The following is a list of prepared lessons available at Paradise Farm Camps. Please remember that you are welcome to suggest other lesson/activity topics, and we will work with you to find or develop activities to address those topics. Unless your Program Coordinator has given you other instructions, or lesson descriptions note otherwise, the number of activities you choose should be equal to the number of hours you expect to be in camp. For instance, if you plan to arrive by 9:30 and depart by 2:00, you can plan on four hours of activities, plus one-half hour for lunch. Please contact the Education Director if you have any questions, concerns, requests or special needs. You will receive a schedule for your program after returning your activity choices on the Program Planner. See you at Camp!
Animals & Their Habitats
Animal Communities
In this activity students will participate in a nature hike, stopping along the way in several different ecological niches to explore the living and non-living components that make each habitat different. By the end of this lesson students will be able to identify many different native Pennsylvanian animals and identify their role in their community. Students will be able to recognize the differences between many different animal habitats.
PA Academic Standards: 3.1.4.B, 3.2.4.A, 3.2.4.B, 3.2.4.C, 3.2.7.A, 3.3.4.A, 3.3.7.A, 3.3.7.D, 4.6.4.A, 4.6.4.B, 4.6.4.C, 4.6.7.A, 4.6.7.B, 4.6.7.C, 4.7.4.A, 4.7.4B, 4.7.7.A, 4.7.7.B
Bird Safari
Students will spend half of this activity learning about bird parts their functions and adaptations and the second half on an interactive hike in search of our fine feathered friends. By the conclusion of this activity students will better understand the functions and capabilities of bird beaks and feet as well as identify several bird species through site and sound.
PA Academic Standards: 3.1.4.C, 3.2.4.A, 3.2.4.B, 3.2.7.A, 3.2.7.B, 3.3.4.A, 3.3.7.A, 4.3.7.C, 4.6.4.A, 4.6.4.B, 4.6.4.C, 4.6.7.A, 4.6.7.B, 4.6.7.C, 4.7.4.A, 4.7.4B, 4.7.7.A, 4.7.7.B 4.7.7.C
Colorful Confusion
In this activity students will study animal pelts and pictures and play interactive games to better understand the concept of camouflage and color. Upon completion of this lesson students will understand the many reasons animals use color in nature. They will also understand how color is a primary factor in the process of natural selection.
PA Academic Standards:3.2.4.A, 3.2.4.B, 3.2.7.A, 3.2.7.B, 3.3.4.A, 3.3.4.C, 3.3.4.D, 3.3.7.A, 3.3.7.D, 4.3.7.C, 4.7.4.A, 4.7.4.B, 4.7.4.C, 4.7.7.A, 4.7.7.B, 4.7.7.C
The Fallen Log
In this activity students will study a very specialized ecological niche, that of a fallen rotting log. In so doing students will be able to identify several decomposers and understand their very important role within the food web.
PA Academic Standards:3.2.4.A, 3.2.4.B, 3.2.4.C, 3.2.7.A, 3.2.7.B, 3.3.4.A, 3.3.7.A, 4.3.7.C, 4.6.4.A, 4.6.4.B, 4.6.4.C, 4.6.7.A, 4.6.7.B, 4.6.7.C, 4.7.4.A, 4.7.4B, 4.7.4.C, 4.7.7.A, 4.7.7.B
Field Forest & Stream
Students will use the scientific method to evaluate the biotic and abiotic factors of three distinct habitats. Students will be able to understand how abiotic factors affect the plants and animals within a habitat and conversely how the plants and animals affect the abiotic factors such as temperature, humidity, soil, etc.
PA Academic Standards:3.1.4.C, 3.1.4.E, .2.4.A, 3.2.4.B, 3.2.4.C, 3.2.7.A, 3.2.7.B, 3.2.7.C, 3.3.4.A, 3.3.7.A, 3.7.4.A, 3.7.4.B, 3.7.7.A, 3.7.7.B, 4.3.4.C, 4.3.7.C, 4.6.4.A, 4.6.4.B, 4.6.4.C, 4.6.7.A, 4.6.7.B, 4.6.7.C,
Forest Habitat
This activity will allow students an opportunity to study a forest habitat from the ground up. Students will focus on the similarities and differences between their habitat and the forest habitat. Through this activity students will gain a greater understanding of all the factors that add up to create a habitat.
PA Academic Standards
Grasshopper Gravity
Students will study the parts of grasshoppers and other insects by capturing and inspecting live specimens. Through this study students will be able to observe and describe the relationship between structure and function.
