Hands-on science

Chloe Jesse, 9, hates spiders. Just looking at them elicits squeals and jitters. But she was not about to let the eight-legged crawlers at the Antelope Island docks interfere with catching Great Salt Lake brine shrimp — one of many science activities at the Young Scientists Camp.

"They're cute," said Jesse, looking through a magnifying glass at the centipede-like brine shrimp swimming around in murky water. "But I stay far away from spiders."

Last week 40 Davis School District fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders found themselves in science field trip heaven. The district held two camps spanning four days each where students went on intensely hands-on, daylong field trips aimed to get kids interested in science while exposing them to Utah's natural resources.

District science supervisor Steve Mangel said four years ago Davis District officials saw a need for the camp because there was not enough time or money during the school year to get students out on a lot of activities. Learning science within classroom walls only goes so far.

With some eager science teachers and camp fees from students the district was able to hold two camps where students can experience the fun side of science.

They visited Antelope Island, Farmington Bay and the Weber River. And in just those visits students observed buffalo, identified different species and vegetation, took nature walks, looked at microorganisms, canoed, shot black powder rifles, collected native tree leaves, caught brine shrimp, weighed fish and dissected worms. Kids got wet, dirty and educated.

Running around northern Utah with 40 kids in tow can be a major undertaking. But Mangel said all the students at the camp are excited to learn, and some parents also volunteered to help.

"This is strictly for kids to be out in the field," Mangel said. "We try and give them a complete knowledge of their core science curriculum in grades four, five and six — but we are also giving them things the most people normally would never see."

Mangel said many people live only miles away and have never ventured to Antelope Island or the Great Salt Lake. Yet, the landmarks attract travelers from all over the world.

"You don't have to come clear out here to teach them (students) all of this, but the whole idea behind all of this is we're trying to get kids exposed to all the natural resources that are in Utah," Mangel said.