http://www.kidsquestmuseum.com/blog/ Latest blog entries from KidsQuest Museum en-us Wed, 22 May 2013 03:52:40 PDT Wed, 22 May 2013 03:52:40 PDT SiteCrafting, Inc. CMS https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/new-summer-camps/ Quiz time! Question: Which of the following people is most likely to conduct scientific experiments? ... Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:29:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/back-to-basics-everyday-activities/ We did some amazing experiments at least week's Science Explorers Camp. We made a giant volcano erupt, mixed up a chemical reaction to blast off a rocket, observed real animal pelts, and explored everything from pipettes to petri dishes. However, one of my eager campers reminded me that sometimes the simplest experiences can teach us the best science lessons. ... Thu, 30 Aug 2012 10:49:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/gak/ At KidsQuest, summer camp means science experiments, artistic creations, stories, games and, oh, so much museum fun. This week’s Animal Explorers Camp was no different, but when one of my campers commented: “I wish I had gak at my house,” I thought, why shouldn’t you? We love making gak in camp, both in big batches for our swimming sea creatures and in small individual cups for making gak monsters! So, here’s our favorite gak recipe. Now you can create some of the fun of KidsQuest summer camp at home! ... Fri, 10 Aug 2012 13:36:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/making-friends/ Have you ever watched strangers turn into friends? Imagine that joy times ten! This week of summer camp was one of those times that remind me why we do what we do here at KidsQuest. I got to watch as ten strangers turned into friends who laugh together, play together, and truly care for each other. What made watching this miraculous friendship transformation so special was that most of these new found friends were just three years old. ... Fri, 13 Jul 2012 08:46:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/first-time-at-camp/ Pigtails, check! Snack, check! Optimistic mom, check….and tears, tears, tears! Not everyone was excited to attend their first day of camp on Monday. One particular camper was new to the drop-off experience and not happy about it at all. Bracing herself, mom left with a big hug and a kiss, but my little friend wasn’t feeling so brave, and the tears just kept coming. However, as a teacher I know it is often stories that start with tears that end up being the best and most rewarding experiences. ... Fri, 22 Jun 2012 11:00:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/storybook-theater-camp-1/ You know summer is coming to an end when camps are all over, classes are on the horizon, and it's almost time for the older kids to go back to school. As one last reminder of how much fun we had at summer camp this year, our Storybook Theater teacher, Anne Zanatta Kline, is going to give us the rundown on what happened in her August camp. ... Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:07:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/days-fanciful-fairy-fun/ Last week we were lucky enough to hold a second Fanciful Fairies Camp, this time with camp instructor extraordinaire (and fairy expert!), Anne Zanatta Kline! Here she gives us a little playback of what happened: ... Wed, 17 Aug 2011 09:14:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/art-explorers-camp/ I love art. It’s perfect for children, giving them the chance to use their imaginations, create, problem solve, count, work on their fine motor skills, learn about color chemistry, and so much more! It’s limitless what you can do with a little paper and paint, or glue and recyclables. ... Wed, 10 Aug 2011 09:39:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/fanciful-fairies/ We had a VERY magical week last week. Not only did we get dramatic with our Storybook Theater camp, but we also welcomed some very fanciful fairies into the museum for five days of fairy stories, fairy songs, fairy dances, fairy crafts – everything fairy!   ... Wed, 03 Aug 2011 10:15:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/dino-mite-dinos/ Last week was the highly anticipated Dino-Mite Dinos Camp (and I do mean anticipated – this camp has been sold out since April!). Our Dino-Mite mornings were devoted to circle time, storytime, discovery stations, social interaction, museum playtime, experiments and, of course, lots and lots of dinosaurs!   ... Wed, 27 Jul 2011 09:17:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/animal-explorers-camp/ What do Animal Explorers love best? Take a wild guess.I’ll give you a hint:   OINK! MOO! HONK! TWEET!   ... Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:01:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/imagination-explorers-camp/ Last week we celebrated summer with Imagination Explorers Camp. Our explorers spent the week getting to know each other and exploring their imaginations with circle time, discovery stations and free play in the museum.   ... Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:15:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/nature-explorers-camp-1/ Last week was anything but dull at KidsQuest – the new Waterways exhibit opened, we had a furry visitor at Animal Encounters Storytime, and it was the very first week of summer camp! ... Wed, 29 Jun 2011 13:25:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/sunny-at-kidsquest/ Summer is special here at KidsQuest, and a time when we get to do all sorts of things at the museum that we don't do during the school year. Here are some highlights: ... Fri, 24 Jun 2011 13:14:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/wrapping-up-year-discovery-tots/ We’ve just wrapped up another memorable year of our Discovery Tots classes! We witnessed a lot of exciting milestones, from “my first finger painting” to “my last class before kindergarten”. Lately, I’ve also seen a not so exciting milestone that lets me know classes really are ending. It’s the anxiety on a parent’s face as the scheduled activities end and they think, “What are we going to do all summer!?” Don’t Panic! Remember, fun and educational play activities don’t need to be complicated. You just need a little creativity! Here are some great ideas that you can enjoy with you children (some taken straight from our class curriculum). ... Thu, 26 May 2011 09:02:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/calling-campers/ It’s hard to believe, but before you know it you’ll be looking to fill the summer weeks with exciting activities for your children. I know what you’re thinking; we haven’t even gotten to the first day of spring! Why should I begin thinking about summer? Winter is a great time to start sorting out the summer day camp choices with your youngsters. If your child has never been to day camp before, they will certainly have many questions. If you begin planning now, you won’t feel rushed into a decision as summer approaches. ... Mon, 14 Mar 2011 14:34:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/fanciful-fairies-camp/ Monday – The class was made up of 10 very excited young girls who all wanted to enter fairyland. Each one was asked if they believe in fairies, of course the answer was yes, they were sprinkled with fairy dust and the class began! The girls were given fairy names today and we were thrilled to meet Gossamer Moonfly, Columbine Elfweb and many others! They made a poster illustrating their fairy name and some of the special talents their fairy possesses. ... Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:31:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/storybook-theater-camp/ Monday – With the all important question, "Did you bring your imagination?" the fun began! We learned each other's names through an animal game that we acted out, and then the class acted out other animals through an animal action song and chose their animal characters for the upcoming play. Each child was offered either wings, an apron or skirt depicting a number of animals including frogs and butterflies but for this class only two animals were chosen, bees and ladybugs and the whole play was developed around these two. (There was a monster thrown into the mix as well!) ... Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:17:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/kq-tech-camp/ This was an awesome week and we're so excited we got to spend it with such great campers!Monday's theme was What is a PicoCricket?Since it was the first day of camp, we first got to know each other and spent some time thinking of rules to follow while in camp.Then we learned the basics of programming our PicoCrickets! We now know how to...Make a light-bulb light up, 'flicker' or alternate colors with sound and even turn off with sound! Make music turn on with a switch (or an outside sound as the case may be).Then we created CATS that "MEOW’" when we "pet" them...and one special cat that crowed like a rooster!   ... Mon, 26 Jul 2010 10:55:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/week-dino-mite-dinos-camp/ Monday's Theme: Who were the dinosaurs?After we got to know each other, we spent some time coming up with rules we all thought we should follow while in camp.Then we CREATED...Dinosaur nametagsPaleo-Necklaces (decked out with dinosaur and claw beads!),and a Dinosaur Fact book (that we will continue to work on all week).We also explored books and let our imaginations run wild with imaginative play using dinosaur figurines.   ... Thu, 01 Jul 2010 17:27:00 PDT https://kidsquestmuseum.org/blog/first-day-imagination-explorers-camp/ We had a great first day of Imagination Explorers Camp!Today’s theme was KINGS & QUEENSAfter we got to know each other, we spent the morning in circle time, story time, and at discovery stations all related to kings and queens.We,EXPLORED good manners (as every king and queen has them),LEARNED how to bow and curtsey (as every king and queen knows),CREATED our very own crowns, capes and crests, and...BUILT & DECORATED a castle!(as every king and queen has one or two…) ... Tue, 22 Jun 2010 11:06:00 PDT