Summer Day Camp
To Apply:
Online Application
Camp Application PDF
Leader in Training Application PDF
The Sense of Wonder Summer Day Camp 2013
The purpose of our program is to nurture the discovery and appreciation of our beautiful world ~ environmental and ethnical diversity ~ to become closer to it and learn how to love and care for it. To appreciate the very small wonders as well as the enormous ones and to realize how one person can make a difference. We blend all the ideas together in our daily creative activities of art, music, nature, community and cultural awareness.
One week of the 2013 schedule
partially funded by:
Our Camp Staff 2013:
Pam Benjamin:
Director & Instructor
Artist, art teacher, dancer, sailor, mother, environmentalist, humanitarian, mentor
Five Adult Instructors: TBA
Leaders in Training: TBA
Leader in Training Application download here.
Summer Camp 2013 Information:
- One or more week sessions.
- July 1st to August 16th
- Ages 7–12.
- Monday–Friday; 9–1pm
- $270 per week
Summer Camp 2013 Application:
Camp Application PDF
Information Sheet
Medical form
Permission form
Financial Aid and Scholarships available.
Sense of Wonder Creations Live 2010 CD
Our Sense of Wonder Creations Live 2010 CD is available now at the CD Baby music website. Amazing socially and environmentally conscious songs written and sung by our summer campers and counselors. All the income will be donated to humanitarian and environmental organizations.
Download individual songs or buy the CD Sense of Wonder Creations Live 2010
Summer Camp Photo Gallery!
All photos by Lynn Christoffers
The Sense of Wonder Day Camp Weekly Programs and Projects 2012
We have another incredible summer coming up again this year 2013. We are very excited about the programs and projects that we have planned for you with lots of interesting choices. Some of the weekly themes might sound a little academic, but the descriptions are meant for the parents so they will understand what ideas and organizations inspired the weekly themes. The majority of the time we will be creating, fabricating and making all kinds of Art, Crafts and Music. At other times the kids get to play games, swing, climb the tree and swim at the beach etc. Below is the current schedule for the summer of 2013.
At the Sense of Wonder Day Camp (SoW), inspiring, engaging and capturing young people’s imaginations is one of our highest priorities. The campers get to choose what they would like to do within the framework of the program. The weekly themes will stay the same, but the activities might move around a bit or new ones will be added. Creative Arts, Music, Exploring Nature, Animals and Humanitarian projects are always available.
The campers who attend SoW are the ones who are the deciding factor in what we select for our curriculum. We adjust the programs to what is age and interest appropriate. The other important aspect is to have fun because, after all, it is summer. So let us know what your children wonder about, dream, imagine, wish, envision and would love to experience and we will do our best to provide it for them. All our plays, puppet shows and songs are original (written by the campers and counselors) and each has a meaningful storyline and message. We will be doing all this while trying to make sure it is an enriching and invaluable experience. When we use the word “We” please understand that term includes Campers, Leaders-in-Training and Junior & Adult Counselors. Please email or call Pam if you have any questions or concerns. psb@senseofwondercreations.org
508-693-3142.
Weekly Programs & Projects:
Week 1: July 1st
Creativity, Locally Grown and Sustainability: A local farmer will visit SoW accompanied by some of their gentle, friendly animals. We will plant vegetables and herbs in our Organic Garden and expand the Bee, Hummingbird and Butterfly garden. Kaila Binney will come in to talk about our local Farm to School program and Permaculture. We will learn about renewable resources, conservation, how plants relate to one another and worms. We will explore creativity this week working in many different mediums, Drawing, Painting, Clay, Sculpture, Music, and Theater projects. Throughout the summer everyone will have the opportunity to work and care for the gardens. At noon on Friday Robert Lionette, the Master Chef at Morning Glory Farm, will come to visit us and bring some samples of locally grown food. Abby Rockefeller will visit to talk to the campers, parents and community about the locally and organically grown food movement. We will also have an art show and performance.
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Week 2: July 8th
Wilderness and Ocean Life Awareness: Gus Ben David will visit with some of his amazing animals and talk about native and non-native creatures. The campers will get to draw, paint and fabricate wild land and ocean creatures out of papier mache’, plaster gauze, clay and other materials. They will also create sculptures and collages out of natural materials that they collect at the beach or the woods. We will be creating small boats and other objects that float out of wood. Liz Loucks will visit from the Nature Conservancy, with some wild edible plants for everyone to sample. A Marine Biologist will visit and we will collect and observe ocean creatures at the beach. We will have an art show and performance on Friday at noon for the parents and community.