PA Academic Standards: :3.1.4.A, 3.2.4.A, 3.2.4.B, 3.2.4.C, 3.2.7.A, 3.2.7.B, 3.3.4.A, 3.3.4.B, 3.3.4.C, 3.3.7.A, 3.3.7.D, 4.3.7.C, 4.7.4.A, 4.7.4.B, 4.7.4.C, 4.7.7.A, 4.7.7.B, 4.7.7.C
Pond Study
In this activity students will take a close look at the pond as closed ecosystem, and will focus on the interconnectedness of the species through the food web. By the completion of this lesson students will be able to identify many pond species and classify them into categories of producers, consumers, or decomposers. Students will also be able to understand the relationship these three categories have through the food web.
PA Academic Standards:3.2.4.A, 3.2.4.B, 3.2.4.C, 3.2.7.A, 3.2.7.B, 3.3.4.A, 3.3.7.A, 3.5.4.D, 3.5.7.D, 4.1.4.A, 4.1.4.B, 4.1.4.C, 4.1.4.E, 4.1.7.A, 4.1.7.C, 4.3.7.C, 4.6.4.A, 4.6.4B, 4.6.4.C, 4.6.7.A
Skullduggery
Students will use their senses to explore the diverse adaptations of many different animal skulls. They will then use communication skills to describe those adaptations. Through this activity students will learn about the structure and function of many parts of animal skulls. They will also learn the importance of using “quality” descriptions while working cooperatively.
PA Academic Standards:3.2.4.A, 3.2.4.B, 3.2.4.C, 3.2.7.A, 3.3.4.A, 3.3.4.C, 3.3.4.D, 3.3.7.A, 4.3.7.C, 4.7.4.A, 4.7.7.A, 4.7.7.B
Stream Study
Students will investigate a stream habitat with both their hands and feet in the water. They will come away with a basic understanding of how organisms adapt to an aquatic habitat, and the forces that affect a stream. Students will have the ability to determine if a stream is polluted, somewhat polluted, or pollution free by identifying the aquatic macro invertebrates that live there.
PA Academic Standards:3.2.4.A, 3.2.4.B, 3.2.4.C, 3.2.7.A, 3.2.7.B, 3.3.4.A, 3.3.7.A, 3.3.7.D, 3.5.4.D, 3.5.7.D, 4.1.4.A, 4.1.4.B, 4.1.4.C, 4.1.7.A, 4.1.7.C, 4.3.4.B, 4.3.4.C, 4.3.7.A, 4.3.4.C, 4.7.4.A, 4.7.4.B, 4.7.4.C, 4.7.7.A, 4.7.7.B, 4.7.7.C, 4.8.4.C, 4.8.7.C
The Wonderful World of Wetlands
All About Wetlands
Students will explore a wetland habitat through a series of games and activities. Through this exploration students will be able to better understand the features, animals, and functions that delineate a wetland as a separate and very special ecological niche.
PA Academic Standards:3.1.4.A, 3.2.4.B, 3.2.4.C, 3.2.7.A, 3.2.7.B, 3.3.4.A, 3.3.7.A, 3.5.4.D, 3.5.7.D, 4.1.4.A, 4.1.4.B, 4.1.4.C, 4.1.4.D, 4.1.4.E, 4.1.7.B, 4.1.7.C, 4.1.7.D, 4.1.7.E, 4.2.4.B, 4.2.7.A, 4.3.4.A, 4.3.4.B, 4.3.4.C, 4.3.7.C, 4.6.4.A, 4.6.4.B, 4.6.4.C, 4.6.7.A, 4.6.7.B, 4.6.7.C, 4.7.4.A, 4.7.4.B, 4.7.7.A
Wetland Enviroscapes©
Students will use the Enviroscapes© as miniature models of watershed and wetland systems. Students will also create their own models. Both models will be used to demonstrate the effects of human use and pollution on watersheds and wetlands. At the completion of this activity students will be able to differentiate between point and non point source pollutants. They will also better understand the effects of these pollutants on entire communities, watersheds, and wetlands.
