Da Vinci Day Camp

Super Awesome Summer

2009-08-17T11:27:00.001-07:00

Traditionally the last day of summer camp has the least amount of kids, and this year was no different. However, standing high on that picnic table I could not stop thinking of all the kids who had come through our back door this summer. They watched our camp spider eat crickets, learned a dozen or so different camp songs, and had so much fun that many wished camp would never end. Well with nine weeks behind us and school time ahead of us, it had to. The great thing about camp though is it never really goes away. For me it is in the camp songs that are stuck in my head. For others it may be the funny jokes that only friends from camp understand, and for others... The truth is camp is super awesome, and there is only 9 months between now and then. So I better get back to work, and I better see you all at summer camp next summer. So from all of us at Da Vinci Summer Day Camp, good luck at school, and we'll see you at camp...next year.

LAST lock-in

2009-08-10T12:26:00.001-07:00

No those are not ghosts. Those are teens gathered around our campfire at our last lock-in. I was unable to be at Fridays robotic celebration. However, I did come back for our last lock-in, and of course it was again a great time marshmallows, crazy kids, and staying up til 2:30 am to Play Pathfinder RPG. We had such a great time. I know I will miss it. It is a really neat thing to get to spend time with a group of teenagers, and get to see their personalities shine through at camp. This was a new thing for us, and one I know we will continue. Thanks teens I had a wonderful time!

Week #7- Wild West

2009-08-04T08:12:00.001-07:00

Luckily I was able to pull these two cowpokes away from all the fun they were having learning to boot scoot, and boogie. If I couldn't I would not have had a picture for this crazy week of roping riding and playing games that were a lot of fun. I was so glad that our guest speaker Mrs. Shields even brought out her horses Tom & Samsung. Traditionally week 7 at camp is hard because everyone is so tired,but we sidled on up and road through. Thanks for having fun at camp, and thank you cowpokes for making it great . YE-HA!

Week #6- YO ho a pirates life for me

2009-07-25T18:50:00.000-07:00

Although my camera wasn't that great at taking these pictures you can clearly tell we had a great week. We had to make some switches with some staff ailments, but we had our first ever Sink or Float competition, another great dress like a pirate day and although the evil Pirate Capt. Forkfist showed up he was foiled again by Capt. Barbeau and the kids. What an amazing week it is like we are just hitting the best stuff as we go longer in the summer. I know I am feeling it. I hope you join as we finish up strong for the summer. See you at camp.

Week #5- Myths and Legends

2009-07-17T14:14:00.000-07:00

This week we had to keep the Greek fires burning, with myths and legends and a TOGA party on Friday. That isn't all though we had fairy tales, Olympic events and a heca-lot of fun. Each group cracked myths, and created their own tall tales. it was a week of mythological proportions. Thanks and see you next week at camp.

Week #3 - Space/ Final Frontier

2009-07-03T13:45:00.000-07:00

What a great week at camp. We had aliens, moon landings and Jedi masters. Of course we ended the week with our world famous hot dog grill out. It was the first time ever that we also had parents hang out and watch our silly talent show. With kids singing songs from camp, and Taylor Swift. Crazy right? Well, if you think this sounds like fun we do have some openings later. So sign- up for camp.

Week #2 Renaissance, and Knights of the Round Table

2009-06-27T15:11:00.001-07:00

Another fun week, once again we filled up camp and the fun never stopped. This week we featured our chess tournament and had a medieval costume contest. We had groups create their own dragons, and discuss the inventions of Leonardo DaVinci. I even had a chance to wear my kilt. Then we ended the week with our famous hot dog roast, and we kept the teens over night for our first ever DaVinci Summer Camp lock in. What a week...Shoo. Let's do it again...onward to week three!

Week #1- Wild things & Unhuggables

2009-06-19T12:51:00.000-07:00

What an amazing first week. We filled up with campers, and had a great time. We had to deal with weather, and first week jitters but by the end of it all we had a great camp week.

