Camp Shanti at Gurukul Montessori Academy inspires young children to practice friendship, kindness and peace through child-centered, age-appropriate activities and games. This summery-fresh, preschool summer camp is designed to promote healthy, happy, joyful living! We blend the playful experiences described below into a basic Montessori interdisciplinary curriculum to make this summer one to remember. Enjoy!
Week 1: Sail Away (Learning About Friendship & Kindness)
We sail off to Camp Shanti ! Coconut Money teaches us a Kindness Pledge, then we “cook up” an edible nest filled with good wishes for new friends. Our special Kindness Coupons bring a smile to Mom & Dad. We create unique friendship bracelets, sing the Playmate Song and surprise parents with Home Sweet Homework. Everyone makes a joyful noise in our “We Are All Friends” Parade.
Week 2: Anchor of Kindness (Learning About Community)
We talk about community when we pretend to be seagulls, then create a cooperative tapestry by weaving together one friend at a time. We make Peace Poles to celebrate the global community, then meet a “frisky octopus” who embraces us all. How many hugs can an octopus give? Singing “The More We Get Together” emphasizes the strength of our classroom community.
Week 3: Starlight Quiet (Learning About the Strength of Gentleness)
“Nothing is strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as strength.” We think of something quiet, blow bubbles, and move like tiny streams of water flowing though the canyon. We sing “The Donkey Do” about the power of love. Coconut Monkey gets mixed up and we feather dance, then pretend to be sleeping turtles in the sun as we practice relaxation though creative visualization.
Week 4: Dolphin Days (Learning About Respect)
Graceful Moonglow Dolphin & Coconut Monkey play “Polite or Impolite” and we practice good manners at an ocean floor tea party. We practice listening with our hermit crabs, then play “What Do You Do, Dear?”and construct our own planet model to help us focus on respect for Mother Earth. Making easy bird feeders helps us respect all creation. More Home Sweet Homework!
Week 5: Breezes & Squalls (Learning About Self-Control)
Crabby the Crab teaches us self-control in a Magical Potion game. We make Globby glitter stress-busters and learn the Angry Poem. Is our ship sailing in the breeze or have we hit a squall? We build an anchor from recyclables and hold on to it together. Our Stormy Seas cooperative group mural introduces us to mixed media. Home Sweet Homework helps us deal with anger.
Week 6: Sailing To Harmony (Learning About Affirmation)
We dress as hearty sailors who sing and shout self-affirmations, then create maps and land forms of the lands we visit. Sponge painting a mystery treasure chest filled with happy thoughts is our favorite.. We practice smiling and draw our beautiful, blissful, bountiful selves. Imagination and happiness fill our days. We practice silent sitting and deepen our yoga asanas.
Week 7: Helpers Regatta (Learning About Service)
Ships in the regatta use signal flags. We make our own helping signal flags to remind us of the joy in serving others. We practice Acts of Kindness and think of ways to help Mom & Dad. We model service for Crabby the Crab who discovers that helping others lifts even the crabbiest spirit! Look for our helper's charts and graphs displayed near our kid-friendly, kid-made sailboat.
Week 8: Wonderful World (Learning about Gratitude & Celebration)
Engulfed in wonder, we explore tricky questions about nature from the book, “I Wonder Why The Sea Is Salty.” We honor the wonderful world in our Spacious Skies drawings, make prism rainbows and feast on Happiness Pies. We end the summer with a Laugh-a-thon and special blessings. Where ever we go, every day is brimming with peace and harmony for all Camp Shanti kids.
Children participate in daily outdoor play and frequent water play.
Field trips, picnics and special visitors to be announced.
Vegetarian lunches are brought from home.
We provide only organic milk as a commitment to ahimsa. |
