Christy and Amrita's Summer Adventure Camp 2016

It's about that time to start thinking about Summer Camp again. I can't believe I'm saying this as I sit typing at my dining room table and looking out at the blizzard that has taken over our town!

This Summer 2016 Amrita and I will again co-teach two weeks of camp. Last year we experimented with the idea of an adventure camp and it was wildly successful. This year we will host an adventure camp for two consecutive (but separate) weeks in which we will daily adventure out into our local world via foot, bus, or Metro. Last year I noted just how much confidence it gave the children to move about the area with a sense of independence and, eventually, expertise. I was reminded of how important it is to raise citizens of this world and that is exactly the opportunity that all of our families afforded them during this camp. Our adventures ranged from visits to an animal shelter, firehouse (with fresh baked goods,) a private tour at the Botanic Gardens, an awesome trip to a playground in upper NW DC, the post office, museums, and more. We packed our snacks and lunches along with us and picnicked where we felt the most inspired. Suffice it to say that we were exhausted at the end of each day and parents reported "earliest bedtimes ever!"

Well, we can't wait to do it again, this year adding a journaling component for reflection while we are out, as well as an additional hour and fifteen minutes to our day. Here are the details:

Week One: August 8-12
8:45-3:00

Weel Two: August 15-19
8:45-3:00

Camp cost is $395 a week plus a SmartTrip card for transportation. Children ages 5-12 may attend. Siblings receive a 10% discount as do families signing up for more than one week. A 50% deposit is due by May 1, 2016 and the balance will be due on the Monday that your child attends camp. You may write a check payable to Christy Przystawik and mail it (I can send you my address) or you may send it via PayPal to coachchristymarie(AT)gmail(DOT)com.

This camp requires a great deal of walking so please keep that in mind for your child. We drink lots of water and take breaks but we do not use cars to get around. A detailed list of what your child should bring will be provided closer to camp. We will also be out regardless of the weather.

We are not likely to repeat any of last years venues and more details about our schedule will be forthcoming as exhibits and theater schedules are revealed. I will say that Amrita is crafting a geo-caching day that will be awesome! As always, there will be a private Facebook group created for families to follow us throughout each day. In addition, if you feel you have a venue that we should visit (perhaps a conference room at your office) then please let us know. Each opportunity we provide will deepen your child's experience in this world-it all has significance! Please note that this camp is unlike any other. We are deeply invested in your child's time with us and we do not hire other "helpers" to watch them. We have many years of experience in working with children in many learning formats and we enjoy getting to know your children for the individuals that they are. Many leave our camp newly inspired and connected to the world in a way they never expected. Space is limited.

Please feel free to email me at the address above with any questions. We look forward to spending time with you this Summer!

Christy and Amrita

Summer Camp 2015!

*6/25/15-We are offering a drop-in option for Week 2 of camp. The fee is $65 per day per child.

Christy and Amrita's Summer Camp is back! Here are the details, please feel free to share!

Christy Przystawik and Amrita Love will be co-teaching a Reggio-inspired Summer Camp this Summer 2015. Amrita Love has been teaching in India, Virginia and the DC area for over 20 years. She and Christy met while teaching at Discovery Woods Learning Community, an outdoor school in Vienna, VA. She believes that in every child lives an artist that discovers within herself or himself a myriad of creative representations. Christy is a chef and garden teacher in DC at Peabody Primary School and in Arlington, VA at Campbell Elementary School. She believes in fostering independence and creativity in children by teaching them to garden, cook, and write. The camp will be a mixed focus on gardening, eating local and seasonal foods, nature, artwork, and journaling. Music will be included every day at camp to inspire learning, movement, and relaxation. There will also be time for child-led free play. 

In addition, there will also be a one week adventure camp. For this camp Christy and Amrita will lead day trips with children via public transit. Such trips will include art exhibits, live performances, and restaurant visits. We will bring journals to sketch and write about our experiences. 

