Pear Tree East Vancouver Summer Camp

2018 Camps

Week 1: July 3rd – 6th (4-day week)

Drama 101 (5-6)

Let your imaginations run wild in this class! Dramatic play is not only fun and engaging for young children, but it’s an important way for them to explore and make sense of the adult world.

Our drama specialist will engage students in a variety of drama-based games, and provide a safe environment for children to try out different roles.

Students will also have lots of opportunities for play-based learning in our dramatic play centers.

Photography (7-9)

Vancouver is one of the most photogenic cities in the world, especially in the summer! Join us for a week of capturing this beauty by learning about composition and creating meaning behind photography.

You’ll learn all about basic digital photography techniques and use these to take some great photos. As well, you’ll have the opportunity to turn your photos into cards.

PLEASE NOTE: It is recommended that students bring their own digital camera or iPad for this course.

Week 2: July 9th – 13th

Painter’s Pallet (5-6)

As painters, we will have lots of time to try different paints and painting techniques! We’ll work with water colour, acrylic and tempera paints.

Our paintings will be inspired by nature, animals, literature, our friends and family, and even the summer weather!

The young artists of this course will have a small portfolio of art pieces to share with you at the end of this week.

Math Magician (7-9)

If you think learning math involves doing worksheets and quizzes, we’re about to change your mind! This is a fantastic, hands-on approach to learning math and connecting math to real life.

We’ll explore measurement, create our own word problems, study shapes, try several different addition and subtraction strategies, and work with money.

We will also play lots of math games to strengthen our number sense in fun, age-appropriate way!

Week 3: July 16th – 20th

Fairytale Theatre (5-6)

Once upon a time at Pear Tree, we had a camp about Fairy Tales! Kings, evil stepmothers, princesses, and magic are some of the topics we will explore.

You’ll build houses for the Three Little Pigs, bake gingerbread men, and engage in dramatic play related to fairy tales. We will even read fractured
fairy tales!

This is an excellent course to develop reading and speaking skills in a fun and creative way!

Eco Art (7-9)

Some of the most fun art to create is made of different recycled materials, mediums and of course, your imagination!

Each day will have a different focus on reusable materials and visual elements. While students will still use traditional materials such as paint, construction paper, and pastels, we’ll also use natural items such as cork, stones, and leaves, as well as recycled materials such as buttons, glass jars, newspapers and fabric.

Week 4: July 23rd – 27th

Our Community (5-6)

We will explore the roles of various important members of our community, including firefighters, construction workers, doctors, police officers, and veterinarians.

These roles will be explored through art, literature, and dramatic play. Students will take on the roles of different community members, design their own town, and learn how they fit in our community.

Medieval Times (7-9)

Hear ye, Hear ye, all Lords and Ladies! Join us for a week of medieval times.

During the camp, you’ll make shields, create a crown, design a personal crest, build a castle, and design a mini catapult.

This course also includes many drama and public speaking activities, with the opportunity to perform like a person from the Medieval times!

N.B. This class will not participate in any activities related to violence, so no need to ask!

Week 5: July 30th – Aug 3rd

Nature Explorers (5-6)

Join us for a week of outdoor adventures, where we’ll learn about nature and how to take care of it!

We will learn about BC’s old growth forests, build a hummingbird feeder, use natural items to make eco-art, and take photography of nature.

Through nature walks, lots of outdoor play, as well field trips to local natural settings, we’re sure you’ll discover something new about nature this week!

Adventurous Athletes (7-9)

Whether you’re already sporty or an aspiring athlete, this week is a great way to get outside with new friends and get moving!

Each day, there will be skill-based activities related to specific sports, and many opportunities for collaborating with peers. We’ll be playing games like Capture the Flag and California Kick Ball, as well as more traditional sports like tennis and soccer. Not only that, but we will be doing different fitness-based activities to improve our strength and stamina!

Each day, different students will have opportunities to model and explain these activities, which help public speaking and leadership skills. This week will be held outdoors, rain or shine!

Week 6: August 7th – 10th (4-day week)

Super Structures (5-6)

Do you like to build things? Are you an aspiring engineer? Then this hands-on exploration course is for you!

During this course, you will learn basic building principals and apply your knowledge by taking part in daily structure challenges!

You will learn how to apply critical thinking skills, how to be a creative designer and problem-solver, and apply math, science and design concepts using a variety of building materials, including straws, paper, clay, blocks, K’Nex, Lego and even eggs!

Junior Scientists (7-9)

Get your lab coats and beakers ready!

Science is always fun when you’re doing the experiments! In this exciting, hands-on course, we’ll be conducting a variety of experiments, learning about the scientific method, carrying out observations and recording data in our science journals, just like real scientists.

Among our activities will be ‘Flubber’ making, dissections, and even kitchen science, where we get to eat our experiments!

Week 7: August 13th – 17th

Urban Gardeners (5-6)

In this course, we’ll give you tips to be a successful gardener in the city.

We’ll learn about the plant life cycle, collect seeds, categorize plants, and do plant art.

We’ll also create our own compost to improve our plants’ growth, and plant seedlings of our own to take home at the end of the course!

We’ll even be making our own urban gardens!

Food, Glorious Food! (7-9)

Yes, food is glorious! Vancouver is such a “foodie” city, with so many different dishes and fresh, healthy things to eat.

In this course, we’ll introduce students to basic nutrition, prepare a dish each class, learn about fitness and healthy living. We will do blind taste-testing, make food art, and even take food photography!

Students will gain an appreciation for trying new things and how food impacts their body.

Week 8: August 20th – 24th

Interesting Insects (5-6)

Leave your bug spray at home! Find out how insects are important for our community and environment.

We will go on nature walks and study insects in our local area, build insect homes, and even raise butterflies of our own! Students will make daily observations of the butterfly growth and development.

The butterflies will be released in the summer as part of inclusive field trip. We’ll also be learning about ladybirds and releasing these to help the local community.

Mixed Media Art (7-9)

Mixed Media is the best of all art forms because it blends a variety of them to make masterpieces! Rather than focussing on one form of media such as a piece of art that only works with paint, these pieces will include a variety of media.

Some of our art pieces will include painting, papier mache, fabric, wood, and pastels. We will also incorporate photography, magazine ads, and different fonts.

This is a wonderful course to exhibit creativity while still learning about different art techniques.

Week 9: August 27th – 31st

Wetland Wonders (5-6)

Trout Lake offers a great, safe place for young students to learn about some local wetland animals up close!

Wetlands are an important part of Vancouver’s ecosystem, and as young biologists, we’ll study some of the wetlands features up close.

We will learn about the life cycle of a frog, study water plants, observe local birds, and do pond dipping! Each day will have a different focus and we will explore through art, drama, literature, and experiments.

Film Studios (7-9)

Calling all future movie directors! Using computers, digital cameras, and interactive Smartboards, your team will create and direct several of your own animations and short films.

You’ll make storyboards and scenery, and will create your own short animation and film. You’ll learn how to add voice-overs, words, music and sound effects. Each day, we will learn a different drama technique, and we’ll even do some of our own actings to film!

PLEASE NOTE: It is recommended that students bring their own digital camera or iPad.