Great gift for the young nature lover on your Christmas List!

       

Hi everyone:

Ashley Moffat* has been putting out award winning children’s albums about nature for 15 years.  Ashley's released a her album Habitat with a super fun collection of songs from syrup to salamanders in 2017.  Her previous album Wild About Nature was released in 2012 and has catch nature tunes about Bats, Beavers and more!   

Cd's of either album are $15 each and can be ordered and picked about at the IPYNC, 39 Sunset Drive  

Please visit her website at https://littlemissmoffatmusic.com/music/ to hear her music.

Peace, Love and Platypuses,

-I.P.Y.N.C Staff

*Full disclosure, Ashley is a good friend of mine 😊

Tantallon Screening of "Burned"

Hi everyone:

This coming Wednesday Nov. 28th at 7:30 PM to 9 PM there will be a screening of the award winning expose of biomass ( are trees the new coal?) at St. Luke's United Church, 5374 St. Margaret's Bay Road. There will also be treats, coffee and tea  (and me:) at the door to greet you.

To learn more about "Burned", please visit https://burnedthemovie.com/

Nutrition with Edie

Hi everyone:

Superstore Dietitian Edie Shaw- Ewald, who for the past 6 summers, has enthusiastically brought fun, games and lots of nutritious treats to us at camps.  On the eve of Thanksgiving Weekend 2018, we give a BIG shout-out to Edie and all she brings to our camp.

Thank you Edie :)

- I.P.Y.N.C Staff

Green Schools

Hi everyone:

We were very lucky to have Olga Torres from Green Schools visit us at each camp this past summer (three times by Skype and once in person).  Olga wrote an article about her experience at camp that you can read here: 

https://www.greenschoolsns.ca/news/talking-about-energy-efficiency-youth-indian-point-young-naturalist-club#comment-1519

-I.P.Y.N.C Staff

Field trip to Ocearch

Hi everyone:

Sharks are threatened by our fishing, pollution and destruction of habitat world wide.  Thanks however to Ocearch, top shark scientists from around the world are now together off the coast of Nova Scotia searching for white sharks to learn more about them in order to help protect a species that has been on earth for over 400 million years. 

Thank you Ocearch for talking to 30 I.P.Y.N.C campers and their families about your mission to save white sharks in an enthusiastic and informative way.

- I.P.Y.N.C Staff

Attention all shark lovers! Ocearch Tour on Wednesday Sept. 19th, 2018

Hi everyone:

The I.P.Y.N.C is very lucky to have an exclusive tour of the ship Ocearch by the group responsible for tagging and tracking Hilton, the Great White Shark that is now lurking of Nova Scotia.

Ocearch is launching a research expedition in the province next week and Campers and their families can join the I.P.Y.N.C in Lunenburg on Wednesday, September 19th at 5pm at the Ocearch ship that will be docked at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, 68 Bluenose Drive. 

To learn more about Ocearch and their visit to Nova Scotia, please visit Ocearch Face Book page at https://www.facebook.com/pg/OCEARCH/posts/

Ocearch would like to know how many will be attending and to have a waiver signed, so please RSVP Scott at ospreys@eastlink.ca.

-I.P.Y.N.C Staff

Come for a fun filled day on Micou's Island Sunday!

Come join the I.P.Y.N.C Sunday September 9th, 2018 for a tide pool scavenger hunt on Micou's Island anytime from 3 pm to 5 pm.  See below for other fun activities for the whole family to help support the St. Margaret's Bay Stewardship Association.

Camp 4, 2018 Mystery Creature Revealed!

Here were the four clues to thsi weeks Mystery Creature:

1.    Their Latin name means naked gills.

2.    Like flowers, they vary widely in color and arrangement.

3.    They are called the “butterflies of the ocean,” both for their technicolor appearance and their intense toxicity

4.    They are really, really cute. One is even called the “sea bunny”

 Let's take some guesses...

This weeks Mystery Creature is a Nudibranch or Sea Slug!

