Fancy Fun...so far!

These little princesses have been having so much fun so far during the Fancy Nancy Book Camp 4 Kids.  Here are some photos to prove my point!  ;)

Explorer Extraordinaires! 

Making butterfly wings!  Bonjour!

Story time with Fancy Nancy!

Ladybug snacks ;)

***

There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child.  There are seven million.  ~Walt Streightiff

Welcome to the Fancy Nancy Book Camp 4 Kids!

Bonjour Fancy Friend!                                                      
I am very excited to see you next week at the Fancy Nancy Book Camp 4 Kids!  We are sure to have a fun and FANCY time.  In order to make the Book Camp fun and fancy for all, please bring the following items with you each day of camp:
1.    Crayons
2.    Scissors
3.    Glue
4.    Your FUN and FANCY attitude!  ;)
We will be playing games and making crafts, and snacks, however, if you’d like to come dressed in your “fancy best,” feel free!  Just make sure you can still run, play and be sure to tell your mom, it might get a bit dirty!

I hope you are ready for a MAGNIFICENT (that’s a fancy word for GREAT) time!  I will meet you at Crossview Covenant Church on June 28th from 1pm-3pm.  I have included a map for your chauffer (that’s a fancy word for “driver”).  ;)

See you soon,
Fancy Mrs. Van Osdel
Your Book Camp 4 Kids Teacher

                        
(This location is for Monday-Wednesday.  Thursday we will meet at the Cosmetology Training Center in Mankato.

The First Days of FUN! ;)

The American Girls and Their Dogs Book Camp 4 Kids is well underway!  The kids have been busy reading, painting, snacking and even meeting some furry friends!  Check some of our moments from the week so far....

Reading and Learning!  

Friends and Fun!

Puppy Love Therapy Dogs!  ;)

Cleopatra gets her mail.  ;)

***

Kids: they dance before they learn there is anything that isn't music.  ~William Stafford

Welcome to American Girls And Their DOGS Book Camp 4 Kids!

Dear Friend,                                                                                
I am so excited to welcome you to the American Girls and Their Dogs Book Camp 4 Kids!  We are sure to have an incredible week of reading, playing, crafting and making new friends.

In order to make the most of our time together, please bring an art box containing the following items:

Glue
Crayons
Scissors

Get ready for a “doggone” fun time next week!  I will meet you at Crossview Covenant Church, June 21st from 1-3pm.  Be ready for a GREAT time!

Your Book Camps 4 Kids Teacher,
Mrs. Van Osdel

P.S.  There is a map below for your parent or guardian.  The church is located right next to Dakota Meadows Middle School.

***

I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love.  For me they are the role model for being alive.  ~Gilda Radner

Outer Space Learning Fun!

We are Learning and Having a BLAST!  ;)

Creating an Amazing Solar System

We are having fun that is Out-of-This-World!  

***

It is one small step for man, and one giant leap for mankind.

~Niel Armstrong

Magic Tree House Space Adventure CRAFT

Believe it or not, The Magic Tree House Book Camp 4 Kids is 1/2 over!  Whew!  Time flies when you're having fun!  ;)  We have had a GREAT time reading, learning and creating with the 20 boys and girls who are joining us this week.  I already have to send out a BIG thank you to my helper - "Grandma Linda."  She has been a life saver - and the kids absolutely adore her.  ;) 

Here is a craft that was a HUGE hit today:

Rockets!

Materials:
a film canister (the white ones work best with a lid that fits inside the canister)
water
alka seltzer
paper rocket template

Steps:
Create your own rocket using the template - tape it onto the canister.
Fill the canister 1/4 full of water.
Place 1/2 of a tablet of alka seltzer in the canister. 
Place the cap on quickly.
Place the rocket on the ground and wait - it will soon BLAST OFF!!!  ;)

***

The meek shall inherit the Earth. And the rest of us will go to the stars.
        - Omni Magazine

Fun While LEARNING! :)

The Book Camps 4 Kids program was founded on the philosophy that learning should be FUN.  Motivation is one of the biggest components of life-long learning and it is often the most difficult thing to inspire.  At Book Camps 4 Kids, we use current, popular books with fun themes to inspire students.  We then "sneak" fundamental reading practice into their daily routines at each camp.  Listed below are the specific components each camper will be exposed to EACH day at camp:

1.  Independent Reading
2.  Partner Reading
3.  Fluency Practice
4.  Non-Fiction Response to Reading (this promotes comprehension)
5.  Comprehension Skills (compare/contrast, main idea/detail, descriptions)
6.  Retell
7.  Connections to real world, self and other texts

Each one of these components is a research based reading skill necessary for students to become successful, independent readers.  The best part for teachers and parents?  The kids are having so much fun at camp that they don't even realize they're really becomming better readers in the process!  ;)

***

The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it.  

~James Bryce

Welcome to The Magic Tree House: Space Adventure Book Camp 4 Kids!

Calling all Astronauts!

You are about to embark on a fabulous journey through outer space next week.  I am thrilled to welcome you to the 2010 Book Camp 4 Kids Space Adventure:  Magic Tree House Midnight on the Moon camp.  We are sure to have fun that is out of this world! 

In order to make the most of our journey together, please bring your art box with a pencil, scissors, glue and crayons to camp.  You may also bring a water bottle. 

I am looking forward to meeting you at Crossview Covenant Church on June 14th  from 1-3pm.  Be ready to BLAST OFF with reading fun and learning adventures!

Your Camp Teacher,
Mrs. Van Osdel

P.S.  Here is a map for your parent and/or guardian.  The church is located right next to Dakota Meadows Middle School.  See you soon!

Book Camps 4 Kids Blog

Thank you for taking time to check out our blog. Please bookmark this blog and check back soon.  We will be posting pictures and articles about our Book Camps all summer.

We are excited to provide a new, learning adventure for kids in the Mankato area. This is a concept that just began three years ago and is quickly growing into something great. We have had over 100 campers attend our Book Camps 4 Kids in just three years!  We are thrilled to bring enriching, authentic learning opportunities for school age kids in and around the Mankato area.

You may be familiar with some of the books we have chosen to highlight in the upcoming camps. The Magic Tree House, American Girl and Fancy Nancy series' were chosen because of their popularity among young readers.  We also chose the books because of their strong connection to real life lessons and the positive messages they relay to children. We recognize the wonderful opportunities for real world, hands on experiences and know they would be wonderful instructional tools for our Book Camps 4 Kids. 


We have been busy planning and organizing our 2010 summer book camps. We have many exciting things in store! If you'd like to know more about the book camps available, check out our website. 

Should you have any more questions, do not hesitate to email us. Just click on Contact Us on the top tool bar at BookCamps4Kids.com. Thanks!

***

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go."

— Dr. Seuss