MSU Extension Tollgate Farm and Education Center

Welcome back to Day 2 of Splish Splash Water Camp! Today, campers took part in several activities that encouraged them to think about healthy habitats and the impacts we have on those environments.

Garden Kitchen

Banana Sushi

• 2 bananas
• 2 Tbsp sunbutter
• 1 cup granola or cereal of choice (I used Chex)
• 1 tablespoon Chia seeds
• 1 teaspoon cacao nibs or semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions: Add cereal, chia seeds and cacao nibs to a gallon Ziplock bag. Crush with rolling pin. Peel bananas and evenly spread sunbutter on all sides. Place cereal mixture on baking sheet. Carefully roll bananas in mixture to coat. Slice bananas into 8 even slices.

Sunny Broccoli Salad

• 1 cup mayonnaise or Miracle Whip
• ¼ cup red onion, chopped
• ½ cup golden raisins
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons vinegar
• 1.5 head broccoli, chopped into florets
• ½ cup shelled sunflower seeds

Stir together mayonnaise, onion, raisins, sugar and vinegar in a large bowl. Stir in broccoli until coated. Top with sunflower seeds.

As we focus on water this week, we're thinking about the creatures and plants that live within. In an activity called Fishy Story, campers followed the life of a fish named Freddy and learned how his life and home were affected by various pollutants. As campers listened to the story, they took turns adding pollutants that matched those in the story to a tank of water. Freddy's home became increasingly murky, clouded and dangerous to live in! Following the story, campers discussed where they have seen pollution happen around our camp and in their lives and the ways that they could prevent this fate for other fish like Freddy!

Boat Building continued this afternoon. Green Peppers worked on creating boats made from up-cycled materials such as old boxes and aluminum tins. They're working in small groups and have been practicing cooperation and teamwork.

New and exciting things are always happening! We've been collecting caterpillars throughout the summer and releasing them as they change into butterflies. We set a few free in the Children's Garden with Miss Carmen this afternoon.

In a hike around Tollgate, campers investigated vernal pools, forest swamps and pond life. Campers made observations of the natural features they noticed and tried to identify factors that would make for a healthy pond. As they moved around the different environments of the farm, they took note of which are well protected and which are at risk from environmental, human, and animal impact.

Campers were Water Wizards. We learned a few magic tricks that all involved a common secret ingredient...water! In the Water Wizards activities, campers learned that their tricks weren't actually magic but they were able to perform them because of the properties of water.

Station 1: Crawling Up - We explored capillarity of water and the properties of adhesion. Two jars were placed side-by-side, only one was filled with water. When each end of a strip of paper towel was placed in each jar, campers watched as the water "crawled" up the paper towel and into the empty jar.

Station 2: To the Brim - Campers discovered the concept of surface tension. After filling a cup to the brim with water, campers were asked to predict how many pennies could be added to the cup before the water spill over. The group shown below was able to add 27 pennies before their water spilled over. Campers were shocked!

Station 3: Sink or Float? - At this station, campers explored the concept of buoyancy of water. As EduLeaders presented several objects of varying shape, size and makeup, camper were asked to predict whether they thought each would sink or float. We found out that an object floats when the buoyant forces of water directly beneath it are greater than its own weight.