The Ron Whitson Agricultural Science Center offers agriculture and science camps to students of all grade levels, ages four and beyond. Our themed camps can be modified for various age groups as well as times of the year.
Camps last approximately an hour and be conducted at your campus or at the Whitson Ag Center. A teacher is required to be present the entire camp and be willing to participate in the assigned activities. Please note, to provide the best experience during the time allotted we may need to limit the number of attendees on some camps. Review our camp themes and get your spot reserved today.
The petting zoo, consisting of a sheep, goat, rabbit and chicken, will travel to elementary campuses. The agricultural teacher will discuss the purpose and uses of each animal in the exhibit while allowing students the chance to see and pet the animals in person.
From feed for livestock to food for human consumption and biofuel as a source of energy, students will learn about the many ways agriculture uses corn. Students will also have a chance to plant their own corn seed and see how it grows over the next few weeks.
(Class maximum is 20 students.)
Students will learn about the different shapes and sizes of leaves in identifying what plants the leaves belong to. Students will also design their own palmate leaf and create a tree for displaying their work.
(Class maximum is 20 students.)
Students will learn how to identify different types of wildlife based upon footprints. Lessons will focus on animal footprints students are likely to see in their own backyards - raccoons, deer, coyotes, etc. After learning more about each animal, students will have a chance to select a footprint and create a mold.
(Class maximum is 20 students.)
Students will explore the differences between sand and garden soil and learn how much water each type of dirt can hold. This hands-on camp will allow students to practice observation skills and matching. Students will also have a chance to plant beans with both types of dirt and find out which one grows a more vigorous plant.
Students will look at the differences and explore the sources of both cotton and wool by observing a lamb and a cotton plant. Hands-on activities will include taking apart a cotton bol, spinning thread strands from each material and planting cotton seeds to see how it grows.
Students will learn about the history of trail mix and make their own from a variety of ingredients (raisins, sunflower seeds, pecans, crackers, cheese, jerky and Cheerios). Lessons will include exploring the raw material sources of the trail mix ingredients, a class activity on energy paths from the sun to the source and the planting of seedlings.
(Class maximum is 20 students.)
Students will learn where milk and dairy products come from. Lessons will include steps in milk production, how farmers keep cows healthy and the importance of dairy products to our health.
Owls swallow their prey whole or in large pieces, but they cannot digest fur, teeth, bones or feathers. In this camp, students will observe the contents of the owl pellet and learn how to identify and classify bones found in the pellet.
In this camp, students will learn about the density, buoyancy, circumference and radius of a pumpkin/squash.
Mansfield Independent School District
Mansfield Independent School District
