The Vermilion County Conservation District would normally be hosting hundreds of kids for Summer Fun Camps. But when the COVID-19 pandemic caused all camps to be cancelled, Environmental Education Supervisor Lara Danzl says she and some other staff members decided they still needed to do something…
(”What we’ve decided to do instead, is put together all kinds of educational materials, crafts, activities – and we’re putting them in a personalized bag with the kid’s name across the front. And then parents can pick them up and take them home and do all the activities with the kids at home,” said Danzl. ”So this way they’re still getting a nature experience. They’re still learning about the outdoors – still learning about the cool things that we have in Vermilion County. But they just can do it together at home, instead of together here at a camp.”}
The ‘Grow Something Wild’ and ‘Splashing Into Summer’ bags sell for $20 each. There is also a third, larger bag….
{”The big bag is our Backyard Adventure Camp for $40. In that one we have five days worth of activities. So day one is called ‘Bugging Out’. Day two is ‘I Spy With My Two Eyes’, day three is ‘Feathered Friends’, day four is ‘The Atmosphere Around Here’, and then day five is a ‘Nocturnal Fun Family Night’ where they wrap it up around the campfire and do nocturnal activities,” said Danzl.
(This Environmental Education Center at Kennekuk County Park is normally a busy place during the summer…but not this year.)
Danzl (shown in photo) says the activities are geared toward children ages 5 to 12. To purchase a bag contact Lara Danzl at (217)-442-1691 or email her at ldanzl@vccd.org.
The ‘Grow Something Wild’ bag focuses on plants and includes activities where children can plant a seed and watch it grow, compare different seeds and plants, and learn how trees grow.
‘Splashing into Summer’ is a bag containing information about the importance of water for humans, plants and animals.
Danzl added she certainly misses seeing all the children and is hopeful the Vermilion County Conservation District will be able to resume regular programs later this year.
