Young Archeologists! July 18-21, 2016

Bi-chrome, poly-chrome, lithic, or pottery shard? Atlatl or bow-and-arrow? Mountain Kids had so much fun this week as we explored the field of archeology! The Hummingbirds, Owls, and Eagles began at the NM Department of Archeology where we tried our hand at different hunting apparatuses, examined bits of stone and pottery, and watched as a skilled professional made a perfect obsidian arrowhead. Tuesday the Owls and Eagles hiked the Winsor, and played lots of games in the mountains. The Hummingbirds enjoyed the cool temperatures and water at the Ski Basin. The campers also put on their thinking caps and imagined how they would someday be ancient people. Each child thought of something they would like future peoples to know about them, which they wrote down or drew, and put in our time capsule. Wednesday the Hummingbirds and Owls had another great day at the Pecos National Monument where we learned about the history of the Pueblo and Plains Indians, and the upheaval between them and the Spanish and missionaries. The kids had a chance to climb ladders down into ceremonial kivas, and spend some time in cool shade it provided. The Eagles visited Mesa Prieta in the morning and cooled off in the Rio Grande in the afternoon. On Thursday, we began our day enjoying and cooling off in the sprinklers at Fort Marcy. After our morning start, the Hummingbirds and Owls wrapped things up at Big Tesuque, where we had lots of free play in the forest. The Eagles ended the week exploring Arroyo Hondo. This was such a fun week at Mountain Kids and it was so clear to us how rich the area is with history and resources for us modern folk to enjoy!

Hummingbird Adventures:

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Owl Adventures:

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Eagle Adventure:

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Fun in the Sprinklers!

Bug Out! July 11-14, 2016

This week Mountain Kids had a blast exploring the world of bugs! On Monday, we started our adventure at Little Tesuque. Led by Wade from Harrell House Bug Museum, we set pitfall and potato bug traps. We left the traps near the trail overnight and on Tuesday we headed back up to Little T to see what we caught! Checking the traps, we mostly caught ants but there were a few spiders in the traps too! Tuesday afternoon we visited the Harrell House Bug Museum. There, we admired the large collection of creepy crawlies, butterflies, moths, giant lizards, scorpions, and much more! The brave campers also got to hold some of the museum’s bugs, including a millipede and a tarantula. On Wednesday and Thursday we enjoyed the water and cooler temperatures up the mountain at Big Tesuque and Norski trails. It was a fantastic week filled with bugs, nature, and adventure!

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Let’s Grow! July 5-8, 2016

This week Mountain Kids explored the great world of plants. The campers started the week by playing in plant-rich places, including the Beaver Ponds, Little Tesuque, and Norski. Wednesday was a great new adventure to Santa Cruz Farms. There, the Hummingbirds and Owls learned all about the different fruits and vegetables grown at the farm, including blackberries, raspberries, radishes, lettuce, and kale. The campers also learned about how plants grow and their importance to our world, and, as a group, they learned how we can grow as people. In the week’s final closing circle, the kids shared how they grew this week through making new friends and playing together. We loved exploring, playing, learning, and growing this week!

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Photo Safari and Adventure Filmmaking! June 27-July 1, 2016

Photo Safari!

This week the Hummingbirds and Owls went on a photo safari adventure! While the kids were playing and exploring in nature, they captured images of their adventure using photography techniques they learned from our photography master and Director, Katie. Some of the techniques they used were the rule of thirds, contrast, and close-up and faraway view points. Featured below are the photos taken by the Hummingbirds and Owls throughout their photo safari!

Photos by the Hummingbirds:

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Photos by the Owls:

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In addition to the kids capturing moments in nature, our Mountain Kids counselors caught the Hummingbirds and Owls in action throughout their adventure. To start the week, we ventured to Little Tesuque where we practiced the rule of thirds and enjoyed the river. On Tuesday, we headed out to the picturesque Rio En Medio. The kids became ever-vigilant as they carefully hiked through “poison-ivy alley” (successfully) and were awe-struck by a huge mass of hot-pink blooming Cholla.  The Hummingbirds had lots of free play that involved such things as crossing streams stone by stone, clambering up boulders, and discovering moss that became green carpet for a home. The Owls hiked all the way to the majestic waterfall and enjoyed getting soaked in the cool water. The week also took us to Big Tesuque, Norski, and the Beaver Ponds where we shot more photos with new knowledge of the elements of design from a photographic perspective: line, shape, pattern, contrast and color. The Hummingbirds and Owls accomplished a lot in one week, culminating in a end of week Photo Show where the kids favorite photo was shown at Warehouse 21.  We are mighty proud of their willingness to see nature as a thing of beauty and wonder.  Check out the kids’ adventures below!

Hummingbird adventures:

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Owls Adventures:

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Adventure Filmmaking!

Adventure Filmmaking was Mountain Kids first two week camp! For the first week, the Eagles went on a backpacking trip to Rio en Medio. During their trip, the Eagles filmed their adventure, capturing footage of the river, forest, and fellow campers. Throughout their second week of camp, the Eagles went to Warehouse 21 to create a movie out of their taken film. When they weren’t in the studio, the Eagles also took nature adventures to the Santa Fe River and Deer Creek. Their two weeks culminated in a show of their videos, along side the photo show.  It was great to see these beginning film makers work, and was an awesome two weeks of film and nature!

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