Water World
Water World Ocean Park Hong Kong

Ocean Park Partners with Baker & Bloom for the First Time to Launch Brand New Adventure Camp

2018-11-22

Team of esteemed educators and engineers strengthens STEAM elements in new programmes

Ocean Park launches Adventure Camp 2018-19 in an inaugural partnership with Baker & Bloom's esteemed team of passionate educators and engineers, presenting all-new programmes which reference the United States' Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the visible thinking approach from Harvard Graduate School of Education's Project Zero. With strengthened STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) elements, the enhanced Adventure Camp will guide children aged four to eight through an all-rounded STEAM learning experience to inspire their creativity and multi-dimensional thinking, unleashing their boundless potential.
 
The brand new Ocean Park Adventure Camp 2018-19, designed by Baker & Bloom's STEM Programme Director who is an accomplished scientist and engineer previously worked with NASA, references the core ideas of the acclaimed NGSS co-developed by academic authorities and a consortium of 26 states in the United States. These include Physical Sciences, Life Sciences and Engineering to create a series of unique learning experience for children. The comprehensive content, strong structure and flexibility of the NGSS’core concepts match the needs of students in Asia and Hong Kong. Together with Ocean Park's unique natural environment, the new Adventure Camp programmes encourage children to connect with nature through close observations of animals and their habitats, thus deepening the understanding of the interrelations, and helping children learn and apply science in their daily lives.
 
Combining nature and science, the new programmes empower children to bring their creativity and ideas to life with various media. Unique activities include designing a water boat by taking inspiration from animals and everyday objects, which will be followed by an exciting team competition; utilising digital applications to design an animal conservation themed animation and sharing findings from animal observation; and an interactive examination of the digestive systems of different animals to learn about animal ecology as well as how human decisions impact nature. Young participants will also have the chance to put together a “capybara dance” for enjoyment by themselves and guests at the Park.

"Ocean Park's Adventure Camp is committed to offering unique edutainment experiences to children. We are excited to partner with Baker & Bloom to design the new programmes. Baker & Bloom is known for cultivating children's creative thinking and intellectual curiosity with their research-based approach, and for inspiring children in their growth and character development by encouraging them to learn and apply science in their daily lives. Their vision perfectly aligns with our own education philosophy, contributing to our partnership for the new programmes. With enhanced STEAM elements, we hope to facilitate the comprehensive development of children's minds and bodies through interactions with nature and the Park's unique facilities,”said Isabel Li, Ocean Park Discovery & Education Director.
 
Ocean Park Adventure Camp 2018-19 will be held during the winter of 2018 and spring of 2019. “Little Explorers” targets children aged 4 to 5, while “Junior Explorers” is aimed at children aged 6 to 8. For more enrolment details, please visit
 
1.“Little Explorers” (for children aged 4-5)
The programme focuses on observation to inspire the creation of scientific works. Explorers will observe the daily life of capybaras and feed fish to learn and compare the body structures of different animals, and how they adapt to their habitats. Explorers will apply the scientific principles they have learned to design water boats, which will inspire children’s curiosity and interest in different things and topics.
 
2.“Junior Explorers” (for children aged 6-8)
The programme focuses on animals’ diets and the nutrition they need. Explorers will learn how human actions are affecting the environment and animals in the wild through scientific experiments. They can come into contact with dolphins, closely observe giant pandas and red pandas, and also watch an exclusive demonstration of how owls eat. Explorers will also conduct several scientific experiments, including acidity tests and the examination of owl pellets. Lastly, they will produce an animal conservation themed animation to stimulate their creative thinking.