Welcome Summer Campers!

Summer is here and so is summer camp! This week kicked off the highly anticipated start of Living Classrooms Summer Camps. Living Classrooms’ camps run from June 18th to August 24th with camps located at several locations across the greater DC area. This week’s camps included three different locations: Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in Northeast DC, Children’s Museum at Glen Echo Park in Glen Echo, MD, and our Historic Schoolhouse site in Northwest DC. Across the board, campers and staff were full of energy and enthusiasm!

Junior Explorers Campers at the Historic Schoolhouse had a particularly eventful week. Campers got to explore the outdoors on bikes, take a canoeing trip, and even climb the rock wall at Camp Fraser! Each child got to take on the role of scientist and adventurer while learning exciting new things about the environment. This week campers got up close and personal with the Historic Schoolhouse’s resident critters in addition to other exciting animals on a field trip to the DC District of Environment’s Aquatic Resource Education Center located a Anacostia Park. Check out some photos below!

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The first week was a great start to a summer full of exciting camps! Check back for more updates soon! Also, we still have a few summer camp slots available online at www.LivingClassroomsDC.org

LC-NCR Newest Site: Camp Fraser!

Camp Fraser – Indoor Area

Living Classrooms of the National Capital Region is proud to announce our newest DC area educational site, Camp Fraser! Camp Fraser lies on approximately 76 acres of wooded land, surrounded by more than 220 acres of Fraser Preserve, an undeveloped area managed by the Nature Conservancy. Located a few miles from Great Falls, Virginia and just a 45-minute ride from downtown DC, Camp Fraser offers students from all over the region hands-on educational programs, summer camps, and adventure programming, group retreats, and events.

Our highly trained outdoor educators lead visitors through different activities including hiking, kayaking, climbing and a ropes course. The area boasts plenty of wildlife and plant species for nature observation and learning. Groups are welcome to visit for the day, or stay overnight in our small cabins and indoor lodge. The site has a full kitchen and shower facilities as well.

Camp Fraser is managed and programmed by Living Classrooms of the National Capital Region, and is owned by Calvary Baptist Church, Washington DC. For more information or to make a reservation, please contact Living Classrooms at campfraser@livingclassroomsdc.org

Science + You Exhibit Ribbon Cutting

On Thursday night,  Living Classrooms of The National Capital Region, Kohl Children’s Museum and The Abbott Fund held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Science + You exhibit.

Over 100 people attended the event including many parents and children, who were busy exploring the interactive exhibit. Special guests included Congresswoman Eleanor H. Norton, Congresswoman Janice Schakowsky (IL) and Congressman Daniel Lipinski (IL), all pictured above. A special thank you to all of our Board members who were in attendance.

Science + You was created by Kohl Children’s Museum in Chicago, in conjunction with scientists from the global health care company Abbott, and underwritten by the Abbott Fund. “What I love about this exhibit is that it focuses on the exact ages that we overlook”, said Congresswoman Eleanor Norton at the reception. “We need to get kids in science when it’s easy, so they can be fascinated when they’re older.”

The Washington, DC exhibit is managed by Living Classrooms of the National Capital Region. The ribbon cutting was the official opening of the exhibit, which will be open to the public until August 5th.

The exhibit is conveniently located on the Navy Yard Metro across from the Capital Riverfront and Yards Park. For hours and information, please visit the website: www.SciencePlusYou.com

Sailabration Charters aboard Lady Maryland and Bicentennial Celebration at the Fort

Incredible Opportunities aboard Pungy Schooner Lady Maryland and at Fort McHenry during Sailabration Week– when dozens of tall ships from around the world will line the Inner Harbor– and the Bicentennial Celebration of the War of 1812 with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Air Show!
June 13-19, 2012

Opportunities are first come first serve!

Lady Maryland, a living classroom and treasured Chesapeake Bay icon, is the only pungy schooner in existence! Click here to learn more about the ship. Read more about this exciting week at www.starspangled200.com.

Charter Lady Maryland and watch the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Air Show from the Star Fort of Fort McHenry!

A special opportunity for 35 people to charter the 104′ pungy schooner Lady Maryland during the Bicentennial Celebration of the War of 1812 and enjoy a VIP lunch at Fort McHenry with an incredible view of the Navy’s Blue Angels air show. This unique opportunity will begin at 1:00pm with a private cruise aboard Lady Maryland alongside the visiting tall ships in the Inner Harbor. You and your guests will then be escorted to Fort McHenry to join the exclusive History Takes Flight* reception inside the actual Star Fort. Watch a thrilling air show by the Navy’s Blue Angels from atop the ramparts, while savoring a delicious lunch with beer and wine.

Saturday, June 16th and Sunday, June 17th

Email thara@livingclassrooms.org for pricing and availability.

 *History Takes Flight details below including Saturday & Sunday menu options 

Charter Lady Maryland, see the visiting tall ships lining the Harbor, and watch the U.S. Navy Blue Angels from the water!

An opportunity for 35 people to charter 104′ Pungy Schooner Lady Maryland,  motor alongside the visiting tall ships in the Inner Harbor, and watch the U.S. Navy Blue Angels air show from the water! Begins at 1:00pm.

