Itty Bitty Camps

Itty Bitty Camps Parent and Child Outdoor Program

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Now registering for Spring Session I starting March 2. Join us at Itty Bitty Camps as we gently introduce young children and their families or caregivers to the habitats of Discovery Park. Through songs, art projects, stories and games, we learn about what lives at the ponds, beach, meadow, wetland and forest.

"You wouldn't believe the little adventures that are waiting for you right in our backyard! Frogs the size of a dime, salamander families, kite flying, beautiful spider webs, hikes, crabs and starfish, hide and seek in the meadows, birds and so much more! The collection of songs are fun and fresh, my son still sings them, and the art projects are innovative and always age appropriate. All and all a really enjoyable experience for the caregiver and the child." says Dawn, mother of Jack. See Genny's photos, Mom to Oliver and Ellie, from a day at camp here.

Apply Now! Cut and paste the following registration form into the body of an email, send it to ittybittycamps@gmail.com (no need to print it). When you send your registration form, you will receive an email confirmation that includes payment options via check or paypal. Once your payment is received, I will notify you that your space is confirmed. I'll be in touch via email one week before the first day with a welcome letter. Exact meeting location provided in email confirmation.

Itty Bitty Camp 2011 Registration Form
Camp Session:
Child's Name(s)-
Age(s)-
Gender(s)-
Parent or Guardian First and Last Name-
Address-
Phone-
Cell Phone-
Do I have your permission to include your email address, you and your child's names in a group message to others enrolled in the program?
How did you hear about Itty Bitty Camps?

Session Schedule 2012
All classes meet from 10-11:30 a.m.
Ages: 12mo.- 4 yrs.
Space is limited to 12 families per class

Eight Week Friday Sessions:
Spring I   March 2 - April 27 (No Class April 6)
Spring II May 4 - June 22
Summer June 29 - August 24 (No Class July 6)

Non-refundable Prices for Eight Week Sessions:
   1. $240 Parent(s) and one child (babies under 12 mo. are free with
paying older child)
   2. $255 Families with two siblings* (12 mo.-4yrs.)

Six Week Friday Sessions:
Autumn I   August 31 - Oct. 5
Autumn II Oct 12 - Nov. 16
Non-refundable Prices for Six Week Autumn Sessions
    1. $180 Parent(s) and one child (babies under 12 mo. are free with
paying older child)
   2. $200 Families with two siblings* (12 mo.-4yrs.)

*Please see the FAQS below for my policy about pricing for nanny shares or cousins attending together.

Can't make it to all of the classes? Unlimited make-ups are allowed during other weekdays or sessions. Please see the FAQS below for more info.

Contact Jennifer
ittybittycamps@gmail.com
(206) 427-2032

Daily Routine & FAQS

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10:oo Arrival and gather for welcome song and felt board activity that introduces our daily theme
10:15 Hiking with games and stories specific to curriculum
10:45 Snack (bring your own)
11:00 Art project
11:30 Goodbye Closing song

FAQS

How far do we walk?
Our longest walk is 1.75 miles round trip. I'll let you know in the confirmation email if we are walking a long distance. Hiking boots are not necessary, but comfortable shoes are important.

What do we do when it rains?
Usually camp is still on, in the rain! But if it's really miserable, I'll let you know via email if we'll meet indoors or cancel.

Can I bring my stroller?
We use strollers often on all paved trails, but my preference is that you use a baby carrier to reduce wear and tear on the dirt trails. Contact me about your needs for more information.

Can our Nanny, Grandparents or other caregivers come with me and/or my child?
Sure! No problem. Please send me their emails and give them a contact number so they can call if they need help with directions. Let them know we will hike and sit on the ground often. In the case of a nanny bringing children that are not siblings, the cost is per child and the sibling rate does not apply.

Why don't you offer the sibling rate to nanny shares or cousins attending together?
I base my rate on the number of people assumed to be providing for the children. In the case of nanny shares and cousins it's often two sets of parents. If your situation is special, please let me know and I can work with you i.e. single moms that work as nannies and want to bring their child.

