Buffalo Mtn Learning Center

The

Learning Center

Waterfall Hike: Hike on the old logging trail, and enjoy exploring the Ramsey Creek Watershed. Experience the flora and fauna of the mountain. Enjoy our winding path that takes you over the creek, by the camp water hole, and to the base of the 20 foot waterfall. Enjoy a few nature awareness activities on the way. One child's evaluation "This is the favorite thing I have done in my life".

Stream Ecology: Celebrate the preciousness of water and the importance of conservation. Learn how to tell wheather a stream is healthy or not by examining its macroinvertebrate population. Use little nets and charts to discover crayfish, water pennies, mayfly larvae, etc. Great fun! You will need a pair of old tennis shoes, and plan to get a little wet. We do return all critters to the creek!

Crafts: Have the fun of making a home dipped candle, or shaking cream into butter in a baby food jar. Make nature collages or God's eyes. Bring you own T-shirt and celebrate the wonder of color with tie-dye fun. Make a sun print of leaves arranged with your own special design. Create a wax track of one of your favorite animals.

Reptiles: Meet our camp's favorite friends- "Sally" the iguana and "Conrad" the six foot Asian Rat Snake. There will be the opportunity for those who wish to pet the snake and to ask all sorts of questions. Don't worry...if you are not a snake lover, you can look from a distance!

Games, games and more games: Have a wondeful time together playing all sorts of group building games. The seletion will vary with the age. Some of the possibilities include: parachute play, elbow tag, group juggle, knots, hula hoop fun, group trolley, the blob, fruit basket turnover, the cat game, octopus tag, killer wink, hospital tag. If you enjoy games you will love this session.

Animal Tracking: Enjoy a hike in the lower part of camp where you will look for signs of animals - footprints, deer wallows...maybe even scat! Look for turkeys and for squirrel homes. Learn how different animals walk and practice walking like them. Use our tracking molds and press clay into them to discover what different animal footprints look like. Look in our tracking boxes for signs of Buffalo Mountain wildlife.

Canoeing and Minnowing on the Lake: (For third graders on up) Enjoy learning how to paddle on the lake in a canoe or minnow ( a little kayak without a skirt). Have fun learning to maneuver your craft and how to boat safely.

Creek Walking: If it is warm enough another favorite option is creek walking. Bring a change of dry clothes and dry shoes. Wear shorts or a bathing suit. Enjoy walking through beautiful Ramsey Creek. Discover paint rocks. Experience the cool magic of dancing waters.

Outpost Hike: This hike makes an entire loop of the camp...down the old logging train, by the waterfall, across the creek three times, up by our Treehouse Village and out to the lookout point. We play nature awareness games at certain spots along the way and also discover what makes up a mountain first hand.

Group Initiative: For 4th graders on up. help your group through the spider's web. help them experience the "All Aboard Platform" or the "Big Foot" trolley. Help them make the Nitro Crossing. Learn how to be like a "Willow in the Wind" or help your group accomplish Line-Ups! Experience team work as your group faces challenges together.

Wagon Ride and Camp Fire: We will take you around camp on our camp wagon. Our tour will end up at a campfire area. We will help you biuld a fire. Enjoy making S'Mores (each group brings its own S'Mores supplies) and sing silly campfire songs.

Ice Cream in a Bag: A favorite activity for little people! This is homemade ice cream fun. We give each cild their own "magic" ice cream making bag. A great treat with lots of shake, shake, shaking!

Create a Leaf Book: At the height of fall color enjoy making your own book of some of the beautiful fall leaves. Build a human tree. Have the fun of being xylem or phloem. Discover why leaves change colors and how leaves work.

December 29, 2001