Camp Sobaco, Week 5: Solar Power & the Holtsville Ecology Center

This week was all about solar power and full of adventures and experiments in the Discovery World Science Center. On Monday we began with our visitor Tod from the DEC showing us different types of reptiles and how the sun can affect them every day. Later, we had a brainstorming session involving what we already knew about the sun and what we would like to learn about it in the future. After presenting our brainstorming information, we created our very own thermometers which demonstrated how heat caused the liquid inside to expand.

Tuesday involved launching our very own solar powered UFO balloon! We learned that the heat from the sun’s rays causes the air molecules inside the balloon to move and expand when they are heated. The balloon started to lift right off the ground after just a couple of minutes in the sun

One of the greatest days this week was Wednesday, our trip to the Holtsville Ecology Center. We were able to see all sorts of nimals like goats, alpacas, owls, eagles, fox, and even a bear! We learned many things about them and the different habitats they lived in. That afternoon, we discussed how the sun plays a critical role in each animal’s development and habitat.

Thursday brought us a very cool experiment of making our own solar ovens. Each group was able to design their own oven and make s’mores to test it out in the sun. At the end of the day, we all enjoyed our tasty snacks and saw the benefits and power of using the sun to help us cook food.

Friday we were able to experiment with solar paint which was really amazing. Similar to the solar beads we used earlier on friday, the paint glows bright colors in the sun and fades when in the shade or inside. We learned that the chemicals in the paint and on the beads reacts to UV rays from the sun and changes colors when it is exposed to that type of light.

Overall, everyone had a great time at camp this week. Can’t wait to see what next week has in store for all of us!