School Break Camps

• We want all campers to have adequate opportunities to learn, be challenged, and grow. For this reason, campers may only register for camp sessions designated for their age or grade. There are many opportunities for campers in different age groups to play together at camp and taking advantage of these times in the schedule without switching to an older or younger age group ensures that each camper is participating in a camp that will be exciting and challenging for their developmental level.

  School Break and Days Off Outdoors camps are open to any campers currently enrolled in Kindergarten through fifth grades. After registration closes, we create camp groups based on campers’ current grades. Camp groups are usually K-1 and 2-5 or K-2 and 3-5, depending on the number of campers registered.

  At this time, LSNC cannot accommodate campers who are enrolled in a Young Fives program, nor campers who are 5 or 6 but are not enrolled in full-day Kindergarten, in our School Break and Days Off Outdoors camps. We want all campers to have adequate opportunities to learn, be challenged, and grow. To accomplish this, we must ensure that each camper is participating in a camp that will be exciting and challenging for their developmental level. Because our School Break Camp and Days Off Outdoors sessions are more flexible in age range (the younger group often includes second graders), including preschool campers in these sessions can lead to an age spread that is too wide to be developmentally appropriate for all of the campers. LSNC offers a wide variety of non-camp preschool programs for kids aged 1-5. Please explore them here.

• 8:30     Camper Sign In and Morning Stations
  Families sign campers in at their assigned camp group. While we are waiting for everyone to arrive, campers will choose from several different activities like art making, exploring specimens, or playing with blocks, Legos, and other manipulative toys. They will have the chance to explore the "big ideas" of the day's theme.

• 9:00     Morning Meeting
  All camp groups will gather to hear the day's schedule, play some name games, sing songs, and do cheers. Camp groups review camp rules and talk about camper’s hopes and expectations for the day.

• 9:30-11:15     Morning Activities
  Campers will participate in acvities based around the days theme. These may include hikes or walks outside, exploring the museum gallery, crafts and art projects, games, experiments and animal visits. 

• 10:30-10:45    Snack
  Camp groups gather for a small, healthy snack of apples.

• 11:15-12:15    Choice Time
  During the choice time block, campers will get to choose from three choices: sporty (soccer, tag games, capture the flag, etc.), artsy (song writing, collages, theater games, etc.), and sciency (shelter building, Camouflage, hike, etc.).

• 12:15-1:15   Lunch and Free Time
  Lunch is held with all camps together, eating picnic outside (weather permitting) or on the floor. Campers, staff, and volunteers stay seated and focused on eating and drinking water for 20 minutes. Campers are encouraged to recycle and compost. After lunch, we enjoy free play outside with sports equipment, building toys, and our imaginations.

• 1:15-2:15     Chillaxation
  Chillaxation is held by each camp group individually. Campers are given a time to relax and reflect on the day's adventures.

• 2:15-3:15      Choice Carnival
  During Choice Carnival, campers will rotate with a buddy at their own pace through several different stations. The stations will change each camp based on the season and location. 

• 3:15-3:30      Clean Up and Transition to Camp Cool Down
  After Choice Carnival, campers return to their houses to tidy up and pack their belongings. After the building is tidy and everyone is ready to go, they will head to Camp Cool Down.

• 3:30-5:30      Afternoon Snack, Camp Cool Down, and Camper Sign Out 
  After campers drop belongings off, campers wash hands and enjoy a healthy snack of pretzels. During snack, camp groups will work together to discuss the day's big ideas. After snack, campers may participate in free play, board games, and quiet craft activities at their own pace. Campers can also choose to finish a project from their camp day, read a book, or chat with a friend. All campers must be picked up and signed out by someone on their Emergency & Release Form by 5:30pm.

• 8:30     Camper Sign In and Morning Stations
  Families sign campers in outside of the museum. While we are waiting for everyone to arrive, campers will choose from several different activities like art making, exploring specimens, or playing with blocks, Legos, and other manipulative toys. They will have the chance to explore the "big ideas" of the day's theme.

• 9:00     Morning Meeting
  All camp groups will gather to hear the day's schedule, play some name games, sing songs, and do cheers. Camp groups review camp rules and talk about camper’s hopes and expectations for the day.

• 9:30-11:00     Morning Activities
  Campers will participate in acvities based around the days theme. These may include hikes or walks outside, exploring the museum gallery, crafts and art projects, games, experiments and animal visits. 

• 11:00-12:30   Lunch and Free Time
  (weather permitting) Camp takes a trip offsite to visit a nearby park where, lunch is held with all camps together, eating picnic outside or on the floor. Campers, staff, and volunteers stay seated and focused on eating and drinking water for 20 minutes. Campers are encouraged to recycle and compost. After lunch, we enjoy free play outside with sports equipment, building toys, and our imaginations.

• 12:30-1:30     Chillaxation
  Chillaxation is held by each camp group individually. Campers are given a time to relax and reflect on the day's adventures

• 1:30-2:30    Choice Time 
  During the choice time block, campers will get to choose from three choices: Gallery (visit the museum gallery), artsy (song writing, collages, theater games, etc.), and sciency (shelter building, Camouflage, hike, etc.).

• 2:30-3:30      Gallery Carnival
  During Gallery Carnival, campers will get the opportunity to rotate through and explore the museum's exhibits. 

• 3:30-4:00      Clean Up and Transition to Camp Cool Down
  After Choice Carnival, campers return to their rooms to tidy up and pack their belongings. After the building is tidy and everyone is ready to go, they will head to Camp Cool Down.

• 4:00-5:30      Afternoon Snack, Camp Cool Down, and Camper Sign Out 
  After campers drop belongings off, campers wash hands and enjoy a healthy snack of pretzels. During snack, camp groups will work together to discuss the day's big ideas. After snack, campers may participate in free play, board games, and quiet craft activities at their own pace. Campers can also choose to finish a project from their camp day, read a book, or chat with a friend. All campers must be picked up and signed out by someone on their Emergency & Release Form by 5:30pm.

Like the daily schedule, our weekly camp schedule follows the same basic arc week-to-week, though activities change based on age group and camp theme.

*All Camp: When the whole camp gathers on the rock wall for singing, skits, and games.
**Choice Carnival: Campers can circulate to several different stations including s’more making, critter house visits, and silly games.

Please mark all items with your camper’s name! Campers are responsible for keeping track of their belongings while at LSNC.

• Weather-appropriate clothes and layers (we go outside in all weather, so please come prepared)
• Backpack to hold everything
• Lunch (nothing that needs refrigeration or warming please)
• Refillable Water Bottle
• Extra Clothes (including socks, underwear, and extra layers) and a plastic bag for wet or dirty clothes
• Winter and Rain Clothing (in cold months) including rain coat or warm winter coat, boots, snow pants, hats, mittens/gloves and a scarf
• Slippers or Indoor Shoes (optional—to protect our buildings, we do not wear outdoor shoes inside our buildings when it is snowy, muddy, or salty outside.
• Book(s) to read during Chillaxation
• Sleds (optional—when it is snowy, we may go sledding at camp. Campers must be willing to share sleds with others. Sleds should be labeled with campers’ names. LSNC does not allow inflatable sleds or sleds with metal runners.)

Cell Phones, mp3 devices, tablets, electronic games, cameras, or other electronic devices are not allowed at camp. Please do not bring knives and weapons of any kind, or anything you can’t afford to lose. LSNC is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Prohibited items will be held in the camp office until the end of the day and must be picked up by a parent or guardian.