YES｜2020 VOLUNTEERS’ SUMMER CAMP

Here is the participant journals from one of the YES volunteers during the 2020 Summer Camp:

Day 1 / July 30

On the morning of July 30th, we set off from the Shanghai Museum together. Along the way the kids were full of laughter as we arrived at the Xingeng Ecological Farm in Chongming. After arriving, everyone brought out carefully prepared food: Chongming cake, sweet and sour short ribs and Mung bean soup, meat baozi and tofu skin, pork belly roasted dried beans, red sausage, and egg tarts, and small hot pots.

After games, we went out to explore the farm. We found plants suitable for observation, caught insects, and put them in bottles specifically designed for observing insects up-close.

Day 2 / July 31

On the second day, volunteer Shi Hui demonstrated how to make epoxy. From the weighing, proportioning, mixing and stirring of raw materials, to the dyeing of pigments, pouring it into molds, and placing them out to dry. Adults and children were all actively involved. Large and small molds, a variety of animal and plant specimens, and colorful epoxy were all neatly placed on the balcony for 24 hours.

In the evening, we went on a night tour together. Starting from the hut where we stayed, we followed the paths in the fields to look for insects by the side of the road. In the vast fields, the teacher taught everyone about insects along the way. The summer breeze was blowing at night, and cicadas sang. The tranquility of the farm made people feel temporarily taken away from the hustle and bustle of the city, allowing them to feel relieved.

Day 3 / August 1

On the morning of August 1st, some volunteers with children went to the fields to pull out weeds.

Lessons started with the making of homemade drinks. Yakult, Sprite, jelly, sphenoid sinus flower juice had all become extremely popular materials, and everyone had made beautifully layered drinks. Dreamy purple, refreshing beige, and colorful jelly brought coolness and romance to the unbearable heat.

After the lunch break, we started making scented candles. From melting wax, adding essential oils to cooling, solidifying, and adding decorations, the older kids not only made candles in cylindrical molds, but also used the tea cans, cosmetics cans, and dessert boxes at home to make different shapes and styles of scented candles.

After that, Mr. Zhou took out professional tools such as tracing paper, tweezers of various shapes, label paper, and boards for fixing insects, and held a small lecture in about how to make insect specimens in light of everyone’s excited eyes. Use thick and thin needles to fix the insects. Insect dehydration should be kept away from direct sunlight and kept in a cool and dry place. After the insects are completely dehydrated, remove the needle. The butterflies and dragonflies are placed on the board and pressed with tracing paper, and then carefully fixed with a thin needle. The beetles do not need to be flattened and can be fixed directly on the table with a needle from different directions.

The barbecue for dinner is held by the lake, and the dinner is carried out with sunset and sunset, and the temptation to light starts at this time.

Day 4 / August 2

The last day of this summer camp was August 2nd. On the morning of the farewell, everyone took group photos together.