Pre-K – Entering 1st Grade
Our award-winning camp keeps kids’ minds and bodies running all summer! Our camp structures combines Art, Science and Outdoor Recreation activities with our upbeat staff to help entering Kindergarten—1st grade campers make smooth grade and school transitions. Kids make new friends, work in groups, adjust to new environments, enjoy learning, and of course, rock the The Edmo Vibe! Click each tab below to see how you can get more out of camp.
What We Recommend: Find at least 2-4 weeks of Arts & Science or Edmo in the Park themes that interest your child. The continuity of staff, daily schedule and friendships makes young kids feel safe and ensures the life skills they develop last long after their last day of camp.
Our Arts & Science program is built around four kid-friendly weekly themes. Every day campers rotate through one-hour stations of Art, Science, Outdoor Recreation and Team Time that relate to the theme. We personally test each activity for maximum “Wow Factor.” If we don’t get tickled pink doing it, you won’t see it at camp.
Our projects are fantastic, but it’s our highly trained and well-costumed staff that bring them to life. These college-graduate Instructors & college student Counselors have a contagious enthusiasm for learning. Talk about something you don’t mind your kids catching! Kids learn you don’t need to wear a lab coat to be a scientist. You don’t have to live in a tiny studio in France to be an artist. Art and science are all around us, and with a little imagination and a dash of silliness, learning suddenly feels a whole lot like playing.
My daughter came home wildly excited about her projects…from making soda, art and camp songs, to making new friends. Thank you so much for making her experience one she’ll remember for a lifetime!” -Cheryl Morand, 2011 Larkspur Parent
See what your child can do this summer…
2012 Arts & Science Weekly Themes
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Inventors, tinkerers and creative thinkers wanted! Enter a world where your imagination transforms every day objects into quirky machines, mind-bending puzzles, mini-pet robots, original board games and one-of-a-kind creations! |
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Sample Art Projects:Marble Maze: Learn the history of labyrinths, from Ancient Egypt, to the maze at Knossos which housed the infamous Minotaur. Then, use your knowledge to design and create your very own working marble maze. Board Games: Discover the evolution of games, from prehistoric game pieces made from rocks and bones to today’s most popular versions made from sanitary plastic and cardboard. Learn the process of board game creation, then invent your own. Make your own board, pieces, cards, spinners, dice…and best of all…your own rules. We promise you’ll never get bored of these board games! |
Sample Science Projects:Tumbler Dudes: The force of gravity is funny …funny-looking! Build peculiar paper people that play with gravity (and your eyes) as they tumble head over heels down handy home-made hills. |
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Do you know what it takes to survive in the wild? Imagine what it’s like as you discover the strangest things some North American animals must do to eat, grow up, build homes, communicate, avoid predators and survive natural disasters! |
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Get ready…it’s time to get UP! You’ll be flying high as we launch rockets, fly kites, float giant bubbles, build hot air balloons, toss boomerangs, spin mini-copters and design strange new contraptions that soar through the air! |
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Discover curious creatures, magical habitats, and unique cultures that can be found on this magnificent planet! You’ll swing through the layers of the Amazon rainforest, ride the backs of antelopes through the Africa savanna, and play instruments invented 1,500 years ago by indigenous Australians. |
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See the Arts & Science Camp Day for Yourself!
| Time | Click each activity below to learn more |
|---|---|
| 8:00am | AM Extended Care |
| 8:50am | Drop Off |
| 9:00am | Morning Rally (Outdoor) |
| 9:20am | Station 1: Science and Art Enrichment Station (Indoor) |
| 10:30am | Snack (Outdoor) |
| 10:40am | Station 2: Recreation (Indoor) |
| 11:50am | Lunch (Outdoor – Revolution Foods Lunch Optional) |
| 12:25pm | Station 3: Outdoor Excursion (Outdoor) |
| 1:35pm | Station 4: Science and Art Enrichment Station (Indoor/Outdoor) |
| 2:45pm | Afternoon Rally (Outdoor) |
| 3:00pm | Pick Up |
| 3:15pm-4:00pm | Family Fridays (Weekly Friday show for parents) |
| 3-6:00pm | PM Extended Care |
Need to get to work early? We understand. By 8am our staff is already hard at work helping our campers make new friends, do arts & crafts projects, play games and plan special activities that relate to our weekly themes.
