Spring is here and summer is just around the corner.  We hope that you have included Montessori Country Day in your plans for summer 2022.  Summer is always an exciting and enriching program full of indoor and outdoor activities.  Summer camp activities are created with the Montessori Method in mind, love of learning, free choice, independence, mutual respect, and hands on learning. Activities will include arts, crafts, music, dance, tending to the garden, picnics, special guests, splash days and theme-based curriculum involving movement and imagination. 

SESSION I : JUNE 3 – JULY 7 CLOSED JULY 4

SESSION II : JULY 8 – AUGUST 9

PIZZA FRIDAY AND DESSERT

Parents may opt to buy a pizza lunch on Friday which will be supplements with milk, fruit, and dessert. Dessert Friday ends each summer camp week with all the children two years and up making and eating dessert. The primary children make dessert for the toddlers. 

TODDLERS

                              
This summer the toddlers (12 months-2 years) will have many exciting themes planned. The summer program will be held in their familiar classroom and will follow the same predictable schedule as they did during the school year with additional water play during their outdoor time. This will allow consistency in routine that toddlers need to feel comfortable and be open to learning.

The children will engage in a variety of enriching activities designed to expand their vocabulary, strengthen their memory, and sharpen their concentration, as well as foster self-awareness and independence. In addition, weekly themes will include. Rescue Hero's, Farm Animals, Transportation, Music/Dance, Favorite Stories, Under the Sea, Sensational Senses, Zoo Crew, Art, and Splashdown. 

If your child is two years old by the beginning of summer, he/she may be moving up to the pre-primary classroom this summer if space permits.


SUMMER CAMP THEMES


WEEK 1: PLANT A SEED JUNE 3-JUNE10

The children will be planting seeds, vegetables, and flowers in our school garden. Our goal is to “plant a seed” about nutritious foods through our gardening experiences. Using all five senses we will learn about fruits and vegetables throughout the week. We will be planting, cleaning, slicing, smelling and eating yummy fruits and vegetables. The children will graph their favorite fruit and vegetable and measure how far each student can spit a watermelon seed.


WEEK 2: SPECTACULAR STORIES JUNE 13-JUNE 17
This week we will be hearing stories by some of our favorite authors, including our children. We will be reading, listening, making our own books, illustrating our books, and performing our stories. The children may bring to school some of their favorite books from home to share and wear their pajamas all week.


WEEK 3: DREAM OCCUPATIONS JUNE 20-JUNE24
We will discover the dreams of our students as we delve into career opportunities. The students will learn about many jobs people have and why everyone’s job is important. Parents will be invited to join us for a visit to discuss their chosen profession. We will have the Hendersonville Fire Department bring the fire truck and our local police officers and the canine unit visit us at MCD to help us understand their important work. Children may wear clothing/costumes that reflect an occupation this week.

WEEK 4: UNDER THE SEA JUNE 27-JULY 1

This week we will explore what is below the ocean’s surface.  Through songs, food, books and crafts we will dive deep to learn about sea life, such as sharks, jellyfish, whales, sea turtles and more.  From fins to fish and sand our children will have a thrilling journey deep below the sea.


WEEK 5: ART APPRECIATION JULY 5- JULY 8
We will be mixing colors, painting with watercolors, dot painting, fabric painting,
using clay and making collages. We will also learn about many famous
historical artists. Ms. Eleanor, our art teacher, will be guiding many of our activities.


WEEK 6: PREHISTORIC CREATURES JULY 11 – JULY 15
Calling all Paleontologists! We will be traveling back in time to learn about dinosaurs
and other creatures from the past. The children will go on a dinosaur dig and create
their own fossils. We encourage the children to wear dinosaur clothes and share
dinosaurs and books from the big lizard era.


WEEK 7: TO INFINITY & BEYOND JULY 18 – JULY 22
Our focus this week will be getting to know our solar system, travel to the moon, and
visit other planets. We will be learning the phases of the moon with oreos, making
galaxy oobleck, playing hopscotch to planets, and blast off with a vinegar and baking
soda rocket. 10, 9, 8……..


WEEK 8: SENSATIONAL SENSES JULY 25 – JULY 29

Our children will experience the wonderful world around them by becoming
familiar with their five senses. We will have food tastings, fragrant matching,
blindfold games, sound matching and listening games along with exploring our
sense of touch.

WEEK 9: ROCKHOUNDS AUGUST 1 – AUGUST 9

Let’s explore the world of geology. We will discover and explore rocks, geodes,
crystals, minerals, fossils or anything “rock” related. We hope to have Asheville
Biltmore Gem Mine visit during the week so our children will have the opportunity to
mine for gems with their traveling mine.


WEEK 10 : STUDENTS SELECT AUGUST 8 – AUGUST 9

Each class will have the opportunity to choose their favorite activities from our
summer themes to extend the pleasure for two more days.