2009Summer Field

Ecology Programs

Our programs are a bit different from a typical overnight camp. At the end of

a program, each participant will have a deeper understanding of this amazing

valley, the roles of diversity and community, and of themselves. We achieve

this by spending days in the field with experienced teachers who deliver a

comprehensive ecology and natural history curriculum. Each day builds on the

knowledge and discoveries made the day before, allowing participants to expand

and apply newly-gained expertise. We also keep our group sizes small so that we

can create a sense of community among participants. We value teamwork and

collaboration and reflect this in everything from field activities to meals and chores.

But don’t tell your child this! When our field instructors teach participants about

camouflage and predator-prey relationships, the children think they are playing an

elaborate game of hide-and-seek. They don’t need to know that the detailed sketch

they proudly completed of a sagebrush leaf is really a “homework” assignment.

Our goal is to create meaningful, hands-on experiences that draw on your child’s

imagination and love of play to help them discover the natural world.

All our overnight programs are conducted at the Central Idaho 4-H Camp, 17 miles north of Ketchum (except Field Ecology in the Sawtooths). The facility is nestled next to Prairie Creek and surrounded by mountains, forests, and abundant wildlife. Participants stay in cabins with counselors, share a bathhouse, and eat breakfast and dinner in the lodge. Our days are spent discovering the diversity and delight of nature with professional field instructors, and lunch is eaten in the field to take advantage of every moment of the day.

A classroom without walls ...

EcoExplorersEcoExplorers is an adventure for rising 1st - 3rd graders and a special adult in their life (a parent, aunt, grandfather, etc.). Young “explorers” get a gentle introduction to the sleep-away experience, while parents learn how the ERC conducts programs. Together, we will celebrate the diversity of nature and our community. Our staff will be joined by Spanish-speaking volunteers who ensure that everone has an amazing experience. Head home with a stronger connection to nature - and each other!

Friday, July 31 - Sunday, August 2For students entering grades 1 - 3Cost $250

I spy with my little eye ...

a Ladybug

Examining macroinvertebratesfrom the stream

EcoCampIn this program, crafted to m

eet the needs of

rising 4th - 6th graders, children will create a

special relationship with this place we call home.

Participants will become geography experts as

they explore the relationship between land and

water and learn how to navigate using a map

and compass. They will discover the diversity of

local habitats to learn where plants and animals

thrive and survive. They will also get their feet

wet in Prairie Creek and discover the creatures

that swim, crawl, and play there. Evenings will

bring games, songs, and s’mores around the

campfire, and on the last night we will skip the

cabins and sleep out under the stars.

Monday, July 20 - Friday, July 24

For students entering grades 4 - 6

Cost $325

New ways of lookingat nature

EcoArtOne look at the works of Ansel Adams, John James Audubon, or Andy Goldsworthy and we can see the unique intersection between art, nature, and science. EcoArt uses art as the lens to explore nature, giving young teens the opportunities for self-expression and discovery that they crave. Thanks to the Sun Valley Center for the Arts, Lisa Whitworth will provide daily art workshops in small groups on a variety of mediums. Field instructors will then guide participants in applying those new techniques to complement our study of ecology, geology, and natural history. There will be open studio time each day (and campf ires every night), and our program will conclude with a gallery show for family and friends, where the artists can proudly display their accomplishments from the week.

Sunday, August 2 - Saturday, August 8For students entering grades 7 - 9Cost $400

Using body expression to learn

about animal movement

Shooting Star Sleep-Out

Every summer, the Perseid Meteor Shower streaks

across the sky, putting on a show before summer draws

to a close. Come together with families from the Wood

River Valley for the unique and unparalleled experience

of sleeping under the stars. Before the sun goes down,

we will celebrate with dinner (generously donated by

McClain’s Pizzeria and The Chocolate Moose), games,

activities, and a campfire. After dark, we will scan the

skies for shooting stars or gaze deeper into the heavens

with Mark Nelson of Shades of Sun Valley and his high-

powered telescope. You can sleep out under the stars,

or wander into cabins as the little ones drift off to sleep.

Friday, August 14 - Saturday, August 15

Family Event - All ages are welcome

Cost - $50 per family

Field Ecology in the SawtoothsIn the past 20 years, global amphibian populations have declined and many frog species have become extinct. But it is unknown whether the fungus that may be the cause of this decline occurs in Idaho. We will conduct a survey of amphibian populations in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area to determine if the fungus is present. In addition to building field research skills, we will also hone our outdoor skills. We will camp, hike, and work in both vehicle-access and backcountry sites. If you are interested in a career in wildlife management, conservation biology, or field ecology, or just love being in the outdoors, this is the perfect opportunity for you. Larry Barnes of Wood River High School and Lisa Huttinger, Education Coordinator at the ERC, will lead the trip. Space is limited to 12 students!