Be greeted by name…with a high five…by a professional staff member…dressed in a mermaid costume or a Viking hat. In a hurry? Just pull up and we’ll open the door for you. In no rush? Park your car, come right in and shake your counselor’s fin.
Time to start art! Our arts projects complement our science experiments so campers learn a different perspective on the same great theme! Our “state-of-the-art” Art Instructors bring a wealth of teaching experience in addition to on-site training by the Museum of Children’s Art. Each weekly theme features a mix of mediums like collage, painting, sculpture, decoupage and recycled art to keep the creativity flowing!
It’s not camp without outdoor fun & run around time! Except, we put an Edmo twist on our daily Recreation games. We weave in themes of confidence, teamwork, problem solving and leadership so that kids are actually learning about themselves while they play. Imagine that! Some of our favorites include: Leap of Courage, Cooperative Stunts, Group Juggling, Capture the Flag, Wet & Wild Relays, and Disco Dancing Stretches…that’s right, we said “disco.” There’s an art and a science to it!
Here teams work together on “campy” things like cheers, banners, lanyards, games, skits and other “choice time” activities. It’s a time to really get to know the other kids in your group, your counselor, and build a team identity. Then it’s time to show the whole camp how you rock the Edmo Vibe at AM and PM rally contests every day! But that’s not all! At least once a week, we also lead kids in SMILE projects that encourage anonymous acts of kindness and recognizing others in their group for doing nice things. Curious about SMILE projects? Learn more here: 
Did you “Stump the Camp Director”? Did you earn a “Buddy Card” or a “Plus Card”? Do you know what I’m talking about? You will if you’re at the Afternoon Rally! The whole camp comes together to remember all we did that day, show off our team cheers and recognize our friends for all the awesomeness they showed that day.
Again, you can pull up or walk up, whichever you fancy. Either way we’ll make a point to let you know something special about your child’s day in words and writing. Look out for our daily “Give Me More” sheet detailing what kids learned at camp, what to look forward to tomorrow, and suggested activities, books, websites, museum exhibitions and more fun ways to keep the curiosity going at home!
If you can’t get out of work early or your kids just can’t get enough Edmo, join us for Extended Care! Campers rotate between outdoor games, indoor crafts and extra science projects. You can rest or work easy knowing your kids are in good hands until you pick them up.Give Me More Sheets
These daily take-home sheets describe the day’s activities, provide great resources to foster your camper’s curiosity at home and help make sense of the excited chatter that fills the car ride home.
Healthy Lunch & Snack Option
Take a break from making lunch this summer and add a healthy Revolution Foods lunch to your camp order. Each meal and snack features fresh, locally grown or organic ingredients whenever possible.
Extended Care Option (AM: 8-9am, PM: 3- 6pm)
Can’t drop off at 9am or pick up at 3pm? No problem. We’ve got you covered from 8am-6pm if you need it. Enroll in 3 or more camp weeks to get 50% Off Extended Care.
Thursday Dress Up Days
It’s not camp if you can’t dress a little weird…at least once a week! Each Thursday has a special dress up theme to get campers into the camp spirit and parents into that box of old Halloween costumes…one more time.
Water Wednesday
Weather-permitting (i.e. everywhere except San Francisco), campers bring their water gear and we end the day with all-camp water relays, sponge tosses, slip-n-slides and more fun-drenched games to beat the heat.
Family Fridays
Parents, don’t miss this chance to be a kid again! Get off early from work and join us for this special hour of family fun activities! Join a rally, play favorite camp games, learn cheers (if your kids haven’t taught you already!), tour the camp classrooms, chat with the Instructors, meet the parents of your child’s new friends, watch a special screening of our Animator movies and more!
FREE PASSES
All campers receive FREE or discounted passes to our partner museums, plus special offers from local, like-minded businesses.
When it’s time to hand the classroom keys back to our host schools, we head to the park! Edmo in the Park is hosted in or near local parks and nature preserves late July – mid August. We customize each weekly theme depending on the geography, history, nature and local ecosystem of the region.
