MSU Extension Tollgate Farm and Education Center

Green Science Adventure Camp: Day 5

Happy Tie Dye Friday!!! On day Five of our Green Science Adventure Camp we are so excited to see all the amazing tie dye t-shirts around the farm. We have a busy last day planned so lets get started!  

My apologies in advance for this post. Despite the limited amount of pictures due to limited staffing on this Friday before a holiday weekend-- each pepper group had fabulous activity filled Friday! 

Animal Chores

Day five of animal chores! The Green peppers visited the ducks, the yellow peppers visited the ducks and fed them some delicious leafy greens, the orange peppers visited the goats again and had a very successful goat milking (with no escape goats ;)), and the the red peppers gathered around the rabbits! This was also a great time for all the pepper groups to say their final farewell to the animals on the last day of Green Science Adventure Camp. 

Fox Walk and Owl Eyes 

This morning camper groups took a walk into our 60 acre forest. We use the idea of a quiet, purposeful "fox walk" and the observing "owl eyes" for campers to use when exploring the forest. We like the forest hikes to be a full experience. There is so much to see, hear, feel, and smell in the forest if they use all their senses like the animals that call it home do. Some of the camper groups also needed to visit their track traps from the other day. Campers saw more raccoon and maybe Cayote prints on their papers. How exciting! What do you think visits your backyard?

Garden Kitchen

Without Ms. Toni in the kitchen, Ms. Sara had to be up for the job! Luckily for everyone Ms. Sara LOVES smoothies! So today's snack was a "Green" Smoothie, although the campers discovered the true color of this smoothie. We added strawberries, bananas, and spinach to create a delightfully tasty beverage. 

The afternoon traveling snack was fresh popcorn with Tollgate Maple syrup drizzled over the top! Two recipes that can be easily created and adapted at home. 

Haltered Goat Walk

A highlight of the day was a haltered goat walk. Goat walk? Yep you heard right! Each camper group was able to take Aster the yearling goat for a walk around the farm. The campers were excited to take turns holding the hardness and wandering around the farm. We would like to say we were walking the goat, however, from the looks of it.. it looked like Aster was walking the campers with her determination to walk to all the delicious yellow flowers. haha. 

Unfortunately, by the time the last pepper group was heading over to the haltered goat walk the  storm was coming in and it was time to seek shelter. The red pepper group was able to make their way to the goat barn to visit the Kid goats for a little bit, however, it wasn't the same as a goat walk. Hopefully, all the red peppers can come back again and take one of our goats out for an adventure. 

 STEAM: Sustainable Farm

This was the final day of our Sustainable Farm project. Today was presentation day of the campers hard work. It was incredible to see the details the campers put into their miniature sustainable farms. From troughs, to bridges, to fields, barns, and pastures-- the campers did an amazing job creating a sustainable farm. 

After presenting it was time to practice Leave no trace and put our projects away for future STEAM activities.  

Garden Games! 

Then there was time for Garden games: Wrens and Jays, Where's My Chicken, Detective, Owls and Mice, Poison Dart Frog, and so many more! Which game was your campers favorite?

Green Science Adventure Camp has come to an end, however, the season of summer has just begun! 

Thank you all for joining us for the first camp of the season! We truly enjoyed every moment of it and cant wait for the 7 weeks of camp ahead! 

To access a camp folder of all the pictures taken throughout the week check out the 2022 Green Science Adventure Camp Album. 

Green Science Adventure Camp Album 

Have a wonderful holiday weekend and we hope to see you all real soon. Thank you!