For those who haven’t worked with our organization in the past, each year kids are invited to join the Living Classrooms staff for a summer of exploration and conquest where they are challenged to create, learn, and investigate unique themes that are based around nature, science, animals, and the great outdoors. As usual, the summer of 2012 promises to be just as eventful as those in the past, if not more!

This year, Living Classrooms is pleased to announce the inauguration of two brand new camps that will be held at a new site called the Hill Center. Aside from the traditional camps that are held at The Historic Schoolhouse and The Children’s Museum at Glen Echo Park, parents will now have the option to send their children to a metro-accessible camp on The Hill.

During the first week of April, children (ages 4-6) are invited to the Little Discoverers Spring Break Camp. This particular camp aims to provide a hands-on, engaging educational experience that captivates children’s imaginations and establishes the foundation for a life-long passion for nature. Campers will take adventurous nature walks, play games, and investigate their natural environment through science experiments.

For the Junior Explorers, that is children between the ages of 7 and 10, the folks at Living Classrooms have created a Rushing Rivers Camp. This camp is a specialized program for kids who enjoy being out on the water. During the month of July, Junior Explorers will be given an unforgettable hands-on learning opportunity. When campers are not exploring the local watershed, they will have the opportunity to go out on the water as scientists who perform observational tests, fisherman who pull on the catch of the day, and boat captains who navigate the local rivers.

As with all Living Classrooms-sponsored activities, these camps are managed by highly-trained educators and specialists of their field. Living Classrooms camps are designed for small groups in order to ensure that camp educators can monitor and respond to each and every child’s safety and healthcare needs.

For more information on these exciting new camps as well as other programs that Living Classrooms provides, feel free to contact Sales and Marketing Coordinator, Ali Kagawa, at 202-488-0627 ext. 242 / akagawa@livingclassroomsdc.org.

Little Discoverers Spring Break Camp

Ages 4-6

April 2 – April 6, 2012

9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Fee: $180.00

Junior Explorers – Rushing Rivers Camp

Ages 7-10

Weekly Registration: July 9-13, July 16-20, July 23-27

9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Fee: $360.00

]]> http://livingclassrooms.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/living-classrooms-introduces-2-new-camp-opportunities/feed/ 0 livingclassrooms http://livingclassrooms.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/which-summer-program-is-right-for-my-pre-teen/ http://livingclassrooms.wordpress.com/2012/02/16/which-summer-program-is-right-for-my-pre-teen/#comments Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:21:39 +0000 Thara Mathew Taylor http://livingclassrooms.wordpress.com/?p=200 Continue reading →]]> Choosing the right summer activity for your child isn’t always easy – especially for those children who are at a transitional age. That is, they’re too independent for a youth day camp yet too young to work. So how do we keep these pre-teens busy throughout the summer months?

A well-established summer program is a great way to give kids at any age the freedom they long for while also keeping them social and active in a controlled setting. While deciding on the perfect summer program for a pre-teen is a bit more complicated than selecting a day camp for a younger child, it is important to remember that the rewards are often much greater. Below are a few questions to ask yourself as you embark upon your search for the perfect summer excursion for your pre-teen.

Is this program reputable? What kind of organization is managing this program, and how will that have an effect on my child’s overall welfare if they should attend?

Who is in charge? What is the staff like? Are activities supervised by trained and certified instructors?

Is it active? The last thing we want our kids doing on a beautiful day is inactively sitting in front of a television or computer for hours on end. Try to find a day program that offers obscure outdoor adventures like kayaking, climbing, boating, and hiking.

Is it educational? Just because kids aren’t in school doesn’t mean that learning should come to a halt, right? Finding a program that is committed to exercising children’s minds as well as their bodies allows kids to challenge themselves without even realizing it!

Keeping these questions along with your pre-teen’s particular interests in mind will help narrow down your summer excursion search. Environmental education organization, Living Classrooms of the National Capital Region, provides a great Summer Camp Catalog that includes countless adventures and hands-on learning activities that mirror the qualifications of an ideal summer program for pre-teens.

For more information about what Living Classrooms has to offer as well as answers to any further summer program-related questions, visit www.livingclassroomsdc.org.

1. Bike Tours – A bike ride is one of the most effective and active ways to explore the natural beauty of DC in the spring. The Cherry Blossom Festival offers several bike tours, each running around 2 hours long.

2. Live Music – Whether you are entranced by the indigenous sounds of the ancient Japanese harp or perched on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial listening to local jazz, live music is sure to be an inviting key component to the 2012 Annual National Cherry Blossom Festival.

3. Museum Exhibits – Many art and culture displays will be present in the city during the festival. One of the most unique will undoubtedly be the Arise Gallery’s “100 Years of Kimono,” which is an exhibit that showcases kimono, obi, and other Japanese textiles over a 100-year period. This is a great way to learn more about the beauty and history of the culture that started it all.

4. Blossom Kite Festival – The second annual Blossom Kite Festival will be held on March 31. Kite makers of all skill levels are invited to the Washington Monument grounds for free flying demonstrations and a variety of kite flying competitions. Children are also encouraged to create their own kites at an activity station nearby.

5. Cherry Blossom Boat Charters – Many people like to utilize the festival as a way to give back to their community. That is why local non-profit organization, Living Classrooms of the National Capital Region, is offering exclusive boat charters on the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers. Enjoy the rich views along the waterfront while contributing to a great cause! 100% of the proceeds will benefit the Living Classrooms “All Hands On Deck” scholarship fund.

The 2012 DC Festival is scheduled for March 20 – April 27. For more information on how to give back to the community during this time as well as information on the festival in general, visit http://livingclassroomsdc.org/CherryBlossomBoatCharters.html.

December 29, 2011

Baltimore, MD- Baltimore Ravens Quarterback Joe Flacco and Nestor Aparicio, owner of WNST (We Never Stop Talking Sports) recently partnered with Living Classrooms Foundation in a charity campaign tied to Flacco’s Fu Manchu. On December 6^th, “Fu 5 Fighters for Flacco” kicked off with Flacco challenging fans (male and female) to join him in growing or wearing a Fu Manchu. Participants pledge to donate $5 each week for the remainder of Ravens football season and are eligible to win dinner with Flacco. Donations can be made throughout the contest or in one lump sum at the end. Participants must first register their Fu through the Facebook App (go to facebook.com and search “Fu 5 Fighters for Flacco”) then upload photos showing off their staches and Ravens pride. Fans can fulfill their pledges or donate without growing a Fu by visiting this link directly at www.livingclassrooms.org/fu5flacco.

The staches are starting to catch on with fans and players including Brendon Ayanbadejo. Fans are posting pictures of their Fus on the Facebook page and tweeting about them using hashtag #5F.

The Fu Manchus are a symbol of Baltimore’s pride in the Ravens and commitment to our City’s youth. Joe Flacco and WNST selected Living Classrooms as charity partner because of the Foundation’s success in turning lives around and positively impacting communities.

Living Classrooms Foundation is an educational nonprofit organization that serves disadvantaged youth and young adults throughout the Baltimore and Washington, DC areas. The Foundation has been serving the community for over 26 years with hands-on education and job training programs, including a public charter middle school and K-8 school in East Baltimore. The organization’s mission is to strengthen communities and inspire young people to achieve their potential through hands-on education and job training, using urban, natural, and maritime resources as “living classrooms.”

Contact: Thara Taylor thara@livingclassrooms.org OR James Piper Bond james@livingclassrooms.org 410.685.0295