Budget Boat Race Teams and Rules

OBJECTIVE:

Your team will have 1 hour and 30 minutes to make a one person boat out of cardboard and duct tape. We will then hike to the island and do a relay race, one boat at time. 

Each team member will launch of off a tube and race around a buoy and back to the tube.  All members of your team must make a trip even if the boat is underwater

TEAM 1: Olivier, Theo, Ely

TEAM 2: Alyssa, Ashley, Grace

TEAM 3: Kate, Frida, Ecem

TEAM 4: Adam, Nate. S, James

TEAM 5: Julian, Will, Isabel

TEAM 6: Matthew, Emma

TEAM 7: Michael, Kyra, Zach, Olivia

 RULES:

-        Once your tape and cardboard runs out, that’s all you get!

-        Must be a boat, needs sides built up.  No cardboard surf boards!

-        Boat must be 3 feet wide, length does not matter :)

-        You  must always stay inside boat when racing. 

-        Even if boat begins to sink, passenger must stay in the boat as much as possible!

-        All of the boat must cross the finish line to finish. 

How Not To Build a Budget Boat!

Schedule for Friday, August 24th, 2018

Hi everyone:

Tomorrow is our last day of camp for 2018.  We will be ending the camp with a new kind of race at Micou's Island.  Check out the schedule below to learn more about the Race and other activities we have planned.

Peace, love and Jellyfish,
-IOYNC Staff

Clue number 3 and 4 of Camp 4's Mystery Creature

Hi Campers:

Here are the last tow clues for thsi weeks Mystery Creature:

3.    They are called the “butterflies of the ocean,” both for their technicolor appearance and their intense toxicity.

4.    They are really, really cute. One is even called the “sea bunny”

Good luck,
-IPYNC Staff

Schedule for Thursday, August 23, 2018

Hi everyone:

Today it was all about contrast, bouncing wildly on waves or quietly painting on t-shirts! Tomorrow we are sticking closer to home but have a full schedule.

Please remember that Thursday we need the permission/ consent form filled out for our coastal management talk by all parents for their children. Here's a look at the schedule for Thursday:

- The IPYNC Staff

Schedule for Wednesday, August 22nd, 2018

Hi everyone:

We had a great day tie dying t-shirts, swimming and learning how to cut down on the use of our electrical devices so we can save the planet! The camps Salt water aquarium uses $300 dollars of power a year!

Tomorrow we are super excited about our Fundy adventure tidal bore rafting and mud sliding, a "fundy" it will be :)

Here are a few reminders,

All campers, staff and drivers need a signed waiver to participate.

All campers, staff and drivers must be here at camp by 6:30 am.

A parent or guardian must be here at 4 pm so their child can participate in the after camp special that runs to 5 pm.

Please vist the Fundy Tidal Bore Adventures to learn more about what each participant needs to bring on the field trip.

Please contact Scott if you have any questions.

Here's a look at the schedule for Wednesday:

On a cell phone?  Please click the schedule to enlarge.

     -The IPYNC Staff

Camp 4, 2018 Mystery Creature Clue 1 and 2

Hi everyone:

Each week of camp we give four clues to campers to try to guess a mystery creature.  Keep your guesses to yourself until we reveal the answer on Friday.  Here are your first two clues in this weeks mystery creature:

1.    Their Latin name means naked gills.

2.    Like flowers, they vary widely in color and arrangement.

The remaining two clues will be given Thursday.

Good luck, 

- IPYNC Staff

Schedule for Tuesday, August 21, 2018

Hi everyone:

Started off the day counting baby snakes and ended the day counting crabs and lots of learning about whales and leatherback turtles in between!

Just a reminder for parents who have not already filled out the tidal bore rafting and presentation waiver we sent a few days ago, to please do so soon.  I will have hard copies on hand at camps if you would like to fill these out too.

We are happy to report that we are all set with drives for our field trip now.  Christina Kempster, IPYNC camp counselor from 2003 to 2008, who is now a teacher, has kindly volunteered to drive for us. Thank you Christina! Also a reminder that we have asked for $20 to cover the cost of the rafting and the bus, please send it in if you haven't already.