(KDG- First; performing, Where the Wild Things Are)

The second through third grade group made team shirts for their camp group (The Happy Thunder Toads). This one by one of our campers was just amazing.

Just a reminder!!

2009-06-16T08:53:00.000-07:00

Dear parents & campers
Every other Friday this summer beginning June 26th

Lock-Ins (4th grade to LIT): $40 each
Lock-Ins are held one night every other week. The $40 cost is in addition to the cost of a week of camp. It can be paid prior to camp or during the week of camp you are attending. Campers must attend camp the same week of the Lock-In to be eligible to participate.

For information contact us at camp; bcraig@dvacademy.org or 847.841.7532 ext. 232

A glimpse of new staff...

2009-05-29T12:11:00.000-07:00

Lauren Bobourka- is a student at Elmhurst college working on her bachelors of education. She is on the Dean's list, and looks forward to graduating in 2010 and getting to teach. She described herself as bubbly and creative. In her career of working with students she has observed and taught in grades 2-5. My favorite part of the interview was what she picked as her super power. She chose mood alteration. It tells me that she is the kind of person who when the team is down she will do what she can to lift their spirits and keep us moving forward. Lauren, I know we are excited to have you on staff - Thanks, Mr. Craig

Art at camp...

2009-05-29T11:28:00.000-07:00

I promised in my last post about the different focus areas to discuss art. Well, here I go. I love art it is something I do for fun and enjoyment. The great thing about camp is that I am pretty sure art had never not been a part of camp. Whether you are drawing with kids or creating something special for a display or decorate the camp it is all over the place. This summer I hope that we can use all of our talents and explore drawing, painting, sculpting and many other art forms. I guess what I am saying about art is that it is an open palette. A carte blanch, but I know it will be fun. Thanks and I'll see you in camp. (original art by Mr. Craig)

A glimpse at new staff...

2009-05-04T10:38:00.000-07:00

Viki Saudauskis- Is a certified teacher who earned her degree from National Louis in Lisle, IL. She enjoys Nature & travel and described herself as loving and compassionate. I think the most one fun thing about Viki is that when I asked her what super power she could have if she had one? She told me she would want to have telepathy and /or X-ray vision both of which she said she would use to see what was really going on inside of someone to help keep them emotionally and physically healthy. Well, I know I am happy to have her, and I know she is looking forward to seeing you in camp.

Week #4 Creepy Crawlers/Bugs

2009-05-01T08:42:00.000-07:00

I always get so excited about this week. It is a chance to get outside and learn about all the things under our feet, in the air, and in the water, and and and... Let's be honest with our selves most of us think bugs are pretty gross, but in truth they are amazing. Their adaptability and different shapes and forms have inspired scientists to create new inventions, artists to create, and of course Musicians to sing and play. Without them as part of our world we would be in big trouble, and those are just some of the things that we will be talking about. On top of it all we have DaVinci's own Mr. Allen coming to help us conduct our buggy studies. See you in camp.

Fact Finding Mission

2009-04-17T07:44:00.000-07:00

So Mr. Craig was away for the first part of the week at Camp Timber-lee. I went with the 1st -4th grade class, and had a great time with the kids. I really did. However, while I was there I watched, and I observed some of the classes. Things like Tree ID, Orienteering, Wilderness Survival, Animal Prints and many others. That if you haven't guessed may make an appearance here at our very own Da Vinci Summer Day Camp. Think of it as a learning expedition, and a truly great time with our great kids, staff and friends at Timber-lee. See you next week Da Vinci Day camp is starting to really shape up as it draws closer. So sign up soon!

I have been super busy!

2009-04-10T10:43:00.000-07:00

No really I have been. Every year we have done camp here at Da Vinci we actively seek out quality staff members that we feel mesh well with our returning staff, and have the highest of qualifications. This year I have received probably 45 resumes, and too be fair i read through them all, and set-up as many Interviews as time permits. I have even interviewed people on my commute home ( I know not safe). In a few weeks we will be selecting staff that i know will help us make Da Vinci Summer Camp 2009 THE BEST EVER! Thank you, and I will see you at camp.

