Week 9 started on a rough weather note but ended strong with some of the most beautiful weather of the season. This week the campers learned about habitats on the farm. They discovered that a habitat is the home of a plant or animal. It provides the living creatures that live there with food, water, shelter, air and space to live or grow. We focused on what we could find living in our farm habitat and which animals might be a predator and which might be prey (or eaten by a predator).
The campers got to meet some live animals this week. Predators included American toads and tiger salamanders. The campers also learned about camouflage when they met a real, live walking stick. They learned that his shape and color help keep him safe from predators.
Aposematic coloration was the topic of discussion when they met the monarch butterfly caterpillar. His yellow, black and white bands send a signal to predators that he doesn't taste so good. The sap from the milkweed plant that he eats makes him taste so bad, that anything that eats him will likely vomit. It's his only defense from hungry predators.
The campers also had fun catching critters to feed to the toads. Just as much fun was had watching the toads eat their prey. They squealed with delight as they watched the lightning fast tongue of a toad whip out to capture a crawling cricket only to say "ewwwwwwwwww" when both of the toads eyes sunk into it's head in an effort to push it's meal down it's throat. Hey, toads don't have teeth, they have to eat that way!
The kids spent time in the garden watering and harvesting carrots, tomatoes, onions, squash and cucumbers. You'll see in the pictures how much the garden has changed over the summer months. The sunflower house is now more than 6 feet tall!
Farmer Steve was especially appreciative for their help washing beets this week. Thanks again for all of your hard work!
Take a look at some pictures we snapped this week!
Posted by Kelly Joslin at August 9, 2008 07:25 AM