Our Pre-K—entering 1st grade campers spend most of the day outdoors on nature hikes, completing outdoor art and science projects, or playing outdoor recreation games. Plus guest artists, presenters and performers related to the weekly theme are booked especially for them. Not a bad way to spend your last days of summer break, right?
Of course, many of our Edmo traditions follow us to the park. Kids still play the The Edmo Vibe Game, start and end the day with ridiculous rallies and Mo the Monkey, our camp mascot, is always hanging around. Just try keeping him out of a park…it’s impossible.
2012 Weekly Edmo in the Park Themes
Blast off with Edmo for art and science that’s out of this world! Our space week will take campers on an “otherworldly” adventure filled with extraterrestrial art and science projects. It’s fun at the speed of light as children discover the life of stars, build spaceships, and get face to face with outer space using their very own telescopes!
Sample Projects:
Constellation Creation: How on Earth did people find their way before maps? They used the night sky! Learn all about constellations and make one to take home!
Blast Off!: Learn all about rocket propulsion, aerodynamics, and Newton’s Third Law as we count down and launch a real rocket!
Telescopes: How can glass and light help us see things millions of miles away!? Uncover the science behind telescopes, and create your very own!
All aboard for non-stop transportation excitement! Campers uncover the science and engineering that keeps our world running. Wheel, wind and wing-themed projects and games put campers in the driver’s seat. Build a hot air balloon, explore magnetic levitation, join a boat race, and attend the Edmo pilot’s training school!
Sample Projects:
Balloonmobiles: Uncover the forces of energy that put things in motion while you build and experiment with your very own balloon-powered automobile!
Magnetic Motion: Magnets aren’t just for refrigerators anymore! Learn how magnets can make things float, and participate in a magnetic levitation train race!
Submarine Science: What’s it like to live underwater? Learn the science behind submarine motion, and then create your own magical sinking submarine!
What’s so special about California? Campers discover for themselves through art and science projects featuring the ecology, geography, geology, and history of the Golden State. Your child will be shouting “Eureka!” as they explore California’s native plants and animals, find out what causes those spooky earthquakes, and learn what it was like to be one of California’s first inhabitants.
Sample Projects:
Pollution Solution: Icky pollution is on the move in California! Learn all about the world of watersheds, and use creative problem solving to figure out how to stop that nasty stuff from invading our oceans.
Ecosystem in a Box: Did you know that California has more distinct ecosystems (or biomes) than any other state? Find out why while creating an ecosystem of your own!
Hooked on Tectonics: Why does California have so many darn Earthquakes!? Discover what’s going on under the ground and how volcanoes are created. Then, erupt your own!
It’s aliiive! This week campers unleash their creativity and bring art to life through sculpture, theater, music, and dance. Students discover the world of acting and puppetry, play self-made instruments, learn world dances, and discover how to share their art with others. Bravo!
Sample Projects:
Making Music: Have you ever wondered how sound becomes song? Learn all about it while making music on your own handmade instrument!
Mask Master: Explore the world of theatrical illusion by making your very own mask or costume and performing with other campers. Bravo!
Silly Sculpting: Did you know humans have been making sculptures for over 35,000 years? Uncover the history of sculpture and make your own three dimensional masterpiece!
See the Edmo in the Park Camp Day for Yourself!
| Time | A Day in the Park… |
|---|---|
| 8:00am | Optional AM Extended Care |
| 8:50am | Drop Off |
| 9:00am | Morning Rally (Outdoor) |
| 9:20am | Station 1: Science and Art Enrichment (Indoor/Outdoor) |
| 10:30am | Snack (Outdoor) |
| 10:40am | Station 2: Recreation (Outdoor) |
| 11:50am | Lunch (Outdoor – Revolution Foods Lunch Optional) |
| 12:25pm | Station 3: Nature Excursion (Outdoor) |
| 1:35pm | Station 4: Science and Art Enrichment (Indoor/Outdoor) |
| 2:45pm | Afternoon Rally (Outdoor) |
| 3:00pm | Pick Up |
| 3-6:00pm | Optional PM Extended Care |
Every Edmo in the Park Camp Day Includes
- Monday we explore our unique Arts & Science theme, get FREE museum passes, and lead team building games.
- Tuesday we build our Arts & Science projects, lead Story Time, take walking excursions, and launch The Vibe Game.
