Students learn about critters, crawlers at camp
John D. Russell/MORNING ENWS
Nine year-old Townsend Moore learns about the organs of a frog while dissecting it and getting help from Science South’s Erin Powers on Monday as part of Amphibian Day at Science South in Florence. This week Science South is having the Critters and Crawlers Camp, one of several happening throughout the summer. Each day of the camp explores a different area of science such as reptile, mammal, insect and bird day.
FLORENCE — ScienceSouth’s “Critters and Crawlers” summer camp introduced 10 rising fourth- to eighth-grade students to the world of those animals that creep, crawl, hop, jump and fly.
Seventh-grader Andrew Reynolds, 12, along with nine other students from around the Pee Dee, took a week out of their summer schedule to learn about insects, snakes, birds and more.
Reynolds, who also participated in ScienceSouth’s “Space and Beyond” and “Crazy Chemistry” camps in June, said he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to explore the wonders of every day creatures.
On Monday, campers studied amphibians and dissected a frog to observe its anatomy.
“I learned (the frog’s organs) was a lot like ours,” Reynolds said.
From there, campers were taught the difference between cold-blooded and warm-blooded animals.
During Wednesday’s lesson, students learn about the different types of insects during an outdoor insect collection activity.
ScienceSouth’s very own entomologist Dr. Don Manley was on hand to talk about the study of insects.
Thursday’s lesson includes Dr. Jeffrey D. Camper, a professor of biology at Francis Marion University, and the life of snakes.
On Friday, campers will go hunting for birds and build their very own hummingbird feeders.
Travis W. Knowles, an associate professor of biology, will add to the lesson on animals that fly.
Erin Powers, delivery and outreach coordinator, said the camp is “giving the students a leg up” when it comes to the very subjects taught during the school year.
“The camps give students an opportunity to use scientific tools that they may not get an opportunity to use while in school,” Powers said.
Through the camps, Powers said, students are introduced to such scientific areas study as the anatomy of a frog at an early age.
The next summer camp called “Extreme Engineering” will be begin Monday. Campers will learn all about engineering by designing rockets, boats and catapults.
Camps are led by experienced educators and science professionals. Each camp leader is experienced in inquiry-based learning techniques that help the nonprofit organization advance scientific understanding.
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