Focus up week 5: Myths and Legends

2009-03-26T09:31:00.000-07:00

Myths and Legends / Chillers Paddy Lynn (Special Guest Speaker)

What are myths and legends? When I thought up this area of study for week 5. My first thought was the Olympics, and ancient Greece. Then I spoke with Paddy Lynn, who is an amazing story actor, and she suggested telling chillers. So then I thought why not cryptids, things like Big foot and Lochness. Then I thought, it is camp we can do it all. With our focus on discovery, education and recreation the sky is really the limit. In all our weeks we will be playing games and doing classes with the intention of including one of our clever areas of study. Maybe Bigfoot Games for the whole camp, and in science we could uncover why people believed that the Greek gods through bolts of lightning, and maybe we could even make up our own myths and legends in literature, and, and... You get the point. See you at camp!

Discovery, Education,Recreation

2009-03-20T07:08:00.000-07:00

Each week at Da Vinci Summer Day Camp we will be using Art, Drama, Music, Literature, and Science to explore amazing topics. With that thought in mind we have chosen some fun and exciting topics to explore each week. Only at Summer Camp can we discover and explore some of these topics, and only at Da Vinci can we have so much fun doing it.

1. Wild Things / Unhuggables
Snakes, Spiders, and Mice (Special Event)

2. Renaissance / Knights of the Round Table
Camp-wide Chess Tourney (Special Event)

3. Space / Final Frontier
Rockets - Jon Allen (Special Guest Speaker)

4. Creepy Crawlers / Bugs
Bug Study - Mr. Allen (Special Guest Speaker)

5. Myths and Legends / Chillers
Paddy Lynn (Special Guest Speaker)

6. Pirates Ships and the Ocean Environment
Return of Capt. Forkfist (Special Event)

7. Wild West Cowboys / Native Americans
Wild West Hoe Down (Special Event)

8. Robots / Computers and Technology
Mr. Laimins (Special Guest Speaker)

9. Superheroes and Super Friends
Super Hero Pageant (Special Event)

What's goin' on...

2009-03-13T07:59:00.000-07:00

It my mind that title sounds more musical than it reads. Well, I have not posted in two weeks cause we are sorta at a good resting place. We can continue moving forward now though, and I have. T-shirts have been designed,buses have been reserved, and we have scheduled our pool day. So there is a lot of great stuff happening. I am genuinely excited about Summer. I think About the amount of heart and excitement that goes into DaVinci Academy Summer camp, and I just can't help but sing a song. Hopefully, I will get a chance to sing it with you at camp. See you at camp.

Music Class

2009-02-27T12:54:00.001-08:00

I am really excited about having music class at camp. I think this is one of those classes were kids have an opportunity to shine even when they might not be that great at it. Another great thing is that camp people are more usually than not, musical. That means we can all being our own talents to the classroom. Some examples of this is that Mr. Craig plays guitar, harmonica and sings like a rock star, at least I think so, and Jamie has an amazing voice. The goal of the class will be to build some confidence with being in front of people, and we will spend time practicing great songs. Then when we are all done we hope to have a class that feels confident enough to sing at Fridays' talent show! Camp is sounding more fun all the time. Thanks for tuning in.

(next time, I'll talk about art.)

Frequently asked questions: Answered

2009-02-23T06:32:00.000-08:00

Each week does not have a theme.

However, each week includes art, science, music, literature, drama, and many other things that are parts of our camp.

We also do some things like a traditional day camp like arts and crafts and talent shows. We also will be offering things that we call our discovery classes which will include, but are not limited to, animal study, gardening, chess, and archery.

We take the kids swimming at wing park in Elgin, which is a great place with lots of supervision, and more importantly to the kids giant waterslides.

We do not do field trips, except to Wing Park, what we do is bring speakers in, and have them do special presentations for the kids.

I hope this answers your questions, if you have more please feel free to ask.-Mr. Craig (bcraig@dvacademy.org)

How are we going to do it?