Available Saturday, June 16th and June 17th

Email thara@livingclassrooms.org for pricing and availability.

Join the Parade of Sails aboard Lady Maryland!

Join the fleet of majestic tall ships as they sail out of Baltimore.

Tuesday, June 19th – Tickets $65 per person

For times and tickets, contact Elizabeth at ejosowitz@livingclassrooms.org.

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History Takes Flight: War of 1812 Bicentennial Kick-off featuring the Blue Angels!

Enjoy the breathtaking demonstration over Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine from the ramparts of the historic Star Fort! Your Exclusive Access Pass Puts you High Above the Crowds!

Saturday, June 16, 2012 11:00am – 4:00pm

$150 per person: Buffet lunch & Raw Oysters, Soft drinks, beer and wine included

AND

Sunday, June 17, 2012 11:00am – 4:00pm

$75 per person $25 ages 14 and under: Soft drinks, beer and wine included. Assorted deli sandwiches included or Bring Your Picnic.

Purchase History Takes Flight Tickets Online Here

A Fundraising Event for the Friends of Fort McHenry Commemorating the Bicentennial of the War of 1812.

The goal of this fundraising effort is to provide at least 200 Baltimore City School groups (over 6,000 students) with the opportunity to visit the Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine to learn about the history of our nation, the writing of our national anthem, the story of our flag and the defense of the City. The Friends offer innovative, hands-on school programs and educational resources for K-12 students and teachers, all of which directly support Maryland’s curriculum. Each year, these programs serve over 2,000 students at Fort McHenry and countless others through web-based programming. We thank our partners and sponsors for their generous support of Fort McHenry and the Friends.

For Tickets, Sponsorships & event details, visit  www.friendsoffortmchenry.org or  call 410-962-4290 extension 850.

A Night At The Nats: Baseball Fundraiser!

A Night at The Nats

A Fundraiser for Living Classrooms of the National Capital Region
Media Sponsor, The Hill Rag

Join us on Wednesday, June 20th for a night of fun and baseball at the Washington Nationals game for Living Classrooms Night! Meet us for the Pre-Game Party at the Onyx Rooftop Terrace (1100  First St. SE at 5PM with adult beverages and snacks. Or just come to the game at 7:05 game to cheer for the Nats as they beat the Tampa Bay Rays. Both ticket levels include free parking at nearby 4th and Tingey Streets, Parking Lot N. Plus, you’ll help raise important funds for a great cause and receive a tax deduction. Now that’s something to cheer about!

Ticket Levels:
Pre-Game, drinks, snacks and parking: $40.00
Game and Parking: $30.00

Buy your tickets now at www.nats.eventbrite.com
GO NATS!

NEW! Junior Rangers Camp, Sponsored By NPS

Weekly Registration                                                                                     June 18 – August 10, 2012

Thanks to a generous grant from the National Park Service, we are happy to announce that our Junior Rangers Camp at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens is back! Junior Rangers Camp is an adventure camp for children ages 8-10, managed by Living Classrooms of the National Capital Region in partnership with the National Parks Service and National Capital Parks-East. The camp is designed to provide an affordable and quality environmental camp for children living in the local community.

Who: The camp is designed for children ages 8-10 in the local Kennilworth community.

What: The nature camp will include outdoor activities including:
• Hiking
• Canoeing
• Fishing
• Gardening
• Live Animals

Where: The camp is located at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, and the children will enjoy daily field trips to different National Parks Service sites.

When: Camp is from 9:00am – 3:00pm on Mondays – Fridays. Weekly registration is available from June 18-August 10, 2012. Limit two weeks of enrollment/child.

Fee: $25.00 / Week

Easy Online Registration at www.LivingClassroomsDC.org
For more information, please visit our website or email us at FamilyPrograms@LivingClassroomsDC.org.

Team Building with Hill School of Virginia

For the 7th year in a row, the Living Classrooms of the National Capital Region’s Shipboard Program was happy to provide the Hill School of Virgina a program that acted as a culmination of their students career.

Staff engaged the 22 eighth grade students in a full day of activities. Starting in the morning, staff challenged the students to complete a number of group team building tasks. The completion of these tasks earned each group a survival backpack full of materials, and 3 map puzzle pieces. From their each group took that survival backpack and independently completed as many tasks as they could in a little over an hour. These tasks included things such as, ID 8 types of leaves, start a fire (in a fire pit) that burns for 5 minutes, among others. Once all 5 puzzle pieces were earned, each group assembled the map and used it to find out where in the park two canoe paddles were hidden. A race ensued wherein each group had to find their paddles, race to the canoes and then relay to and from Captain Andrew, who was 100 meters from shore. After they unpacked and discussed, the group sailed on the M/V Mildred Belle where the students learned all about the Potomac River, and their place in it. It was a full and challenging day, and the crew is already looking forward to the 8th year with Hill School.

To book a shipboard program or team building day with your school or group, please contact us at 202-488-0627, or email Shipboard@LivingClassroomsDC.org. Also, visit our website for information at www.LivingClassroomsDC.org