Please let Christy know if you'd like your child to attend and feel free to forward this along to friends and family. There are more details below.

Camp #1 will run Monday-Friday from 9 AM-1PM. Snack will be provided by the camp. Lunch will need to come from home.

The cost will be $300 per week. 10% discount for siblings.

Ages 4-10 may attend.

Week 1: June 22-26
Week 2: June 29-July3

Children will most definitely get dirty and need a change of clothes. They will also be taught how to use (children's) knives and prepare basic food for snacks and drinks for themselves and their fellow campers.

Weather permitting we will be outdoors for most of the time, both in the sun and in the shade, but we are also inclined to take breaks indoors if necessary.

The normal camp day will end at 1:00 and extended day will be charged at the rate of $10 per hour after that.

Camp #2 will run Monday-Friday from 9 AM-2PM. Snack will be provided by the camp. Lunch will need to come from home. Campers will be traveling on public transportation (bus and Metro) and a SmartTrip card will be required. 

The cost will be $350 per week. 10% discount for siblings.

Ages 4-10 may attend.

Week 3: August 17-21

We will be both indoors and outdoors and we will do a good bit of walking.

The normal camp day will end at 2:00 and extended day will be charged at the rate of $10 per hour after that.

Please email coachchristymarie@gmail.com for questions or to reserve a spot. Deposits will be due at a later date.

Pictures From Two Weeks of Reggio-Inspired Summer Camp

Just a quick hello and share of some photos from the Summer camp I did at home. What fun!

Space Still Open for Reggio-Inspired Summer Camp!

Still looking for a Summer Camp for your child? I have some spaces left for my camp so I thought I'd share with you what it's all about!

Amrita Love and I will be co-teaching a Reggio-inspired Summer Camp for three weeks this Summer. Amrita has been teaching in India, Virginia and the DC area for over 20 years. She and I met while teaching at Discovery Woods Learning Community, an outdoor school in Vienna, VA. She believes that in every child lives an artist that discovers within herself or himself a myriad of creative representations. At camp, Amrita and the children will have the opportunity to make these discoveries through a variety of media like: paper making, vegetable prints, clay, mosaic, mod podge decoupage, different paints, cray pas, sculpture and good old paper and pencil. I will be working with the children on gardening, harvesting, cooking, composting, and plant preparations. Music will be included every day at camp to inspire learning, movement, and relaxation. Here are the weeks they are offering and the number of spaces still available. Please let me know if you'd like your child to attend and feel free to forward this along to friends and family. There are more details below.

coachchristymarieATgmailDOTcom

Week 1 July 21-July 25-now full Week 2 July 28-August 1-2 spaces open

Week 3 August 4-August 8

9 spaces open Camp will run Monday-Friday from 9 AM-1PM. Snack will be provided by the camp, prepared together with the campers. Lunch will need to come from home. The cost will be $300 per week. The camp will be a mixed focus on gardening, eating local and seasonal foods, nature, artwork, and journaling. Christy and Amrita will provide pictures and documentation of activities via a private Facebook group. The age range of the children is from (potty trained) 3 to 9. There will definitely be a mix of both structured activities and unstructured play. Children will most definitely get dirty and need a change of clothes. They will also be taught how to use (children's) knives and prepare basic food for snacks and drinks for themselves and their fellow campers. Weather permitting children will be outdoors for most of the time, both in the sun and in the shade, but leaders are also inclined to take breaks indoors if necessary. The normal camp day will end at 1:00 and extended day will be charged at the rate of $10 per hour after that.

First In A Series of Fermenting Classes: Kickstarting Kombucha!

Easy Turkey Stock!

Enjoy this simple, healthy recipe for turkey stock. Don't let those bones go to waste!

