growing access to technology, the average 8-18 year old spends 30 minutes outdoors and a staggering 7 hours indoors, in front of a screen (American Heart Association).

“A summer camp is a perfect way for kids to get out and experience the natural world without it feeling like a chore,” said HREC intern Taylor Woodruff. “Kids have filled their natural curiosity of the outdoors with a digitized version of it, but there are social benefits and health benefits to spending time outside that technology lacks. Time spent outside in sunlight can reduce nearsightedness and increase Vitamin D levels. Outdoor learning can improve relationship skills, and even help to reduce stress, aggression, and anger.” 

Registration is $300, including all materials, and an optional overnight is available on July 11th for an additional $50. Registration closes on June 28. “Sustainable You! Adventure Science Camp” will be held at the Rod Shippey Hall, 4070 University Road, Hopland, CA 95449. For more information or to register for HREC’s “Sustainable You! Adventure Science Camp” please visit http://bit.ly/SustainableYou2019 or contact Hannah at (707) 744 1424 ext 105, hbird@ucanr.edu.