PA Academic Standards: 3.1.4.B, 3.1.4.D, 3.1.4.E, 3.1.7.B, 3.2.4.A, 3.2.4.B, 3.2.4.C, 3.2.7.A, 3.2.7.B, 3.5.4.D, 3.5.7.D, 4.1.4.A, 4.1.4.B, 4.1.4.C, 4.1.4.D, 4.1.4.E, 4.1.7.A, 4.1.7.B, 4.1.7.C, 4.1.7.D, 4.1.7.E, 4.3.4.A, 4.3.4.B, 4.3.4.C, 4.3.7.A, 4.3.7.B, 4.3.7.C, 4.4.7.C, 4.5.4.B, 4.5.7.B, 4.6.4.A, 4.6.4.B, 4.6.4.C, 4.6.7.A, 4.6.7.B, 4.6.7.C, 4.8.4.A, 4.8.4.B, 4.8.4.C, 4.8.4.D, 4.8.7.A, 4.8.7.B, 4.8.7.C, 4.8.7.D, 4.9.4.A, 4.9.7.A
What-a-boat
Students will learn to appreciate the complexity and diversity of wetlands as they use natural wetland materials to build and float a boat. Students will be able to recognize wetland plant material, they will also understand the concept of buoyancy and how that benefits wetlands.
PA Academic Standards:3.1.4.A, 3.2.4.A, 3.2.4.B, 3.2.4.C, 3.2.7.A, 3.2.7.B, 3.3.4.A, 3.3.7.A, 3.3.7.D, 3.5.4.D, 3.5.7.D, 4.1.4.A, 4.1.4.B, 4.1.4.C, 4.1.4.D, 4.1.4.E, 4.1.7.A, 4.1.7.B, 4.1.7.C, 4.1.7.D, 4.1.7.E, 4.2.4.A, 4.2.4.B, 4.2.7.A, 4.3.4.A, 4.3.4.B, 4.3.4.C, 4.3.7.C, 4.6.4.A, 4.6.4.C, 4.6.7.A, 4.6.7.C, 4.8.4.A, 4.8.4.B, 4.8.4.C, 4.8.7.A, 4.8.7.B
Trees, Plants, and Everything Botany
Leaves & Seeds: and where they “STEM” From
Students will hike through the forest collecting samples of seeds and leaves. They will then learn to use a dichotomous key to determine their origin.
PA Academic Standards:3.1.4.A, 3.1.4.C, 3.1.7.C, 3.2.4.A, 3.2.4.B, 3.2.4.C, 3.2.7.A, 3.2.7.B, 3.3.4.A, 3.3.4.B, 3.3.4.C, 3.3.7.A, 4.3.7.C, 4.6.4.A, 4.6.4.B, 4.6.4.C, 4.6.7.A, 4.6.7.B, 4.6.7.C
Tree Cookies/Tree Factory
In this beginner/introductory level activity students will explore the internal structure and function of trees. Upon completion of this lesson students will be able to calculate the length of time a tree was alive by counting its tree rings. They will also be able to interpolate the trees history through markings and formations within those rings. Students will be able to identify the major internal and external tree structures and define their major functions in regards to the trees life processes.
PA Academic Standards: 3.1.4.A, 3.1.4.B, 3.2.4.A, 3.2.4.B, 3.2.4.C, 3.3.4.A, 3.3.4.B, 3.3.4.C, 3.3.7.A,
Trees in Trouble
Students will take a hike to find and assess “trees in trouble” or trees that have obvious health risks. Students will learn to spot warning signs of those health problems. Students will also draw conclusions, from the evidence presented, about the cause of those health problems, possible solutions, and a long-term prognosis for the tree.
PA Academic Standards:3.2.4.A, 3.2.4.B, 3.2.4.C, 3.2.7.A, 3.2.7.B, 3.3.4.A, 3.3.7.A, 3.3.7.D, 4.3.4.A, 4.3.4.B, 4.3.4.C, 4.3.7.A, 4.3.7.B, 4.3.7.C, 4.8.7.C, 4.8.7.D
Science Across the Curriculum
Dragonfly Pond(Civics)
In this interactive simulation students will play the part of townspeople that have to decide on the best land use for a fictitious wetland. The activity will focus on value judgments and how those decisions affect both the land and the people. Through this activity students will be able to evaluate the effects of different kinds of land use on wetland habitats; and discuss and evaluate lifestyle changes to minimize damaging effects on wetlands.