- Wednesday we expand our Arts & Science projects, spend time outside, share SMILE Cards, and continue The Vibe Game.
- Thursday we grow our Arts & Science projects and host a Guest Presenter.
- Friday we complete our Arts & Science projects and have an end of the week closing activity.
Every Edmo in the Park Camp Week Includes
A unique theme, outdoor excursions, regional natural history, The Edmo Vibe Game, FREE museum passes, 8:1 camper to staff ratio, and a green camper t-shirt and orange bandana (those are exclusive Edmo in the Park gear).
Where is Edmo in the Park located?
San Francisco: Julius Kahn Playground in The Presidio, San Francisco
East Bay: Lake Temescal – Big Rock Picnic Site, Oakland
South Bay: Stevens Creek Park/Sycamore Area, Cupertino
When does Edmo in the Park run?
Edmo in the Park offers more weeks of camp July 16 through August 24. The camp day goes from 9am – 3 pm, Monday – Friday. AM and PM Extended Care are also available.
How do you group the children at Edmo in the Park?
Campers are divided into two groups, K-1st graders and 2nd–4th graders with each groups’ activities based on their age level.
How does Edmo in Park differ from our regular Camp Edmo program?
Edmo in the Park includes several unique features such as the park location vs. school campus, more regional nature/history/geography focus, and field trips for entering 2-4th graders.
Does Edmo in the Park offer extended care?
Of course…Morning Extended Care runs from 8am-9am and costs $30/week. Afternoon extended care runs from 3:30-5:30 and costs $60/week. Extended Care can also be purchased on an hourly basis with a rate of $10/hour. You can add extended care when you enroll or just notify your Camp Director the day you need it. Extended Care is 50% off when you sign up for 3+ weeks of camp!
What does a typical Edmo in the Park day look like?
For our entering K-1st grade campers: Edmo in the Park follows a similar structure to our regular Camp Edmo program. K-1st grade campers participate in a daily rotation of hands-on Arts, Science and Recreation and Team Time activities.
For 2nd-4th grade campers: Each day has a different focus. Monday and Friday Campers will rotate through Science, Art and Recreation activities. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, campers leave our site for a field trip or excursion.
What type of transportation will the kids be using on their field trips?
We have chartered buses to comfortably and safely transport campers from one place to another around the Bay.
Is lunch available at Edmo in the Park?
For just $30/week, add a healthy, tasty morning snack and lunch to your camp day. Revolution Foods delivers fresh to camp every day and partners with Whole Foods Market and other natural food providers to include fresh, natural, and, whenever possible, organic products. Every meal is home-style, kid-friendly, and made with care daily. There are also non dairy and vegetarian options! Staying for PM Extended Care? Add an afternoon snack for just $5/week! Visit our Revolution Foods Lunch & Snacks Page to learn more.
Are there field trips? Who goes and when?
Our 2nd-4th grade campers go on two field trips off site each week. Each weekly session includes a trip within the area and a special field trip that correlates to the weekly theme. Most field trips return to the park by 2:30pm. For field trips that get back later (like baseball games) parents will be notified of late pick up.
Does my child have to go on field trips?
The 2nd-4th grade program involves many field trips. If there is a field trip you do not wish your child to attend, we may have space for them to stay with the younger group. We suggest you confirm this with the Edventure More home office at 415.282.6673 in advance.
Who is the staff for Edmo in the Park?
Edmo in the Park is led by some of our rock star Camp Directors. The counselor team is comprised of our best Staff Members and Camp Directors – an all star Edmo team!” Click on the staff link for the location nearest you to see exactly who will be at camp this summer.
Is Edmo in the Park safe?
Just like at Camp Edmo, we maintain an 8:1 ratio between campers and staff. A first aid and CPR trained adult is on site at all times. Campers also sign in and out every day are only released to adults you specify on your enrollment forms. Camper are given a bright green t-shirt and wear bright orange bandanas all day. This makes them easily distinguishable at all times.
What happens in bad weather?
Although some of our locations have protected areas in case it’s cold or wet outside, we usually advise parents to pack sweatshirts for their children so that they are prepared when the temperature is cool. There are also protected areas at each of the different field trip locations that our older campers will be visiting.
