Monster! Monster! That was Nature Day Camp: Week 7

Left to right: Max, the Southside where?wolf; Crawdad Willie, crick pirate; Lord Roch Vole Téck, supreme ruler of Mars; 
Barcus, tomb raider and Frankenpine's monster

It's the bewitching month at Ijams. This week we have Fall Monster Camp. And speaking of monsters, it's a good time to look back on our Monster! Monster! Nature Camp (Ages 7-9: Entering Grades 2-4) we did last summer.

Earth elder: the lowly millipede

Spiders. Snakes. Crawdads. Bats. Millipedes. Everything in nature that you might think is a monster, probably isn't. 

It was a hair-raising week! We spent time exploring the not-so-scary critters of the animal world, scratching in the leaves for creepy crawlies, exploring a dark cave, wading a pirate's creek, as well as inventing some of our own eerie creations in face paint. The fearsome faux "monster" was explored through crafts, costumes and more!

We were lucky (honored is too strong an acclamation) to have five visitors—guest presenters—stop by for a chat. (See above photo.) 

It was a true Rogues' Gallery of not-so-monstrous monsters, pariahs, misfits and scallywags. Click each for their back stories:

    • Max, the Southside Where?Wolf

    • Crawdad Willie, crick pirate

   • Lord Roch Vole-Téck, supreme ruler of Mars

   • Barcus, archaeologist and tomb raider

   • Frankenpine's monster

More highlight photos below.

- Stephen Lyn Bales

That was the monstrous fun of week 7. 

For a look back on the other 

seven weeks of Ijams' Nature Day Camp, click:

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 8