PA Academic Standards:3.1.4.B, 3.1.4.E, 3.2.4.A, 3.2.4.C, 4.1.4.A, 4.1.4.E, 4.1.7.B, 4.1.7.C, 4.1.7.E, 4.2.4.A, 4.2.4.B, 4.2.7.A, 4.2.7.B, 4.3.4.A, 4.3.4.B, 4.3.4.C, 4.3.7.A, 4.3.7.B, 4.3.7.C, 4.4.4.A, 4.4.7.C, 4.6.4.A, 4.6.7.A, 4.8.4.A, 4.8.4.B, 4.8.4.C, 4.8.4.D, 4.8.7.A, 4.8.7.B, 4.8.7.C, 4.8.7.D
Drawing on Data(Cartography and Art)
How will two different people see the same area? They will see it in completely different ways, depending on their perspective. This lesson takes the opportunity to look at the same habitat from two different perspectives, those of a scientist and an artist. Students will be able to create maps and artistic renderings of a landscape. They will also be able to understand the concept of perspective and how that affects value judgments.
PA Academic Standards:3.1.4.B, 3.1.4.C, 3.2.4.A, 3.2.4.B, 3.2.4.C, 3.3.4.A, 3.3.7.A, 4.1.4.C, 4.1.4.D, 4.1.7.C, 4.1.7.D, 4.3.7.C, 4.6.4.A, 4.6.4.B, 4.6.4.C, 4.6.7.A, 4.6.7.B, 4.6.7.C
Garbonzo Bugs(Math)
This activity is a population simulation that will allow students to better understand the concepts of population, carrying capacity, and limiting factors. This activity jumps the gap between science and math as students use computation and estimation skills to aid their inquiry.
PA Academic Standards:3.1.4.A, 3.2.4.A, 3.2.4.B, 3.2.4.C, 3.2.7.A, 3.2.7.B, 3.3.4.A, 3.3.4.B, 3.3.4.C, 3.3.7.A, 3.3.7.D, 4.7.4.A, 4.7.4.B, 4.7.4.C, 4.7.7.A, 4.7.7.B, 4.7.7.C
Nature News(English)
This activity is restricted to overnight and extended day groups. In this activity students will work in groups to create a newspaper containing articles, pictures, and cartoons. The students will be in charge of the content and the layout. The content will be centered around environmental issues and inspired by the other lessons the students had throughout the day. By the end of this activity students will be able to use literary and creative thinking skills to express thoughts and feelings on environmental issues.
Poet Tree(English)
Adapted from Project Learning Tree
In this activity students will explore their feelings about nature through poetry. By the end of this lesson students will be able to recognize the thoughts and feelings caused by being in the outdoors. They will also be able to express those feelings through artistic prose. Finally students will be able to identify different forms of poetry and apply them in their own writing.
Action-Adventure Education
Canoeing
In this introductory canoeing course students will spend the majority of the time on our one acre pond practicing some of the fundamental canoeing skills. Students will also review basic safety guidelines and procedures for safe boating.
Orienteering
Students will learn the proper use of a compass for finding direction. After practicing basic skills students will use those skills to navigate a closed course. Older more advanced groups may learn to use the compass with a topographical map to find direction over a large area.
Rock Climbing
Students will use our 20 ft indoor wall to learn basic rock climbing technique. This may not be available to all groups please call for availability.
Teambuilding
During a two hour block students will move from large group desensitizers to small group initiative and teambuilding activities and finally to our low ropes challenge activities. Students will learn the fundamental tenets of teamwork, including cooperation, communication, and trust. They will use these skills to successfully maneuver through several team challenges. Instructors will use a cycle of Introduce – Activate – Debrief – Reintroduce to make sure every student comes away with a better understanding of the concept of teamwork.
Large Group Games
Hooks & Ladders
In this large group activity students will simulate the lifecycle of migratory fish. Using this simulation students will better understand all of the factors, both natural and man made, that limit these fish’ success in the wild as well as what they can do to help increase their chance of survival.
PA Academic Standards: 3.1.4.B, 3.1.4.C, 4.7.4.A, 4.7.4.B, 4.7.4.C, 4.7.7.A, 4.7.7.B, 4.7.7.C
Predator/Prey
This large group activity will allow students to participate in an active simulation games that shows the interdependent relationships between predator and prey species. Through this activity students will be able to recognize the effects of population loss and gain throughout several species connected within a food chain.
PA Academic Standards:3.1.4.C, 3.1.4.E, 3.1.7.B, 3.2.4.A, 3.3.4.A, 4.3.7.C, 4.7.4.A, 4.7.4.B, 4.7.4.C, 4.7.7.A, 4.7.7.B, 4.7.7.C