Here is a look at Tuesdays schedule:

-I.P.Y.N.C Staff

Schedule for Monday August 20th, 2018

Hi everyone:

We are all set for the first day of the last week of camps for 2018! We will be posting the following days schedule of activities here on our blog the day before.

We would like to make a correction for the field trip schedule, we are leaving at 6:45am instead of 7am as was reported in the Seastar Times and emails earlier this week.  We are also looking for one more driver for the field trip, let us know if a parent can drive.  We will make sure you have a spot on the raft if you do volunteer.

Here's a look at Monday's Schedule:

Reading from a cell phone? Click the schedule to enlarge

 The I.P.Y.N.C Staff

Camp 3, 2018 Mystery Creature Revealed!

Hi everyone:

Here are all 4 clues agian of thsi weeks Mystery Creature:

1.     Thirty years ago, this creature faced possible extinction, because of dangerous pesticides destroying its eggs.

2.     This creature finds its prey from the air, often hovering prior to plunging feet-first into the water to seize a fish that makes up most of its diet.

3.     They like to nest on telephone poles

4.     They are the provincial bird of Nova Scotia

And the Mystery Creature is...

An Osprey!

-IPYNC Staff

Schedule for Friday, August 10th, 2018

Hi everyone:

Thursday was just one of those magical days that camp the spirit shined brightly. We counting crabs,  created with Loose Parts and at bugs.  What else could you ask for if you are under 13!

A special shout out to the caring, enthusiastic and loyal junior and senior counsellors that make it all happen each day.

Here's a look at Friday's schedule:

Viewing on a Mobile?  Tap the schedule to enlarge

- IPYNC Staff

Camp 3, 2018 Mystery Creature Clues 3 and 4

Hi everyone:

Below are the final clues for thsi weeks Mystery Creature that we will reveal tomorrow before the Island Amazing Race.  Remember don't say your guesses until then!

3.     They like to nest on telephone poles

4.     They are the provincial bird of Nova Scotia

Good luck,

-IPYNC Staff

Schedule for Thursday, August 9th, 2018

Hi everyone:

We had a great day with lots of furry and feathery animals, ice cream and waves. Sadly we had to cancel our "After Camp Special" at 4 pm to day because of a Thunderstorm warning; however will  try again tomorrow at 4 pm.  This means a parents or guardian has to be here (or give another parent permission) to watch their child from 4 pm to 5 pm during the after camp special. 

Here's a look at Thursday's schedule:

Add caption

-IPYNC Staff

Schedule for Wednesday, August 8th, 2018

Hi everyone:

Another hot, sunny and perfect day at camps with lots of art, great food and slime and surf!

Tomorrow is our Field Trip to Hope For Wildlife Center and Lawrencetown Beach.  Please be here by 9 am because we will will be leaving soon after.  Camp Will end tomorrow at 4 PM for the after Camp Special.  I parent or a guardian has to be at camp between 4 pm and 5 pm for a camper to take part in the activity.

Here's a look at the complete schedule for Wednesday:

On A Mobile?  Tap the schedule to enlarge

- IPYNC Staff

Camp 3, 2018 Mystery Creature: Clues 1 and 2

Every Week of camp we give four clues in the weekly Mystery Creature.  Here are Clue#1 and Clue#2:

1.     Thirty years ago, this creature faced possible extinction, because of dangerous pesticides destroying its eggs.

2.     This creature finds its prey from the air, often hovering prior to plunging feet-first into the water to seize a fish that makes up most of its diet.

You will receive the final clues on Thursday.  The Mystery Creature will be revealed on Friday, just before the Island Amazing Race.