Classroom Food Lesson-Apples

Believe it or not, even though every aspect of my work has to do with teaching people about feeding children well or actually teaching children how to eat well, I still enjoy volunteering my spare time doing the same thing. What can I say, I'm passionate! I believe that schools are a great place to teach children about food, cooking, and eating well, and when it can be woven into curriculum it really works well for everyone. 

Recently I taught an apple lesson in my daughter's kindergarten class. They have been doing a unit of study on "Old Days, New Days." As part of this I offered to do a lesson on apples in which we  would talk about heirloom apples, taste them, vote on our favorites, and finish the process of making applesauce with a food mill. Because there was no cooking equipment at the school I started the applesauce at home but took pictures to show the students. I am hoping to get money from the incredibly supportive PTA at our younger daughters' school to purchase an induction burner that anyone can use for classroom cooking in the future.

If you are interested in teaching a food lesson in your child's classroom, get on it! Below I have included the components of my kindergarten apple lesson. But first here some tips:

1. Always make sure that your child's teacher wants you to come in and do a lesson. It could be that they need your help in other areas first.

2. Team up with another parent or two and meet or email to discuss a plan.

3. Be organized! Agree on a start and end time with your child's teacher and stick to it. Students have busy days and they need to stay on schedule.

4. Write yourself a timeline. You will get distracted once you are in there teaching a lesson. Refer to your timeline to help you keep moving. Review this timeline with the teacher before the lesson takes place.

5. Keep it simple. For this particular class I had three stations: applesauce milling, tasting and voting, writing describing words. Afterwards we recap and that's it.

6. Make sure you have help. This could come from the teacher, an aide, another parent, or even a resource teacher in the school. Ask your child's teacher who will be around to help.

7. If you cooked, provide a recipe that can be sent home. This may need to be approved or modified so don't take it personally if it gets changed a bit or is not sent home at all.

All but the milling picture was done and photographed at home on the morning of the lesson day.

I was able to buy beautiful local "seconds" apples at Maple Avenue Market in Vienna, VA. I love supporting this local business whenever I can and the owners are awesome!

This picture was taken after the tasting but here are the components. If you make signs be sure to use the same handwriting that would be expected of your child. I printed the lined paper at home and wrote the words that I needed. My daughter's teacher drew up a quick graph where students could vote by writing their names under their favorite apple.

 I found a free clip art picture of apples online and made these sheets. I printed one copy at home and made more copies at school.

Here's the letter I typed up that got sent home:

"On Wednesday our class made applesauce using a food mill like it was done in the Old Days. Everyone got a chance to turn the food mill and help make the applesauce. We also tasted three different heirloom apples and voted on our favorite. We described how apples look, taste, sound, feel, and smell. Here is the recipe we used for our applesauce if you want to make it at home.

Homemade Applesauce

Select your apples.

Visit a farmer’s market and ask for “seconds,” “culls,” or “drops.” These are imperfect-looking apples that are perfect for applesauce! Choose sweet apples and a mix of types is preferable. Here is where I got my apples.

Wash and chop the apples.

Plain water in the sink is fine, nothing fancy. Chop the apples, or use a corer/slicer and add them to a large pot, peel, seeds, core, and all.

Cook the apples.

Put about 1 inch of water on the bottom of the pot. Put the lid on, and the heat on medium-high.  If the water comes to a boil, reduce heat to medium and cook until the apples are soft.

Strain the cooked apples.

The easiest way to do this is by using a food mill. Spoon the cooked apples into the mill and turn the handle. The seeds, skin, and core will separate. Compost the debris.

Season the applesauce.

Add ground cinnamon to season your applesauce. Vanilla is nice, too. You do not need to add ANY sugar to the applesauce. Serve warm or cool."

And there you have it! Yes, there is some work involved but this same lesson could be used for every classroom at the Kindergarten level and easily adjusted for younger or older children. To simplify you could remove any one (or two) of the activities.

I'd love to hear how you are bringing fresh and healthy food to your child's school-please share!

Peace and Health, 

christy