What if we miss a day? I don't offer a discount for missed days, but I do allow unlimited make-ups in the current and following session, except on the first day of camp and beach day (because of logistics.)Let me know 2 days in advance so I can bring extra art supplies.

What is your cancellation policy? Itty Bitty Camps reserves the right to cancel any program due to insufﬁcient enrollment. Registrants will be notiﬁed by email and full refunds will be issued by check. All fees paid by participants for current sessions are non-refundable. If there are outstanding circumstances, the payment may be transferred to a future session.

All fees and schedules are subject to change with out notice.

Is my child too young for this program? At 12 months old, some children are still spending most of their time very close to the parent, in the baby carrier, nursing or in arms. I believe they are participating, being in nature with their grown-ups, other children, and learning to create a positive relationship with us all, including the little critters we find. My goal is to make Itty Bitty Camps interesting for the parents as well as the little ones so we will all know the park's ecosystems a bit more intimately.

My toddler nurses often, is Itty Bitty Camp breastfeeding friendly? Yes, I wholly support nursing anytime we sit for a break, anywhere. I did it while teaching for years!

Art Projects

butterfly kite

owl window
mini felt board

frog sock puppet
meadow Corsagebutterfly mobile

Our intention is to make art that is fun to play with, recyclable, re purposed, and/or compostable.

About Us

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Children need nature as much as nature needs children.

-Richard Louv author Last Child in the Woods

Jennifer created Itty Bitty Camps to offer outdoor adventures for toddlers and their parents in 2008. She wanted to offer an opportunity to connect with others and all living things in a safe and playful way. It is an exciting combination of her favorite things: being with children outside (especially her son and daughter), teaching, making art, being silly, and sharing the secret wonders in Discovery Park. She has more than ten years of experience working with children in a variety of environments. From being a wilderness guide, leading whitewater canoe trips and rock climbing to ski instructing, she shares her love of this planet with young folks. Most recently, she worked as a naturalist at Nature Daycamp in Discovery Park for two years. This is where she learned about the "wilderness" available within Seattle city limits.

While remembering the type of play she did as child, it involved endless periods of time outside. She knew the wild areas in herr neighborhood and beach intimately. They felt like her very own special little places. As her daughter grows up in a city, she feels it is her responsibility to offer her regular opportunities to fall in love with the natural world too. Hopefully then, she'll be more willing to respect her relationship with it as she grows.

She hopes you'll join her to catch grasshoppers, touch a sea star and pick wild berries.

Testimonials and Birthday Parties

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"I did this program twice with my two girls, ages 3.5 and 1.5, and they LOVE it. We'll be going back this year. Jennifer takes parents and/or caregivers out with tots ages 1-4 to a different spot each week within Discovery Park and creates an awesome morning based on varying themes. She does activities, looks for wildlife, and is really good at connecting with children on their level. I really loved this program because it helped me do something that as a mom I know my kids need -- getting out into nature for hikes and habitat exploration -- but that I rarely am motivated to do during the week on my own. I've done a lot of programs with my kids, and some of them really haven't impressed me. This series is soooo worth it!"
- Natalie, Mom to Lola and Tansy

"I am one of those moms who seeks out wonderful things to engage my daughter and get her really tired for her naps. We stumbled upon Itty Bitty Nature camps from this site [QA Moms] and I have to say we love it. My nanny takes my 2 year old daughter most of the time. They come home with stories and my daughter shouts out "Moon" and "Sun!" The walking outside and learning about the environment is such a lovely thing. I hesitated to sign up for December because of the rain... but it has not been a problem at all. Each day Ilaria goes she returns home with the most wonderful art projects. Last week they made a gorgeous moon that I my daughter will give to her nature loving grandparents. One week they made a bird feeder that we hung and watched the birds come to our tree. I can not say enough good things about this program and it is affordable!"
-Melinda, Mom to Ilaria

Birthday Parties
Celebrate your little one's special day with an hour of nature-based games, stories, exploration, and an art project. Choose from customized themes such as creepy crawly bugs, weaving spiders, or lucky lady bugs. Host the party at your house, book a room at an Environmental Learning Center, or a shelter at a park. $100 for one hour of activities for all ages.