It's a Wrap! JMZ Summer Camp Scholarship Highlights

August 29, 2024

Hello Friends,

I hope the start of the new school year finds you well. It was a busy summer at the JMZ, with many visitors, as well as campers attending the JMZ’s camps!

For the past two years, thanks to the generosity of our donors, the Friends has funded scholarships to the JMZ's popular summer camps. This year, we funded 25 scholarships to children between Kindergarten and 5th grade, as well as one scholarship for a Science Camp Assistant (SCA) position. SCA positions engage incoming 8th through 11th graders and provide them the opportunity to gain experience as science educators and explore potential career paths. The Friends also funded post-camp care and transportation options to address potential barriers for families, and to provide kids with the opportunity to play and participate in activities with other campers after regular hours. You can read more about the JMZ’s summer camp offerings below, and learn about the Friends' summer camp scholarship program in our August 2023 newsletter.

We’re excited to announce that the Friends’ annual Halloween at the JMZ party is Friday, October 25 from 5 to 7 p.m. This event promises to be a night of family fun with treats, themed activities, and entertainment for all to enjoy. Mark your calendar: tickets go on sale Wednesday, September 25 at 12 p.m. We hope to see you there!

Lauren Angelo

President, Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo

JMZ Educator Abby works with a student during Camp Chronos. Photo courtesy of Arad Kedar.

JMZ Summer Camp Scholarship Program

Questions for Alex Hamilton, JMZ Education Director

What kind of experiences do children gain from attending JMZ summer camps?

At JMZ summer camps, K-5 children have the opportunity to explore a number of unique STEM subjects, depending on the camp. For example, Jurassic Camp introduces kids to the world of dinosaurs, during which they examine fossils, make fossil casts, and explore geology, all just steps away from the California Dinosaur Garden. Wildlife Camp and Bay Camp allow children to enjoy outdoor adventures and learn about Palo Alto’s ecosystems. Zoo Camp provides interactive experiences with animals in the zoo, where children learn about animal behavior, animal care, and the role of zookeepers, thus enhancing their appreciation for wildlife and conservation.

Children have the opportunity to choose which camps they are most interested in when submitting their scholarship application. This helps ensure that each child will be engaged and excited about the camp they attend. Many camp activities emphasize teamwork and collaboration, which build important social and problem solving skills, which is an added value to the educational content of lessons.

JMZ Educator Anne introduces a camper to a tarantula during Zoo Camp. Photo courtesy of Arad Kedar.

Were there any highlights from camp that stood out for you?

The Friends and the JMZ work together to ensure that the JMZ’s programs are accessible for students of all abilities. For the first time, the JMZ had an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter sign for educators during camp. This ensured that children who use ASL as a primary mode of communication were able to participate in all camp games, activities, and lessons.

Based on the backpacks available for checkout at the JMZ’s front desk, JMZ Educators made calm-down kits for each camper. The goal of these calm-down kits, which included a number of interactive fidgets, was to create an accessible resource for campers to use whenever they felt the need for a break or a moment of peace. By providing these tools, JMZ Educators aimed to foster a supportive environment where children could feel more comfortable in their camp experience.

Scholarships are one piece of making science education more accessible to students in our community, and we look forward to working with the Friends on the continued growth of this program.

A young camper builds with spaghetti during Camp Chronos. Photo courtesy of Arad Kedar.

Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo

info@friendsjmz.org | www.friendsjmz.org

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