Fall-Spring Programs

Honeybees 101

1^st-12^th

9/8

1:00-2:30 PM

$8/student

*parents may observe at no charge

Safety Day

All ages

9/9

9:30-12:00

$5/student

*parents may observe at no charge

Our Safety Day is a tradition for many families to kick off the new school year. Come join us for our annual day of fun, fellowship, and exciting programs designed to meet your fire safety educational requirements. This year the SPCA joins us to teach pet safety in addition to the fire safety programs put on by our local fire company. After the programs are over, we will have hot dogs and other snacks available to purchase for a picnic lunch (or you can bring your own).

Canoeing at Rose Valley Lake

6^th-12^th+

9/10

1:00-4:00 PM

$25/student

*each participant needs to register

All levels of experience are welcome on this canoe trip. An experienced instructor will accompany the trip to ensure safety and fun! Wear water appropriate shoes and appropriate clothing for the water. We will learn canoe stroke basics, play canoe games and practice wet exits and entry if desired. Adults attending this class must register. Limited class size, register soon!

Church History

9^th-12^th

9/9, 9/23, 10/7, 10/21, 11/4, 11/18, 12/2, 12/16

8 classes total

1:00-2:30 PM

Learn about the origins of many local denominations in Pennsylvania and America through a look at the English Reformation and local church history. Class includes introduction to a variety of church traditions straight from a wide variety of local pastors from various faith backgrounds.

Outdoor Adventure Skills Lvl 1

7^th-12^th

9/16, 9/30, 10/14, 10/28, 11/11, 11/25

6 classes total

1:00-4:00 PM

$60/student

*parents may observe at no charge, no parental participation

This popular class will introduce and allow students to try a variety of outdoor recreation skills to gain confidence and knowledge. Skills will include kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing, hiking, survival skills, mountain biking, team-building, and basic wilderness medicine.

Orienteering

Grade level TBD

9/23

Time TBD

$8/student

*parents may observe at no additional charge

Forest Ecology

9^th-12^th

9/10, 9/17

10:00 AM-12:00 PM

$15/student

*parents may observe at no charge

Come learn about trees and forest ecology at Camp Susque! Ezra Houston, a graduate of Penn State’s Forest Management program, will be teaching this two-part class. The first class will focus on tree identification and gaining a basic understanding of trees. The second class will dive into topics of forest ecology such as forest composition and how it changes over time, and the dynamic between certain sites and where trees grow.

Local History Tour

All ages- parents must register and attend with students

10/1

1:00-3:30 PM

$8/participant

*a parent must register and attend with students

Travel with a guide to the nearby McIntyre area for an intriguing peek into some little-known local history, exploring a mining community, ghost town, iron furnaces, and more! Participants should be prepared for walking at least one mile. Parents must register and attend with students.

Worm Composting

PreK-6^th, but all ages welcome

10/14

9:30-10:30 AM

$5/student

*parents may observe at no charge

These slimy invertebrates create the Black Gold of the gardening world, turning kitchen scraps into the greatest compost your garden has ever known. Kids will be invited to handle and observe worms and also build a worm composting container that they can take home. Instant pets! Taught by a Master Gardener and Certified Nature Educator.

Family Astronomy Night

All ages

10/16

7:00-9:00 PM

$5/person

*each participant needs to register

The greatest show on earth goes on both night and day and often without our notice – and this takes place in the universe in our skies above. Bring your family to Camp Susque for our Astronomy Night, when we will, weather permitting, view some celestial objects through Susque’s large telescope! In case of inclement weather, we will have a virtual “tour of the universe”, including some hands-on activities relating to recent discoveries on Mars.

After the class, continue stargazing with us while enjoying a campfire and marshmallows!

Ceramic Christmas Ornaments

2^nd-12^th

10/9, 10/23

2 Saturday classes

10:00-11:30 AM

$30/student

*parents may observe at no additional charge

Join us in the pottery studio to make your very own ceramic Christmas ornaments to treasure for years to come!   The first day involves shaping and cutting the clay, and the second day will be for glazing. Pick-up will be available two weeks after the second class.

History of Rock

9^th-12^th

11/3, 11/10, 11/17, 12/1, 12/8, 12/15

*No class 11/24*

6 classes total

10:00-11:00 AM

$50/student

*parents may observe at no additional charge

In the latter half of the twentieth century, Rock Music became a universal obsession and an unparalleled social force. In this course, students will discover the major developments in rock. Class time will be devoted to lectures, discussion, and listening. Given limited instructional time, the instructor will also provide playlists via YouTube for students to enhance their understanding of the stylistic characteristics of each artist and subgenre.

