PM Session Wednesday

Follow this link to see all of our photos from camp this week!: https://photos.app.goo.gl/qim9wYEUrIXzLoPS2

This morning we had a very busy feral cat colony! The group of campers who fed them today spotted Mr.Jingles & Cameron!

During snack time, campers also gave Carman, the box turtle, a tasty snack of 2 live worms!

 The extreme heat today brought us inside the shelter for a bit to cool off. We enjoyed a treat of freeze pops and the campers made friendship bracelets. HSCC staff Joann and Erin showed us photos and videos taken with a wildlife cam set up by the feral cat colony. We saw nighttime visitors such as the feral cats and even a family of raccoons!

The afternoon concluded with a fun scavenger hunt in our nearby pet cemetery where campers worked together to find certain animal grave sites. We were happy to find some shade and a bit of breeze to keep us cool there.

***Reminder: Pet share Friday! Campers should bring in something to share with the camp that is pet or animal related (photo or stuffed animal)

AM Session Wednesday

Follow this link to see all of our photos from camp this week!: https://photos.app.goo.gl/ptBuInoAZayU1hLA2

Our morning started off with craft activities such as pipe cleaner animals and paper plate turtles in the camp tent and feral cat feeding where we spotted Cameron, a feral cat who is all black. Since we saw him we gave him a treat of wet cat food and we are pretty sure he ate it all up on his own.

 At snack time we gave Carman, the box turtle, her own snack of 2 live juicy worms!

Once Carman and campers were fed, we headed inside the shelter for a very special surprise of kittens! These little ones just arrived at HSCC this week and will be available for adoption very soon. The campers also had the opportunity to check out the other cats and the smallies (ferrets, guinea pigs, and rabbits) available for adoption in the shelter lobby. 

Speaking of smallies, after our time in the shelter we talked about how to approach a small animal, pick it up, pet it, and set it back on the ground. Campers worked in groups to create a skit about how to handle a smallie and they shared their skits in front of the camp group. We learned it is important to always use one hand to scoop under the smallie and the other to support the back legs, pick up slowly keeping the smallie close to your body, and when setting down make sure their feet are on the ground before letting go. Always pet an animal from it's head to tail and never pick up an animal by the ears or tail. If an animal seems agitated or upset wait for a better time to pick them up when they are happy and calm if possible. 

***Reminder: Pet share Friday! Campers should bring in something to share with the camp that is pet or animal related (photo or stuffed animal)

PM Session Tuesday

Follow this link to see all of our photos from this week at camp: https://photos.app.goo.gl/qim9wYEUrIXzLoPS2

Our afternoon started with feeding our Feral Cats: Mr.Jingles, Aladdin, and Cameron. We then were visited by a very special guest, Franklin the Tortoise! Franklin is a 9 year old, 52 pound tortoise owned by HSCC staff Joann Nichols who rehabilitates wildlife and therefore has special permission from VT to own exotic reptiles such as Franklin. We were able to watch Franklin explore outside while eating veggies & berries. We learned about tortoise anatomy and behavior as well. Thank you Franklin for coming to visit us!

 After time with Franklin & snack we talked about how to handle smallies (approach calmly, pick up slowly, keep close to your body, support back feet, and make sure all feet are on the ground before letting go). Then campers were treated to a special surprise: Kittens! They just arrived to HSCC and will be available for adoption soon!

AM Session Tuesday

Follow this link to see all of our photos from this week at camp: https://photos.app.goo.gl/ptBuInoAZayU1hLA2

Our morning began with making cat toys and feeding our three feral cats: Mr.Jingles, Aladdin, and Cameron.

After field game time, campers met a very special guest: Franklin the tortoise! She is 9 years old and weighs 52 pounds. She could reach up to 100 or so pounds by the time she is fully grown which can take up to 20 years. She lives at HSCC staff Joann Nichols home. Joann is a wildlife rehabilitator and therefore has special permission to own exotic reptiles like Franklin, which are otherwise illegal to own in Vermont. We were able to watch Franklin explore outside while eating veggies & berries. We learned about tortoise anatomy and behavior as well. Thank you Franklin for coming to visit us!

 The end of the morning we spent time with our small reptile, Carman, the box turtle who is owned by Joann as well. Some campers were able to practice calmly picking her up and setting her down in her play pen. She loves the sun and heat, so the past few days have been her favorite weather wise!

Day One at Camp!

Our afternoon was very hot to say the least. We still made the best of it and had an amazing time, though! Camp started with decorating name tags, coloring pages, working on puzzles, and hanging out with friends. Once everyone arrived, campers decided to hang out a little longer in the tent to avoid the sun, so we had our snack and worked on some crafts.

Once Linden Higgins, our guest speaker arrived, we made our way inside the to the classroom, and got to learn all about bugs. After we talked for a bit, we got to go outside and "hunt" some bugs of our own! The most popular finds were roly-poly bugs, daddy long legs, and ants! We did find a few spiders and grasshoppers too though!

After Linden said goodbye, we started our tours of the Humane Society. We learned about the feral cats, what the volunteers do inside the shelters (and how old you have to be to volunteer: 16), what the staff does, the layout of the building, and got to meet the sallies (guinea pigs, rabbits, and ferrets) as well as all of the cats! At the end of our tour, we explored out back and learned about the three feral cats that camp out behind the shelter. Aladdin, Cameron, and Mr. Jingles are the three feral cats that the Humane Society provides shelter, food and water to, every day, year round. While we may never get to meet them due to feral cats' tendency to avoid humans, we'll know that we are keeping them full, healthy and safe! Throughout the week, campers will be helping with three main jobs: feeding the feral cats, taking care of Carmen the box turtle, and filling peanut butter dog Kongs.

By the time tours ended, we had just enough time to hang out with Carmen and start working on some friendship bracelets!

We're hoping for another amazing (but hopefully less hot) day tomorrow!

If you would like to check out our photos throughout the week, click this link!

First Day of Camp!

Our morning started with decorating name tags, coloring pages, working on puzzles, and hanging out with friends.

Once everyone arrived, we made our way to the field to play some name games and other activities. After some fun, we headed back to the tent to have snack before our guest speaker arrived!

Erin Alamed, who works in the Humane Society, joined us in the dog yard to talk about her job and what it takes to keep the Humane Society running smoothly. Lucky for us, he brought a little furry friend, Shelby. Shelby is Erin's personal dog and has always been a wonderful visitor at camp. We were very excited to get to hang out with both of them and to ask Erin questions about the shelter.

After we met with Erin, we took small groups inside to have a tour of the Humane Society. We learned about the feral cats, what the volunteers do inside the shelters (and how old you have to be to volunteer: 16), what the staff does, the layout of the building, and got to meet the sallies (guinea pigs, rabbits, and ferrets) as well as all of the cats! At the end of our tour, we explored out back and learned about the three feral cats that camp out behind the shelter. Aladdin, Cameron, and Mr. Jingles are the three feral cats that the Humane Society provides shelter, food and water to, every day, year round. While we may never get to meet them due to feral cats' tendency to avoid humans, we'll know that we are keeping them full, healthy and safe! Throughout the week, campers will be helping with three main jobs: feeding the feral cats, taking care of Carmen the box turtle, and filling peanut butter dog Kongs.

By the time we went back outside, we had just enough time to hang out with Carmen the box turtle until parents came!

We're looking forward to tomorrow!

Check out all of our photos throughout the week with this link