Good Luck,

-The IPYNC Staff

Schedule for Tuesday, August 7th, 2018

Hi everyone:

A perfect day in the sun and surf here at camps.! We splattered each other in paint, splashed each other with water guns and learned about the horses on Sable Island and the treasure on Oak Island.  Here's a look at Tuesdays e3xciting schedule:

- IPYNC Staff

Schedule for Monday August 6th, 2018

Hi everyone:

We here at the I.P.Y.N.C are super excited to start off Camp 3 tomorrow with lots of fun activities and presentations.  Here's a look at what we have planned for Natal Day Monday:

Viewing on Mobile?  Tap schedule for better resolution

A few reminders, please make sure that your children are covered up with sunscreen, a hat and swim shirts (especially a swim shirt that wont rub off while tumbling around for hours in the bay's on the many float toys camp has :)

Also, because we are having our  Paint Splatter Party Monday, all campers and staff need to have old shorts and shirt or swimsuit to wear under their camp T-shirt during the activity.

Finally,  a reminder we are still looking for another parent to be a volunteer driver for our field trip on Wednesday.  Please contact Scott for details or let him know Monday during registration if you can drive.

- I.P.Y.N.C Staff

Camp 2's Mystery Creature is...

Hello Everyone:

Here's a recap of all the clues for our Mystery Creature given earlier this week:

1.      This creature has not changed in over a 100 million years and can live up to 220 years of age

2.      They have no mouth, eyes, brain, lungs, stomach, muscles or heart!

3.      These animals were once thought of as a plant and survive by pushing water through their body that contains the food they eat

4.      Humans have used their skeletons as padding and cleaning tool for thousands of years

Ok, now it is time for your guesses!







This weeks Mystery Creature is a Sea Sponge

Multicultural Festival

Camp counsellor Kyra will be performing with her Dance Academy at this years Nova Multicultural Festival at Alderney Landing.
https://my-waterfront.ca/event/multicultural-festival/ 
She performs at 1:00pm this saturday and will present various styles such as: Jazz, Hip hop and contemporary. The festival is free to attend so please free to come for the food and entertainment. Hope to see you there.

(Kyra is front and center)

https://www.facebook.com/multifestns/ This Facebook page has all the information :)

Schedule for Friday July 26th, 2018

Hi everyone:

Our day was filled with giant moon snails, tasty bugs and loose parts :)   Tomorrow is our last day, so we will reveal our Mystery Creature (don't forget to review the clues here on the blog) and our weekly Island Amazing Race will be run on Micou's Island, just down the road and over a sand bar form us here at camps.   We will also be collecting our art, and paint splatter t's.  Here's a look at the full schedule for Friday:

- IPYNC Staff

Mystery Creature Camp 2 2018: CLue 3 and 4

Hi everyone:

Here are the last two clues in this weeks Mystery Creature:

3.      These animals were once thought of as a plant and survive by pushing water through their body that contains the food they eat

4.      Humans have used their skeletons as padding and cleaning tool for thousands of years

 We will reveal the answer to the Mystery Creature Friday, just before the Island Amazing Race.  Good Luck!

-  IPYNC Staff

Schedule for Thursday, July 26, 2018

Hi Everyone:

Wow, what a great day we had: we saw lots of animals, played in the waves and ate lots of ice cream!  The greatness doesn't end here: because tomorrow we are all set to do it again!  Here's a look at Thursday's schedule:

- The IPYNC Staff

Schedule for Wednesday July 25, 2018

Hi everyone:

Another hot one on the bay today!  We had lots of fun swimming on the, now warm, bay and on the shore with art with Naomi and nutrition with Edie.

Wednesday is our fieldtrip to Hope for Wildlife and Lawrencetown Beach.  A reminder to try to drop of the kids just before 9 am and to remember the $10 / camper for the bus charter if not already submitted.

Also, we will be ending the camp at 4 pm tomorrow for the after camp activity. A parent or a guardian (another campers parent if you like) needs to be here at for their child to participate.  Here's a look at the schedule for tomorrow:

NOTE:  for those viewing the schedule on their phones, please click on the schedule to view it in a higher resolution in order to read it more clearly.

