Volunteer as a Jr. Naturalist at Summer Camp!

"Children are born naturalists. They explore the world with all of their senses, experiment in the environment, and communicate their discoveries to those around them." - The Audubon Nature Preschool
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Volunteering at Placer Nature Center can help you as much as your time and effort helps Placer Nature Center! Besides helping young children develop their imagination and curiosity, being a Jr. Naturialist and Camp Counselor you can earn great experience and a letter of recommendation to include in your college application or for a job reference. Here are the other projects you can help with.

As a Jr. Naturalist you will guide campers through nature investigations,nature walks, games, crafts, lead songs and puppet shows for the children. You'll have fun sharing and learning about our natural environment.

You can choose to help at one week of camp or come back for several! Jr. Naturalists must be 13 years or older to participate.

Two-Day Training

June 9th & 10th 2011
9AM - 12 Noon

Prior to being a Jr. Naturalist, a 2-day training workshop is required, scheduled from 9:00 to 12 noon on June 9th and June 10th*. At this workshop, you will become familiar with the camp activities, the nature trail, and your role as a Jr. Naturalist and camp counselor.

* If you can not attend the training due to school or family vacation conflicts, please contact us for a potential alterative training. Fill out the registration form and mark the box indicating you will not be able to attend.

 “Children have a natural affinity towards nature. Dirt, water, plants, and small animals attract and hold children’s attention for hours, days, even a lifetime.”
- Robin C. Moore and Herb H Wong

Jr. Naturalist volunteers who complete our training help lead children 6-12 years old through thematic environmental education programs. As a camp counselor, you are an important role model as you strengthen your leadership skills.Last year’s teens contributed over 2000 volunteer hours in our most successful summer camp ever!

2011 Summer Camp Schedule

Dates Time Theme
June 9-10 9AM-12PM Jr. Naturalist Training*
* Required (call Linda (530) 878-6053 ext. 608 if you need to make other arrangments)
June 13-17 9AM-1PM Wings - Soaring with Birds!
June 20-24 9AM-1PM Flutterbys - All about Bugs!
June 20-24 1PM-4PM Photo Camp: Close-up on Bugs
June 27-July 1 9AM-1PM Sunlight, Starlight & Orbs
June 27-July 1 1PM-4PM Photo Camp: Playing with Light
July 11-15 9AM-1PM Geology Rocks!
July 11-15 1PM-4PM Photo Camp: Landscapes
July 18-22 9AM-1PM Howlers - Running with the Mammals!
July 25-29 9AM-1PM Peace Camp (hosted at Placer Nature Center)
July 25-29 9AM-1PM Howlers at the Roseville Utility Exploration Center

Registration

Please download the
Registration and Medical Release Form here..

For each day of camp, make sure you:
* are dressed appropriately for being outside - clothes that can get dirty and comfortable, closed-toe shoes for light hiking and chasing the kids!
* have a reusable, durable water bottle.
* have a sack lunch. If you are interested read about how to make a Zero-waste lunch! Making a Zero-Waste lunch is a fun way to start making healthy food choices and learn about smarter ways to use resources!

* Please make sure to speak with Linda Desai, the Education Director, about any medications you might need for allergies, etc. or any other special needs.

For descriptions on each of the summer camp sessions, please visit the Summer Camp page here...

“Looking at life through the eyes of a Daddy long legs: Imagine walking on legs so long you could cover a mile in fifty strides! Imagine looking to either side through eyes set not in your head but in a... hump in your back! Imagine your knees, when you walked, working a dozen feet or more above your head.”
- Edwin Way Teale

The education we provide at Placer Nature Center focuses on using the environment to engage students in learning science through: awareness and sensitivity to the total environment and its problems; experience in and understanding of the environment; establishing a sense of connection between and to the immediate environment and the student so that they understand that the nature of our lives and our environment are inseparable.