Summer Camp Themes

Summer 2012

Leonardo DaVinci is the inspiration for integrating science and art experiences and exploring different themes in depth, so we can give your child a DaVinci Experience®. NEW half day (9 am- noon) program for 4-7 yr. olds at Falmouth and Brunswick sites. All of our sites accept 5-13 year olds full day (9 am- 3 pm) except in Yarmouth. Please note that themes offered in Yarmouth on Cousins Island are for 8-13 year olds. Children are divided into small groups of similar aged campers.

Extended day program with later pick-up ( as late as 5:30 pm) is available at the Falmouth and Yarmouth /Cousins Island sites. Early drop off (as early as 7:30 am) is available at the Falmouth site.

Amazing Africa

Learn about the scientific marvels and art of this fascinating continent! Make masks, warrior shields & flags, 3d animals, African dolls, jewelry and more as we explore these amazing cultures in Falmouth .Full day option for 5-13 yr. olds. Half day option also available for 4-7 yr. olds . top

Ancient Egypt

Grab your pith helmet and map for an imaginary excavation of ancient Egypt. Document your discoveries with drawings, paintings and sculptures. Offered in Falmouth . Full day option for 5-13 yr. olds. Half day option also available for 4-7 yr. olds . top

Castles, Knights, & Princesses

Imagine a fantastic trip through medieval Europe and the time of cathedrals. Build a castle, construct a catapult, and play games from long ago in Falmouth. Includes hands-on science experiments, art projects and outdoor fun . Half day option for 4-7 yr. olds , as well as full day option for 5-13 yr. olds.

CIT ( Counselor-In-Training)

Applicants should be 13-15 years old and must commit to at least two weeks of summer camp( not necessarily consecutive). There is also precamp training in June that consists of CPR certification, basic first aid training, and an all staff orientation meeting, Throughout the summer CIT's receive reading materials on child development, participate in leadership development activities and are under the supervision of DaVinci Experience staff and are assigned a mentor. Acceptance into the program is contingent upon a personal interview with the camp director and a review of references. There is a $125 fee per week for 1st year CIT's. The fee is waived for returning 2nd year CIT's. Applications may be printed from our Employment Opportunities page.

Creatures of the Deep

Discover secrets of the deep thermal ocean vents and the alien looking creatures that live there. Learn about giant squid, whales and dolphins. These are just a few of the creatures we'll find out about in Yarmouth on Cousins Island . Full day 9am-3pm. option for 8-13 yr. olds. New this year: extended day option 3:00 -5:30 pm top

Crime Lab

Learn how detectives solve crimes! Find fingerprints, analyze fibers and soil, and experiment with chromatography as you work with a team to solve mysteries in Brunswick and in Westbrook .9am-3pm for ages 5-13 yrs. old in Westbrook and Brunswick. Half day option for 4-7 yr. olds available in Brunswick. top

Emergency Vet

Campers will be introduced to the exciting world of Veterinary Medicine at our Cape Elizabeth Community Services Building site. They will learn about animal behavior, diseases and parasites, and first aid for pets through hands-on activities and games. A vet will visit and discuss how to prepare for a career in veterinary medicine and answer your questions about pet care. Animal rehabilitator, David Sparks of Sparks Ark will also bring real animals to camp and stress safety around animals. top

Inventors' Workshop

Investigate Leonardo Da Vinci's inventions and his art. Analyze his inventions like the bicycle, catapult, and flying machines. Build your own catapult and contruct your own invention in Freeport at Mast Landing School site. top

Impressionist Art

!Learn about famous Impressionist artists and their art at our South Portland Community Center site. Paint outdoors like Monet and Renoir. Experiment with pastels like Degas. Make fun Matisse-inspired collages. Lots of art projects and games help you discover the secrets of the Impressionists

Island Artist/ Making Maine Art

Learn about famous Maine artists and their art at our Cousins Island in Yarmouth site. Paint seascapes like Winslow Homer, build sculptures like Louise Nevelson, mix egg tempera paint like Andrew Wyeth, make animal books like Dahlov Ipcar and more! Bring your swim suit and water shoes for exploring the sandy beach and rocky shore. (Must be at least 8 yrs. old for this week. We are outdoors most of the day and swim in the ocean ) New this year: extended day option 3:00 -5:30 pm top

Island Explorer

Learn to identify the trees, plants, and rocks of Cousins Island . Make your own rock collection. Explore the area's diverse ecosystems through hands-on science activities and games. Lots of outdoor and beach fun at our Yarmouth site!( Must be at least 8 yrs. old for this week. We are outdoors most of the day and swim in the ocean ) New this year: extended day option 3:00 -5:30 pm top

Island Habitat

We'll explore tidal pools and discover animal habitats along the shore and in the woods and fields of Cousins Island in Yarmouth. One of our most popular camps! New this year: extended day option 3:00 -5:30 pm( Must be at least 8 yrs. old for this week. We are outdoors most of the day and swim in the ocean ) top

Jurassic Giants

Learn about dinosaurs and the prehistoric environment of these exciting creatures. Discover what it is like to be a paleontologist. Build models, make fossils, and create your own dinosaur in Falmouth. Full day option for 5-13 yr. olds. Half day option also available for 4-7 yr. olds . toptop

Kitchen Science Fun

Conduct exciting experiments using safe household materials. We'll make cornstarch creatures, things that wiggle and foam and more at our Brunswick site. We will also learn about "green chemistry" and why it is important for chemists and engineers to develop safer, more environmentally friendly chemicals for the products, like toys, that we use every day. Full day option for 5-13 yr. olds. Half day option also available for 4-7 yr. olds . top