    - IPYNC Staff

Camp , 2018 Mystery Creature: Clue 1 and 2

Hi everyone;

It's time again to give our first two clues of this week's camp Mystery Creature:

Here they are:

1.      This creature has not changed in over a 100 million years and can live up to 220 years of age

2.      They have no mouth, eyes, brain, lungs, stomach, muscles or heart!

Schedule for Tuesday July 24th, 2018

Hi everyone:

We got of to a wet start with lots of swimming and humidity! Tomorrow looks like another of the same.  Here's a look at  Tuesday's schedule:

- IPYNC Staff

Monday, July 23rd's Camp Schedule

Hi everyone:

Here's a look at our first exciting day of camp 2 thsi summer, we can't wait!

- I.P.Y.N.C Staff

Spot just came open for tomorrows camp!

Hi everyone:

Sadly, a camper had to drop out today of camp that starts tomorrow.  If you know anyone who would like to join with short notice, there will be a 20 percent discount in registration 😊

Thanks, Scott

Want to help our Oceans and Coastlines?

Hi everyone:

Kaitlyn Harris is the Outreach & Education intern at Carter's Beach in Queens County. She is also a current Masters student in Dalhousie's Master of Marine Management program. For my Masters research, as well as for my work with Carter's Beach.  Kaitlyn is hoping to bring a youth voice to the management and stewardship of Carters Beach, and coastal zones in general. 

Kaitlyn is looking for youth (ages 14-19) to join me for a workshop where we'll discuss their views on the state and future of our coasts. The workshop is scheduled for August 1st from 2:00pm-4:00pm at Carters Beach.

Below is more information on this important workshop:

-IPYNC Staff

Mystery Creature Picture

This  Mystery Creature will be revealed Friday!

- I.P.Y.N.C Staff

Pipe Fish

Schedule for Friday July 13th, 2018

Hi everyone:

It's true, time does go faster when you are having fun :)  Friday is the last day of camp for most of the campers this summer who participated Camp 1.  We always end the week of camp with our Island Amazing Race on Micou's Island just down the road from us.  Here's a look at our last day of camp thsi week:

- The I.P.Y.N.C Staff

Camp 1 Mystery Creature Clue 3 and 4

Hi Campers:

Here are the last two clues of this weeks Mystery Creature:

3) Closely related to the seahorse, it has a pipe-like body covered with bony rings.
4) Much like the Seahorse, it is the male that gets stuck with most of the parenting and child raising 

At home tonight, ask your family, search books and the internet to help you find out who this this mystery creature is.  

Good Luck,
I.P.Y.N.C Staff  

Schedule for Thursday July 12, 2018

Hi everyone:

Another great day on our field day at camp.  We toured Hope For Wildlife,  swam in the BIG waves at Lawrencetown Beach and enjoyed our favorite flavors of ice cream on our way home.  Here's a look at Thursday's schedule:

  - I.P.Y.N.C Staff

Schedule for Wednesday July 11th, 2018

Hi Everyone:

It was another beautiful day on the bay! Today we started our art project, got slimmed on slip N Slide and learned about what it would be like if we had no electricity along with lots of other fun stuff :)

Tomorrow we are off to the Hope for Wildlife Center on our weekly field trip.  Just a reminder to parents to arrive 15 minutes early at 8:45 am so we can get organized with drives and leave the closest to 9 am as we can.  Also, if you haven't submitted the $10/ camper bus fee yet, please remember to send it tomorrow.

We will be ending camp at 4 pm tomorrow for our after camp special.  A parent, guardian or an email letting us know that another parent is responsible for your kids will be here instead is needed for the campers to take part.

Here's a look at Wednesday's schedule:

- I.P.Y.N.C Staff

Camp 1 Mystery Creature: Clue 1 and 2

Good morning Campers:

Each week of camps, clues are giving about a mystery creature.  Keep your guesses to yourself until Friday when we will reveal what it is.  

Here are the first two clues:

1. These strange little fish grow to about 10 cm long.
2. They use their small snouts to catch plankton and small particles in the water.

Good luck guessing!

-I.P.Y.N.C Staff