A metamorphosis will take place at a Lafayette area camp in the coming weeks. Kids attending the Hanna Summer Camp will be taking care of caterpillars until they change into butterflies. It’s in partnership with the College of Veterinary Medicine at Purdue.
Dr. Sandy San Miguel, Associate Dean for Engagement, says campers will learn about science, math and reading.
“The overall goal is to keep them excited about learning, excited about school, so that when they go back in the fall, they haven’t forgotten everything,” she says.
The campers will learn through hands-on activities. They also will have books to read and do math as part of the process.
San Miguel says all this will be done while learning about the life cycle of the caterpillar and caring for it.
“And they’re learning about how to keep a science notebook, so they’re going to document what they observe about the caterpillar and the environment all the way through when it becomes a butterfly.”
The program was adapted from a school lesson sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. San Miguel says these campers are the first group to use this program.