Leonardo's Art Making

Learn about Leonardo Da Vinci's masterpieces as we experiment with a variety of media. Paint portraits and landscapes using Leonardo's eye for proportion and perspective at our NEW Gorham site. Paint outdoors. Lots of art projects and games. Full day option for 5-13 yr. olds. top

Lightning, Lava, & Landslides

Construct a volcano, see why earthquakes quake, and make a tornado in a bottle! Explore severe weather patterns and make your own weather station equipment at our Cape Elizabeth site! top

Lost Civilizations

Making Maine Art

Learn about famous Maine artists and their art at our Brunswick site. Paint seascapes like Winslow Homer, build sculptures like Louise Nevelson, mix egg tempera paint like Andrew Wyeth, make animal books like Dahlov Ipcar and more!.Full day option for 5-13 yr. olds. Half day option also available for 4-7 yr. olds . top

Mission to Mars

Launch kid-safe rockets! Plan a space colony and learn about living on Mars as you do hands-on science experiments, art projects and games. Discover the secrets of "The Red Planet" in Brunswick. Full day option for 5-13 yr. olds. Half day option also available for 4-7 yr. olds .

Moon Mission

Be part of a space agency team to role play a mission to the moon. Lots of hands-on experiments and projects. If you liked Space Traveler last summer, you'll love Moon Mission. Learn what it takes to become an astronaut at the Westbrook Community Center . Full day option for 5-13 yr. olds. top

Ocean Commotion

Discover the wonders of the ocean and the creatures in it with outdoor games and science & art projects on Cousins Island. Learn about sea life from plankton to sharks & whales. Get upclose looks at starfish, hermit crabs and moon snails. Bring water shoes for shore explorations. New this year: extended day option 3:00 -5:30 pm ( Must be at least 8 yrs. old for this week. We are outdoors most of the day and swim in the ocean ) top

Picasso to Pop Art

Learn about famous modern artists at our Falmouth site. Paint like Picasso and practice print making like Andy Warhol. Experiment with fun drip painting like Pollack and create your own sculpture. Learn about Japanese anime and manga as we make our own comics. Full day option for 5-13 yr. olds. Half day option also available for 4-7 yr. olds .

Radical Rain Forest

Learn about the fragile ecology of the rainforests around the world. Using activities and hands-on science experiments, we will explore the environment and its endangered species. We'll make puppets and models of the layers of the rainforest, paint jungle scenes and more in Falmouth. Full day option for 5-13 yr. olds. Half day option also available for 4-7 yr. olds . top

Sea Pirates

We'll explore the history of pirates and ships on the sea. Construct your own model pirate ship, learn to tie nautical knots, and find out what floats or sinks off the gang plank. Learn navigational skills and use a treasure map for the DaVinci Scavenger Hunt in Falmouth .Full day option for 5-13 yr. olds. Half day option also available for 4-7 yr. olds . top

Tepees & Totem Poles

IExplore Native American culture by making and wearing Indian clothing, building models of homes, and hearing myths as we recreate native art and crafts. Play traditional games and try new foods in South Portland . Full day option for 5-13 yr. olds. Half day option also available for 4-7 yr. olds . top

(Not offered in 2012, watch for them next year)

Ancient Greece

Discover the world of the ancient Greeks and the advances made in science and art! Do fun hands-on experiments with water and levers like Archimedes. Make Greek urns, pottery and jewelry. Learn about the art and architecture of Greece. Finish the week with Olympic Games in Falmouth .Full day option for 5-13 yr. olds. Half day option also available for 4-7 yr. olds . top

Crime Lab

Learn how detectives solve crimes! Find fingerprints, analyze fibers and soil, and experiment with chromatography as you work with a team to solve mysteries in Falmouth . Half day option for 4-7 yr. olds , as well as full day option for 5-13 yr. olds. top

Critters & Creatures

Explore the island environment of field, woods, and shore to learn about birds and other animals up close. David Sparks, an animal rehabilitator from Sparks Ark will visit along with live animals. Includes hands-on science experiments, art projects and outdoor fun and games in Yarmouth on Cousins Island. (Must be at least 8 yrs. old for this week. We are outdoors most of the day and swim in the ocean )

Docs that Rock !

Learn about fantastic careers in medicine! Experiment to find out how our bodies work and how to keep them healthy. Listen to hard working hearts, make models of lungs, learn how the senses work and much more. Discover hidden worlds inside the human body with a microscope! Half day option for 4-7 yr. olds , as well as full day option for 5-13 yr. olds in Falmouth . top

Fantastic Flight

Explore the theories of flight as you send your kites and flying machines up, up and away! Experiment like Leonardo Da Vinci with lift, thrust and gravity at our Falmouth site. Full day option for 5-13 yr. olds. Half day option also available for 4-7 yr. olds . top

Sharks, Volcanoes & Other Pacific Islands Fun

Take an imaginary trip to the Pacific! Build a model raft and learn about sharks. Make your own volcano. Learn about different island cultures through art projects, dance , and hands-on science activities in Freeport.

Space Traveler

If you liked Space Station Vacation last summer, you'll love Space Traveler! We'll learn about the latest developments in space exploration. Lots of hands-on experiments and projects to explore our solar system and the stars beyond. Make your own star finder in Falmouth. Half day option for 4-7 yr. olds , as well as full day option for 5-13 yr. olds. top

The Write Stuff

Do you want to be a reporter, writer or poet? Learn the writing skills to give you confidence in expressing your ideas. Your instructor worked for Scholastic Books for years and will now share her knowledge of informational and reportive writing. You'll also have the opportunity to visit with the special "Critters & Creatures Camp" guests ( David Sparks and various animals) and help with the DaVinci Experience Newsletter in Falmouth . Use your imagination to create your own stories and art. Games and outdoor fun included. ( Must be at least 8 yrs. old for this session. ) top