Spring break was a break from school, but not from learning for the children enrolled in the Lloyd Center's spring vacation camp, which had them hiking the center's many trails, interacting with nature, and learning about local climate and creatures.

Thursday's theme was insects, and the group of children, ages five to 10, not only learned about them, but how to be one. Donning black- and yellow-striped antennae masks, the children pretended to be bees as they sent a scout to search for flowers.

Outreach specialist Jen Wimmer has been with the Lloyd Center for four years and said the annual vacation week camp is one of the most fun events.

Throughout the week, the kids, many of whom are returning campers, learned about reptiles and amphibians, seabirds, and spring migration patterns, as well as insects. Learning came with fun and games as they spent their time in the sun doing hands-on activities, searching for earth worms, exploring vernal pools, rolling logs to find bugs, and playing "bug bingo."

Over the years, Wimmer has found that they key to keeping so may of the veteran campers interested is not keeping things fresh, but repeating old favorite themes and games.

Tori Cornell, 18, grew up with the Lloyd Center and never stopped going back. Cornell works as an office staffer and recalls the fun times she had at the center's day camps and other events. She began working there at age 14 and later stepped up to help organize the camp’s day to day operation.

Throughout the week, the campers got to see new faces as the instructor of the day changed. The other camp instructors involved were Educator Amanda Nowicki, Outreach Educator Erika Fernandes, and Education Specialist Jasmine Smith-Gillen.