Academic Explorers have animal fun in Uniondale
Bugs, a rabbit and a collection of reptiles from the Center for Science Teaching & Learning, in Rockville Centre, visited the children at the Academic Explorers Day Camp in Uniondale last week.
The interactive lesson on land animals, on July 11, was led by Brandon Ellis, a science teacher at CST&L. The campers, who ranged in age from 6 months to 10 years, were excited to learn about the animals and what makes them special.
“I feel that we are inspiring a new generation to give these (animals) a chance,” Ellis said. “We’re teaching (kids) responsibility — we’re teaching them all these wonderful skills with animals.”
Ellis provided information about each animal as he introduced it. He showed each of the four age groups at the camp the horns on a hissing cockroach’s head and explained how they fight one another in mating rituals. Girls squealed when Ellis asked if any of them wanted to be a cockroach’s girlfriend.
The kids got to pet Chelone the tortoise and watched him walk around on the carpet as they learned about the protection he gets from his shell, and his all-vegetable diet. They also met Wilma the Eastern long-necked turtle, a less commonly known species, and learned how her long neck helps her find bugs to eat within the rocks of her habitat.
The children were thoroughly entertained by Ellis’s presentation, laughing as he “wore” Chex Mex, a Mexican milk snake, as a necklace, a bracelet and even a hat. He asked the kids what they use to smell, and when they pointed to their noses, he explained how snakes smell with their tongues.
He brought out a blue-tongued skink named Drago, a species of lizard with a blue tongue. The kids have blue tongues only when they eat blue lollipops, he pointed out to them, while Drago’s tongue is blue all the time.
Ellis ended the presentation with Jack the rabbit, and the children petted her fluffy back and ears.
“I’ve always had a very strong passion for animals, a deep respect for them, a love for them, and when I think of these guys, I think we could do so much for them,” Ellis said.
The day camp invited the animal exhibit to fit with its weekly theme of “land,” during which the focus was on nature, the outdoors and animals.
Shinad Basden, the head teacher for the toddlers’ age group, said the kids read books and completed art projects all about different animals: where they live, what they eat and what they do.
“I try to make it fun to where they understand a little bit, but they do understand the different animals,” Basden said.
The summer camp accepts children from 6 months old to age 10 or so, according to Glenda Grady, Academic Explorers’ marketing manager. The themes are selected before the summer begins, and they are based on subjects like science, English and social studies, as well as summer-related topics. To complement “land,” upcoming themes include “air” and “sea,” in which the kids will learn more about the environment, as well as a series of lessons on the arts — performing, literary and visual.
“We just want to offer different opportunities during the summer for them to have fun and be engaged, but also to learn,” Grady said.
Academic Explorers was founded in 2017 by Rodney and Danielle Page, a father and daughter duo, with their first location opening in Roosevelt. It functions as a preschool and enrichment center throughout the school year, and a day camp in the summer, and has locations across Nassau County, including Uniondale, Merrick and Old Westbury. To learn more about the organization, visit AcademicExplorersLLC.com.