Christmas Around the World: Tanzania

1^st-12^th

12/9

10:00 AM-12:00 PM

$10/student

*parents may attend at no additional charge

Nature Study: Birds

1^st-6^th

1/6, 1/13, 1/20, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 2/17, 2/24

8 classes total

10:00 AM-12:00 PM

$50/student

*parents may observe at no additional charge

Come learn about birds at Camp Susque! In this 8 session course, students will learn how to identify common backyard birds by sight and sound, features that make birds unique, as well as do hands-on projects like owl pellet dissections!  Class sessions cover topics such as eggs, feathers, flight, beak adaptations, diet, and more.

Through this course students will also participate in a Cornell Lab’s Citizen Science Project, learning how to do data collection and participate in real scientific research.

CPR and First Aid Certification

9^th-12^th +

2/10

9:00 AM-4:00 PM

(12-1 PM lunch break)

$50/person

*all participants must register

Intro to Soprano Recorder

3^rd-12^th

3/2, 3/9, 3/16, 3/23, 3/30

9:00-11:30 AM

$30/student

(includes the cost of a recorder)

Learn the basics of playing the soprano recorder from a retired music teacher of 30 years.  Students will learn standard playing position, proper fingering and excellent tone production.  Students will learn the rudiments of notation reading as well.  The focus of the class will be performing actual pieces while using simple drills to make this goal readily accessible for students. 

Maple Sugaring

1^st-12^th

3/10

1:30-3:00 PM

$8/student

*parents may observe at no additional charge

TerraNova 2/ CAT 6 Testing

1^st-12^th

3/17

(Registration deadline 2/17)

9:30-1:00 PM

$50/student

*no parental participation or observation, parents must wait in designated waiting areas

Camp Susque is pleased to offer the convenience of local standardized testing.  We will proctor the TerraNova 2/CAT 6 for students (generally taken in grades 3, 5, and 8). We will be offering the core portions of the test which cover Reading, Language, and Math. Registration deadline is February 17.

SWAPLUCK!

All ages

3/24

12:00-3:00 PM

Join us for our annual SWAPLUCK!  This is a potluck + swap day, so bring a small dish to share and some items from home that you would like to donate and swap, like clothing, books, toys, shoes, homeschool curriculum, and more!  Come and enjoy the food and fellowship, meet some new friends, and browse the tables to take home something new.

Growing Sprouts & Microgreens

Designed for PreK-6^th, but all ages welcome

4/14

9:30-10:30 AM

$10/student

*parents may observe at no additional charge

No garden? No problem. Grow the tastiest and most nutritionally-dense greens on your countertop. Sunlight optional. This easy introduction to growing microgreens and sprouts is a hands-on lesson for kids. Families will watch and wonder as sprouts and seeds emerge at home a few days later. Recipes included! Taught by a Master Gardener and Certified Nature Educator.

Animal Tracking

1^st-8^th

4/14

1:00-2:30 PM

$8/student

*parents may observe at no additional charge

Come and take a walk around Susque in search of evidence of our four-footed friends.  Students will learn how to identify various common tracks found in the wild.  Each participant will cast a plaster track to take home as well as handouts for future tracking.  Be prepared to walk in the woods with appropriate footwear and clothing.

Earth Day: Pollination

1^st -12^th

4/21

10:00-11:30 AM

$10/student

*parents may observe at no additional charge

Climbing Wall Adventure

3^rd-12^th

4/21

1:00-3:00 PM

Come experience Camp Susque’s climbing wall.  Challenge yourself to set goals and follow through with them on both faces of the 25-foot wall.  This is personally and physically stretching – give it a try!

Make-Your-Own Terrariums

Designed for K-6^th, but all ages welcome (PreK with assistance)

4/28

9:30-10:30 AM

$15/student

*parents may observe at no additional charge

Stream Studies

1^st-8^th

4/28

1:00-2:30 PM

$8/student

*parents may observe at no additional charge

In this class, students will learn about water ecology by exploring and identifying critters in Lycoming Creek! Plan to wear appropriate footwear and clothing for creek exploration.

PA Forestry

1^st-8^th

5/5

1:00-2:30 PM

$8/student

*parents may observe at no additional charge

This hands-on class will focus on learning the basics of tree identification. Students will learn the difference between coniferous and deciduous trees, simple and compound leaves, and additional physical characteristics of a variety of common trees found in Pennsylvania.

Outdoor Adventure Skills Lvl 2

9^th-12^th OR

Successful completion of OAS Lvl 1

5/5-5/6

9:00 AM 5/5 to 2:00 PM 5/6

$60/student

*no parental participation

Take your outdoor adventure skills to the next level.  Level II is a 2-day, 1 night camp-out opportunity which expands on, and puts into use, the skills learned in Outdoor Adventure Skills Level 1.  Activities include kayaking, rock climbing, rappelling, and backpacking.