2009-02-16T10:46:00.000-08:00

Well, this is a question I get every year. Wow, Mr. Craig all those ideas sound great, but how you gonna do it? Well, that is when I describe some methods to what we have going on. I would like to address some of the classes we are going to be doing weekly.

Drama class is one that I am excited about because not only will it give our staff some stretching to do, but our kids as well. I have myself taken drama classes and used drama as part of team building for class and camp staffs. They are two ways we are going to do our drama classes one is picture book drama. How do we do that? Kids at any age are introduced to a picture book that they will then discuss and then act out with the direction and supervision of our camp staff. Another method is call brown bag dramas, in this method a class will be given a brown paper bag with different items in it. The class will then have to rely on creativity and a bit of improv. to come up with a story and a small play to show us all on Friday afternoon. Input from the staff will be important, but the end goal will to have given the students involved a feeling of how it feels to do a little theatre.

(Next time I will discuss my thoughts on music class.)

Asst. Dir. Jamie Barbeau

2009-02-10T06:22:00.000-08:00

Jamie Barbeau is the Assistant Director of the DaVinci Summer Day Camp where she has been happily involved in the program for going on four years. She received her Bachelors in Elementary Education and Middle School Music from Blackburn College in May of 2008 and has much experience working with children and creating educational programs that both adhere to State Standards as well as appeal to students of all ages. She loves theatre and singing and uses passion for the arts to reach out to struggling students. Jamie is so proud of the growth DaVinci Camp as made since she first started here and she is honored to work with such phenomenal people!

Weekly Schedule- Signs of Summer

2009-02-06T12:54:00.000-08:00

I am so excited! I just finished the weekly schedule, and I will be sending it to Mr. Oldham to have him make into something the fans of our camp can use. I am not half the computer whiz he is. I hope that you are all getting as excited as I am. Just thinking about summer camp is bring out the sun. No, really have you seen the great weather today. Just kidding have a great day and see you at Camp!

Some of our resources.

2009-01-24T11:57:00.000-08:00

Like the website says our camp focuses on a balance of Discovery, Education, and Recreation. You probably as parents think "what does that all mean?" With summer planning already in full swing I can tell you a little about some of the "text books" staff and I may be using as resources for the education and discovery that happens at our camp.

Action Cartooning- by Ben Caldwell
School Library Journal says- "a refreshing change from what has come to be the norm, Caldwell does not teach readers how to draw manga-style characters. Instead, his drawing style is more a blend of modern Disney (Hercules, Mulan), Don Bluth (Dragon's Lair), and the Cartoon Network (Powderpuff Girls, Samurai Jack, Star Wars: Clone Wars). Unfortunately, only Caldwell's sketches are included, and not his colored and finished drawings."

The Dangerous Book for Boys - Hal Iggulden
Publishers Weekly says- "version of the bestselling book from across the pond ambitiously tries to live up to its billing as "the perfect book for every boy from eight to eighty." Though younger boys will find much to ponder in such "Questions About the World" as "How far away are the stars?" and "Why is the sky blue?"

Project Wild - Environmental Education Project
http://www.projectwild.org/

Oh, wow all this stuff is getting me super duper excited. Hope to see you at Camp.
-Signed Capt. Craig

Day Camp Director - Mr.Craig

2009-01-20T06:54:00.000-08:00

Mr. Craig is Da Vinci Academy's Summer Camp Director, Athletic Director and PE Teacher. Even though he may wear many hats at Da Vinci there is a special place in his heart for summer camp. After graduating from Ohio University with a Masters in Recreation, Mr. Craig, moved to the Chicago land area where in the first year of working at Da Vinci Academy they asked him to create what is now Da Vinci Academy Summer Day Camp. This Summer will be the fourth year for Da Vinci Summer camp, but will be Mr. Craig's 12th year involved with summer camps and his eighth year as a camp director.Mr. Craig's favorite things about camp are: Camp songs and the superhero pageant.