Group A
Ages 3-1/2 to 4. Children must have been born by January 1, 2005, and be out of diapers and pull-ups.

Group B
Entering Kindergarten or 1st grade in the fall of 2008.

Group C
Entering 2nd or 3rd grade in the fall of 2008.

Group D
Entering 4th through 6th grade in the fall of 2008.

Animal Friends

Furry chinchillas, scaly snakes, and hopping toads; YSI has many animals in its nature centers. Discover what makes each group of animals special. Make crafts, hear stories, and go on nature walks.

For more about Rodents,
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Bugology I

Why learn about animals with four legs when you can explore animals with six or more legs? Look in the air, under the ground, inside logs, and in the creek for these amazing creatures. Study the bugs in YSI’s nature center and make a bug of your own.

For more about Insects,
YSI Recommends...

Bike Hike I

Riding a bicycle is YSI’s way to learn physics and biology, and explore nature. Join other young cyclists as you practice basic bike repair, safety, riding skills, and trail etiquette. Part of each day will be spent off the bike to explore local ecology.
Participants must bring a bike and know how to ride; no training wheels.

For more about Science,
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Bike Hike II

Learn biology and physics and explore the local environment on your bike. Spend time off your bike as you learn bike repair, safety skills and trail etiquette. Experience local ecology, play games and conduct experiments. Must bring bike and be an experienced rider.

For more about Science,
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Sensational
Senses
Can you find your way down a path by smell alone? Can you close your eyes and tell one kind of animal fur from another by touch? We’ll explore the world of senses and discover how animals use them to survive.

For more about Anatomy,
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Feathers, Fur
and Scales
Experience the animal world up close and personal. Each day we’ll study a different kind of animal from the inside out. Learn how snakes move on their bellies and how owls can see behind themselves. This is your chance to see and touch live animals!

For more about Birds,
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Bugology II

Take a closer look at the mysterious world of arthropods. From insects and spiders to crayfish and millipedes, discover what makes these hard-shelled creatures unique. Use field equipment to observe and examine animals and their homes. See and touch the many bugs at YSI!

For more about Insects,
YSI Recommends...

Creek Week II

Get your hands wet as you become an aquatic biologist. Discover the creek by exploration, experiments, games and activities. Observe and identify animals associated with the creek. Perform physical and chemical tests.

For more about Water,
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Tiny Beasts

What is long, round, slimy, has no eyes and lives underground? An earthworm. What is covered with armor, secretes acid and marches in armies? An ant. Experience the world of tiny beasts beneath your feet!

For more about Biology,
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Habitat Hunt

Explore the natural surroundings and search for animal habitats. Discover the history, animals, plants and habitats of the park. Use binoculars and other scientific field equipment. Play games and make crafts from natural materials. Meet some YSI animals.

For more of Conservation,
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Creek Week I

Get your hands wet as you find out what it’s like to be an aquatic biologist. Discover living and non-living characteristics of creeks through exploration, experiments, and activities. Observe and identify creek animals. Use equipment to test the water.

For more about Water,
YSI Recommends...

Curious
Chemistry II
Join the fun with exciting experiments, demonstrations, and chemical reactions and discover the properties of acids, bases, solids, liquids, and gases. Become a chemical detective. Identify a mystery substance.

For more about Chemistry,
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Water is Wonderful

Use buckets, tubes, eyedroppers and straws to make water move, rise and fall. Take a discovery water walk and search for critters. Join us for a week of water-ful fun, crafts, experiments and stories.

For more about Water,
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Jurassic Giants

Take a journey back in time. Dinosaurs and traces of dinosaurs still remain. Let’s find them! Examine dinosaurs from head to wing to toe. Learn how they moved, ate and lived on the ground and in the trees. Make your own fossils.

For more about Dinosaurs,
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Curious
Chemistry I
Join the fun with experiments, demonstrations, and chemistry “magic tricks." Learn about chemical reactions. Discover the properties of acids, bases, solids, liquids, and gases. Become a chemical detective. Identify a mystery substance.


For more about Chemistry,
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Deep Earth,
Deep Space II
Evening of telescope viewing!
Explore the depths of the earth to experience its dramatic changes. Discover what fuels volcanoes and earthquakes. Identify and experiment with rocks and minerals. Tour our solar system and uncover the mysteries of asteroids, meteors, and comets. Make a star chart and invite your family for an evening of telescope viewing.