Monday, June 15 - Sunday, June 21For students ages 15 - 18

Cost $400

Learning the safe use ofa backcountry stove

Shooting Star Sleep-Out

Every summer, the Perseid Meteor Shower streaks

across the sky, putting on a show before summer draws

to a close. Come together with families from the Wood

River Valley for the unique and unparalleled experience

of sleeping under the stars. Before the sun goes down,

we will celebrate with dinner (generously donated by

McClain’s Pizzeria and The Chocolate Moose), games,

activities, and a campfire. After dark, we will scan the

skies for shooting stars or gaze deeper into the heavens

with Mark Nelson of Shades of Sun Valley and his high-

powered telescope. You can sleep out under the stars,

or wander into cabins as the little ones drift off to sleep.

Friday, August 14 - Saturday, August 15

Family Event - All ages are welcome

Cost - $50 per family

A time to bond

with friends ...

... and family!

Wild Lunch - a Free Education and Lunch Program

How do bats find their dinner? What animal has the best teeth for eating trees?

How do plants use hungry insects to make new flowers? At Wild Lunch, your

child can answer these questions - and more - while getting their own free lunch

at the same time! This program, an extension of The Hunger Coalition’s Lunch

Connections, creates a fun atmosphere of games, art, and education for ch

ildren as

they take advantage of this free lunch program. Registration is requested pare

nts/

guardians may reserve a space for their children by calling the ERC at 726-4333.

Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult or caretaker 15 years or older.

Tuesday and Thursday, 11 - 1

June 9 - July 9Ages 1-18Free!

Trash becomes art!

REGISTRATION FORMPlease complete both sides of this form and return it to the following address.If you are registering for more than one program, please duplicate this form.

Environmental Resource CenterPO Box 819

Ketchum, ID 83340

Name of Participant: [ ] Male [ ] Female

Grade for 2009-10 School Year: Phone Number:

For EcoExplorers ONLY:

Name of Adult Companion:

Birth Date of Adult Companion:

Mailing Address:

City, State & Zip:

Parent/Guardian Name:

Emergency Contact Name:

Phone: Relationship to Participant:

Cabinmate Request: Make sure your cabinmate also requests you.We will do our best, but there are no guarantees.

Have you attended before? [ ] Yes [ ] No

T-Shirt Size:Youth: [ ] Small [ ] Medium [ ] LargeAdult: [ ] Small [ ] Medium [ ] Large [ ] XL [ ] XXL

Dietary or Medical Restrictions:

OVER »

I am registering for:

[ ] EcoExplorers $250

[ ] EcoCamp $325

[ ] EcoArt $400

Discounts

[ ]Early Bird Registration for EcoExplorers, EcoCamp or EcoArt - Before May15

- $25

[ ] Family Discount for multiple participants in EcoExplorers, EcoCamp or EcoArt (only one per family)

- $50

[ ]I would like to receive scholarship support information ** Please see FAQs

$50

[ ] Field Ecology in the Sawtooths $400

[ ] Shooting Star Sleep Out $50

[ ]We would like to pay extra this year to help out another family ** Please see FAQs

$

Total $

Payment Method: [ ] Check [ ] MasterCard [ ] Visa

Name on Card:

Statement Mailing Address:

City, State & Zip:

E-mail Address for Receipt:

Credit Card Number:

3-digit Security Code from back of card: Expiration Date:

Signature:

Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat discounts might I receive? Registrations paid in full before May 15 qualify for a $25 early registration discount. Families sending more than one participant to any of the three Eco-Programs will receive a $50 discount off the total for all.

Is financial aid possible? Scholarship support is available for the three Eco-Programs; however, every participant must pay a minimum of $50. Please send in the registration form with $50 and indicate that you would like to receive a scholarship application. If we can not offer you adequate financial support, we will refund the $50 in full. Early registration and family discounts do not apply to scholarships.

What if I must cancel my registration? Cancellations are subject to a $25 processing fee up to four weeks before each program begins and a $200 fee if cancelled less than four weeks before the start date.

How can we help another family enroll their child? If your family is able to help another during this difficult economic time, please consider a tax-deductible donation to our scholarship fund, and connect one more child or family to nature.

We would like to thank our program sponsors:

The Islands Fund

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