Welcome back Parents!

Mr. David

This session, we dove under the sea! The children explored ocean life through music, art, and movement, thanks to a special visit from Mr. David.
He kicked things off with a lively “Under the Sea” concert, singing fun and engaging songs that had everyone clapping along. Together with the children, he created a beautiful art piece featuring all sorts of sea creatures.
To wrap up the day, Mr. David led the children in a joyful dance around the movement room—a perfect way to end our underwater adventure!

Take a look him having fun with our toddlers: ROW YOUR BOAT

Art

The toddlers created sand bottles by carefully pouring layers of colored sand through a funnel. To personalize their creations, they added tiny notes and small seashells as finishing touches.

The Clay Studio wrapped up their residency with the primary children through a collaborative process art project. Together, the children crafted a large clay whale. Each child contributed by sculpting barnacles, small fish, and various sea creatures to decorate the whale. They took great joy in their contributions—some even placed their fish inside the whale’s mouth, on its back, and along its tail.

Academy of Natural Sciences

The Academy of Natural Sciences led an engaging workshop titled “Everyone Needs a Home.” The children learned that all animals need three basic things to survive: water, food, and shelter.

As part of the workshop, they had the chance to examine fascinating specimens, including a great horned owl’s wing, the skin of a rock python, and skunk fur. They were especially excited to meet live animals—Chowa, a sand boa, and Patch, a box turtle.

Patch was a highlight of the visit. She enjoys both water and land, and to the children’s amazement, has been with the museum for nearly fifty years. Their surprise was clear as several exclaimed, “Wow, she’s so old!”

AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR VISIT: IRIS AND DOMINIC

We were thrilled to welcome back our friends, local author Iris Kitagawa Rainey and illustrator Dominic Wolocko, for a special storytime experience! The creative duo treated the children to a live reading of their charming book, 134 Mouse House, accompanied by real-time illustrations.

During circle time, the toddlers listened intently as the story came to life. Afterward, they were invited to add their own artistic touch by coloring in the illustrations left behind—turning the visit into a truly hands-on, imaginative experience.

A big thank you to Iris and Dominic for inspiring our young readers and artists!

Soccer Shots!

The soccer session kicked off with a fun and energetic warm-up where the children pretended to be sea creatures — from gliding whales to speedy sharks and little fish — all while weaving through traffic cones.

This week, the focus was on patience and sharing, essential teamwork values. The children also practiced important soccer skills:

• Passing – kicking the ball to a friend.
• Trapping – using “control” to stop the ball with the bottom of the foot.

To wrap up the session, the kids participated in a celebratory ceremony where each child received a medal for their hard work. The day ended on a high note with a loud, enthusiastic group soccer cheer and happy goodbyes!

The Best Fire Drill Ever!

Look who pulled up in front of Greene Towne!

We had a very special visit from our neighbors at the Philadelphia Fire Department—and no alarms were involved! This was a fun and educational visit that the children won’t soon forget. The firefighters began their morning with our primary students, spending time in the movement room. They shared what a typical day looks like for them and answered lots of thoughtful questions about fire safety.

Then came the big excitement: everyone—toddlers, primary students, and staff—gathered outside to see the fire trucks up close! The firefighters showed us some of the powerful tools they use, including ones designed to cut open cars during emergencies.
Each child got the chance to climb aboard the fire truck with helping hands from the lieutenants, and plenty of photos were taken to capture the moment. The visit ended with a thrilling demonstration of a fire hose in action.

One of the most unforgettable moments came when the crew raised the ladder to the roof of our building. The children watched in amazement as the firefighters, one by one, climbed all the way up and waved from our rooftop, while the crowd below cheered and waved back.
Check out this short video snippet of that moment! ROOFTOP CLIMB

Our 7th Annual Tie Dye Pizza Party!

We wrapped up the session with one of Greene Towne’s most colorful traditions—our 7th annual Tie Dye Pizza Party!
Each child carefully dyed their own shirt, thoughtfully selecting and applying vibrant colors to create their unique masterpiece. The excitement was high as the shirts dried and the anticipation for pizza grew!

Some of you may already know the story behind this beloved tradition. Years ago, a student in the Toddler ADM program looked around the room during an afternoon of wearing tie dyed shirts and eating pizza and joyfully exclaimed, “Look, we’re having a tie dye pizza party!” And just like that, a tradition was born. Now, every year we celebrate the end of our time together with bright shirts, happy hearts, and plenty of pizza.

What a Summer!

We’ve reached the end of another fun-filled, adventurous summer camp season! From tie dye and dancing to making art and science experiments and enjoying a fire truck visit, it’s been a summer full of color, creativity, and community.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful children with us—we’ve loved every moment.
Stay cool, enjoy the rest of your summer, and we look forward to seeing you again real soon!

With well wishes and warm regards,

Cherise