Week 3: July 15th
Creatures, Machines and Things that Fly:
We will explore, research, draw, paint and fabricate three-dimensional creatures, machines and extraordinary things that fly. Richard (Dick) Everett, the National Champion of the recent P24 Competition of the Academy of Model Aeronautics, will be our artist in residence this week. He is a world-renowned blacksmith, steam engine specialist, model airplane builder, flyer and raconteur extraordinaire. He will show us his models and do a workshop in small rubber powered airplane building. We will have a field trip to our local High School Gym to practice flying the camper’s and Dick’s model planes. The campers will get to build a few different kinds of planes and be able to practice flying some of them outside. On Friday at noon, Dick Everett will talk to the campers, parents and community. His airplane models and antique engines will be on display. There will also be an art show and flying demonstration by the campers.
Week 4: July 22nd
Puppetry with Dan Butterworth:
Dan Butterworth the world renowned, award winning Master Puppeteer will be joining us again this summer. The campers will be able to create many different kinds of puppets this week. Dan will bring in an abundance of materials, decorations, paint and glue for the children to fabricate a puppet from their own imagination. They are encouraged to construct their individual unique design, not something from an animated feature or video game. They will also (if they choose) be writing their own puppet shows and creating their own props and scenery. We will continue to work in our organic garden and explore the ocean and its creatures during our beach and swim time. On Friday at noon we will have a Puppet Show Festival for the public. Dan Butterworth will be doing a short demonstration and performance of his hand carved wooden and Shadow Puppets. Please note, there is a $40 extra charge this week.
Week 5: July 29th
Creative Self Expression and Driftwood and Natural Found Object Sculpture: Ben Forgey of http://www.benforgey.com the award winning professional sculptor who uses natural found materials will be with us this week to do some projects with the campers. He is bringing a selection of materials to fabricate a variety of different creations.
Alexis Iammarino, the Amazing Artist, Dancer, Writer and former Sense of Wonder camper and counselor will visit this week to do some workshops in Art, Self Expression, Dance and Poems. “Alexis is currently based in Rockland, ME. She facilitates visual arts projects, dance and programs across the local community, nationally, as well as abroad and online. She is driven by the immense joy and the challenge that come with this work and finds enrichment in the many collaborations she’s a part of.”
https://mica.digication.com/alexismaca11/Meridian_Gallery_Choreographer-in-Residence_Novemb
We will have an art show and performance for the parents and community on Friday at noon.
Week 6: August 5th
African Arts Celebration:
This remarkable week is partially funded by the Permanent Endowment Fund. Children will create art, masks and music in a collaborative, community experience using traditional African instruments and instruments made during our week-long clinic. We will fabricate wearable cardboard, fiber and tissue papier mache’ African masks, painted split branch and bottle cap shakers, construct and decorate drums, learn tradition-based rhythms and bring it all together for a culminating performance to be shared with our community at the end of our week together. Additional drums and percussion will be provided.
Martin Case is an accomplished composer, producer and performing musician. His clients include Alvin Ailey Dance Company, Bill T. Jones, Mark Morris Group, Harvard and MIT. His work can be seen at http://www.MartinCaseMusic.com
Eric Bornstein is an award-winning mask maker, designer, performer, and arts educator. His clients have included Boston Ballet, MFA Boston, Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum, Shady Hill School, Buckingham Browne & Nichols School, and Walnut Hill School for the Arts. His work can be seen at http://www.behindthemask.org
There will be an amazing art show and performance for the parents and community at noon on Friday. Please take note there will an extra charge of $40 this week for the Visiting Artists and materials.
Week 7: August 12th
Human Rights, Different Cultures, Non-Violence, Peace and Justice: We are going to focus on Caring and Love this week. How we can care and be more loving to our family, friends, and neighbors around the world. We will talk about how we can help children in developing countries who are hungry and do not have enough money to go to school. We will learn about different cultures, do multicultural art projects, sing multicultural songs and raise money for a Children’s Orphanage in a poverty stricken country. We will have a special guest visit us from a different country and share their stories, art, food, music etc. Rose Styron: Poet, human rights activist and former chair of Amnesty International’s National Advisory Council will come on Friday to speak with the campers, Parents and community. There will be an Art Show, Performance and Last day of the summer party at noon on Friday.
The Power of One
One song can spark a moment
One flower can wake the dream
One tree can start a forest
One bird can herald spring
One smile begins a friendship
One handclasp lifts a soul
One star can guide a ship at sea
One word can frame the goal
One vote can change a nation
One sunbeam lights a room
One candle wipes out darkness
One laugh will conquer gloom
One step must start each journey
One word must start each prayer
One hope will raise our spirits
One touch can show you care
One voice can speak with wisdom
One heart can know what’s true
One life can make the difference
You see, it’s up to you!!
Ashish Ram
(Author Unknown)
I am only one, but still I am one.
I cannot do everything, but still I can do something;
and because I cannot do everything,
I will not refuse to do something I can do.
We don’t need more money,
we don’t need greater success or fame,
We don’t need the perfect body or even the perfect mate.
Right now, at this very moment, we have a mind,
which is all the basic equipment we need to help the world
Be a better place.