For more about Cosmology,
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Radical Reptiles I

Take an in-depth look at the life of reptiles – snakes, lizards, turtles, dinosaurs and more! Meet and touch live reptiles. Examine reptile skeletons, skin, shells and fossils. Hike and search for reptiles in the park. Compare reptiles with other animals to see what makes them unique. Create radical reptile crafts.

For more about Reptiles,
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Deep Earth,
Deep Space I
Evening of telescope viewing!
Explore deep inside our earth. Discover the cause of landslides, volcanoes, and earthquakes. Find rocks, play earthquake games, and build a volcano. Go beyond our small planet to visit our neighbors in the Solar System. Make a star chart and invite your parents to an evening of telescope viewing.

For more about The Earth,
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Innovative Engineering
Make it, shake it, maybe even break it! Learn engineering principles as you build and test your own inventions. Create small-scale bridges, towers and simple machines. Who knows, maybe you’ll be the one to build a better mousetrap! Projects will include electrical, chemical, mechanical and aeronautical engineering.

For more about Inventing,
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Science Sleuths I

Search for clues, gather evidence, and discover how science can help solve a mystery. From taking fingerprints to tracking animals, find out how detectives, scientists, and animal trackers use the secrets of science. Each day includes experiments and crafts.

For more about Biology,
YSI Recommends...

Phunky Physics I

Learn how things work the “Phunky Physics?? way. Experiment with the invisible forces of magnetism, electricity and gravity. Use physics to make music, blow bubbles, fly winged objects, and build gadgets. Take a “Phunky Physics" hike each day.

For more about Mechanics,
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Phunky Physics II

Learn how things work the “Phunky Physics" way. Experiment with the invisible forces of magnetism, electricity, and gravity. Study sound and aeronautics as you fly planes, make music and build gadgets. Participate in a physical science
challenge.

For more about Mechanics,
YSI Recommends...

Water World

Become a watershed explorer. Discover the mysteries and properties of water by doing experiments, playing games and using microscopes. Meet animals that live in or near the water. Visit the creek to find out what it’s like to become a ‘wild water' scientist.

For more about Water,
YSI Recommends...

Radical Reptiles II

Take an in-depth look at the life of reptiles – snakes, lizards, turtles, dinosaurs and more! Meet and touch live reptiles. Examine reptile skeletons, skin, shells and fossils. Hike and search for reptiles in the park. Compare reptiles with other animals to see what makes them unique. Create radical reptile crafts.

For more about Reptiles,
YSI Recommends...

Something’s
Fishy II
From fish anatomy and physiology to creek and lake monitoring, we’ll spend the week close to the aquatic environment. Use equipment to measure water turbidity, depth, flow rate, pH, and density. Dissect a fish and an invertebrate. Explore the lakeside and go fishing.

For more about Marine Life,
YSI Recommends...

Science Sleuths II

Search for clues, gather evidence, and discover how science can help solve a mystery. Find out how detectives, forensic scientists and animal trackers use the secrets of science. Take fingerprints, touch animals and mix chemicals. Each day will include experiments.

For more about Biology,
YSI Recommends...

Wild Wonders

Experience the week as a birder, botanist, animal tracker or wildlife naturalist. Discover wild things that live in the park. Find unusual plants and animals. Search for animal habitats, make track molds and use naturalist’s skills and field equipment. Participate in games and science activities.

For more about Orienteering,
YSI Recommends...

Something’s
Fishy I
Share the summer sun with the fantastic fishes of Vasona Lake. From fish anatomy and physiology, to lake monitoring, spend the week close to the aquatic environment. Dissect a fish and an invertebrate. Test the water. Go fishing!

For more about Marine Life,
YSI Recommends...

Winged World

Buckle up and get ready to take off into the world of flight. Learn about the principles of airplane and rocket flight and observe nature’s pilots – birds, butterflies, dragonflies, bees and others – as they zip around the sky. Make your own fleet of fliers, build an acrobatic Kimoto Flyer and launch a bottle rocket beyond the tree tops!

For more about Aeronautics,
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X-treme
Animals
They don’t ride skateboards, but animals can be X-treme too. Learn about animals that break the mold – the fastest, the biggest, the most poisonous. Meet live animals and discover astonishing facts about them. Craft your own X-treme animals. Explore the park’s land, water and sky in search of animals and their fantastic feats.

For more about Wildlife,
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