At camp, kids build what some call “21st Century Life Skills” and others call “values.”
We call it the “Edmo Vibe.”
Curiosity
When kids get curious, they want to learn more. They ask questions. They think critically. Our unique projects spark a child’s natural sense of wonder. Our playful staff provide a safe space for kids to experiment, build, discover and create. Your child will come home so excited, we bet you’ll learn a thing or two yourself!
92% of parents report their child taught a family member something they learned.
Confidence
When kids build confidence, they challenge themselves. They express themselves creatively. They are happier. Each curriculum builds on what campers learned the previous day. Our enthusiastic staff heaps on tons of positive reinforcement when kids give their best effort, use imagination, take risks and rock their camp spirit. Watch your kids shine at camp, at home, and in the community.
98% of parents surveyed say their kids were proud of the projects they created.
Kindness
When kids show kindness, special things happen. They form new friendships. They build trust in others. Our caring staff, hands-on projects, and outdoor games foster cooperation, communication skills, and community spirit. We even dedicate a specific time to team building each day. We make the world a better place — one camp day at a time.
95% of parents surveyed would recommend Camp Edmo to friends or colleagues.
Visit our Edmo Vibe Game page to see how we turn curiosity, confidence & kindness into a game!
- Ratios: We maintain a camper:staff ratio of 8:1 during most camp activities. For younger groups the camper:staff ratio can be 6:1…especially when activities involve tying knots, cutting, gluing or glitter…definitely glitter.
- Groups: Campers are grouped with kids their own age. Groups are generally 10-20 kids.
- Buddy Requests: We will do our best to honor requests to group friends together. Sometimes circumstances like large age differences, “frienemy” behavior, or camper:staff ratios preclude us from being able to group kids together. We’ll give you a heads up if for some reason we can’t…especially the “frienemies.”
- Age Appropriate Activities: Although the weekly theme is the same for all age groups, the actual activities, concepts and degree of difficulty for completion vary according to the age group.
- Modified Activities: On rare occasions we may need to modify weekly activities due to weather, material availability, time constraints or the kid who spilled the entire jar of cabbage juice for the project.
- Balance: Every day we make time to hang out with our staff and camp friends during camp rallies, morning and afternoon breaks, lunch time, and some parts of outdoor recreation. We structure our unstructured time.
- Safety: CPR/First Aid certified staff members are present on-site at all times. Background checks are performed on all staff.
- Behavior: We’ll work with you if your child is acting out at camp. Unfortunately, if his/her behavior is detracting from the camp experience of kids and staff or compromising the safety of others, we may ask you to pick your child up from camp.
Last night, Kate showed us the experiment from yesterday’s camp using milk, food coloring and dish soap. She loved acting like the Teacher, and she is planning to redo it for her cousins when we visit them.. I really love that she was so excited to share her new knowledge with all of us.”
…Michelle Morgano, 2011 Noe/Twin Peaks Parent
My daughter came home wildly excited about her projects…from making soda, art and camp songs, to making new friends. Thank you so much for making her experience one she’ll remember for a lifetime!”…Cheryl Morand, 2011 Larkspur Parent
My daughter was really excited to share with me what she did and learned at camp every day. She even said to me that I really like the science we learned at camp, much better than the science I did at kindergarten.” …Cupertino Parent
My children made new friends the very first day (of camp) and were so excited to tell me so…Camp Edmo is their favorite camp and they always come home happy and talking about their day… A W E S O M E…Awesome-are-we. Over and over again!” …Kim Dilena, 2011 Larkspur Parent
We wish Edmo in the Park was offered all summer…Our daughter (age 7) loved the field trips, the time outdoors, and the room to roam.” …Christine Witherspoon, 2011 Edmo in the Park Parent
The children just loved Edmo. When given the choice between a trip to Disneyland and Edmo they chose Edmo. The infectious chants have livened up our days.” …Adrian Rich, 2011 Palo Alto Parent
You guys did a great job! My son was very excited and inspired by all he learned….All of you were very friendly and with lots of energy! An A++++ from our family! … I have never seen (my son) so excited by his learning as he was this year at Camp Edmo. Thank-you All!!!!”
…Renee Tremmel, 2011 Noe/Twin Peaks Parent
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