OAK RIDGE, Tenn. — For many schools in East Tennessee, Spring Break is only a couple of weeks away. If you're looking for something fun that your kids can do while they're off of school, the Children's Museum of Oak Ridge is hosting a week-long day camp.
This year's theme is 'Imagination Station', and each day campers will participate in several hands-on activities and make a craft to bring home.
Education Director Jessica Ordonez said they had to cancel last year's camp, which was slated for the start of the pandemic, but since then, they've learned how to adapt to the current environment to let kids have fun while still staying safe.
Registration is currently open with prices ranging from $125 to $225. Spaces are limited due to social distancing.
FULL SCHEDULE:
Monday, March 15
Beautiful Butterflies, 9 am-noon
Learn about butterflies and their role in the environment, build your own set of wings, create butterfly art, and search the Museum's Environmental Center for spring butterflies. Each child will make and take home an easy guide to our most common East Tennessee butterflies.
Go Fly a Kite, 1 - 4 pm
March is the perfect month to build and fly kites! Campers will learn the mathematics and physics of flight as they construct and fly kites, airfoils, and giant paper airplanes, all while discovering why March is windy in this breezy STEAM camp.
Tuesday, March 16
Fun in the Garden, 9 am-noon
Be ready to get your hands a little dirty! Help prepare a garden bed and plant it with a variety of vegetables and learn about the wonders of nature in the Museum's Kids Go Green Environmental Center & Gardens. The Center is home to many types of wildlife. This camp will be full of exploratory nature activities and gardening experiences.
All About Birds, 1 - 4 pm
What makes birds so special? Find out while you construct a bird nest, explore bird adaptations, build a bird feeder to take home, observe birds in the Environmental Center, and create bird art. Spread your wings as we explore our feathered friends.
Wednesday, March 17
Spring Eating, 9 am-noon
Spring brings the first signs of life in the garden with a bounty of fresh foods such as strawberries, early spring veggies, and herbs. Enjoy the exciting flavors of spring as you whip up tasty, good-for-you treats in this spring-themed cooking camp.
Leaping Leprechauns, 1 - 4 pm
Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day. Build a Leprechaun house to attract one to your home, write a Leprechaun story, and design shamrock art. Go on a shaving cream coin hunt and follow the coins to find the Leprechaun's treasure!
Thursday, March 18
Wild Weather, 9 am-noon
Remember the old saying: "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb?" Spring can bring some wild weather to Tennessee! Explore weather events, build your own barometer, and create weather-themed art as we explore the changes that spring brings.
Art Exploration, 1 - 4 pm
Ready to get your Pollock on? Or are you more like Chuck Close? Not all painters use a brush. We will use a variety of common and uncommon objects to drip, splatter, stamp, and roll paint to make art in this fun modern art class.
Friday, March 19
Spring Has Sprung, 9 am-noon
Celebrate the first day of spring! In this spring-themed camp, we will go on a nature walk to look for signs of spring in the Museum's Environmental Center, taste some early spring veggies, and participate in a Spring Fling STEAM challenge!
Flower Power, 1 - 4 pm
Warm weather brings the first flowers of spring. In this camp, we will explore some spring wildflowers, learn the parts of a flower, plant a flower pot, and create some amazing flower-power art.
For more information, call Jessica Ordonez at (865) 482-1074 or email jordonez@childrensmuseumofoakridge.org.