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Dirt Camp

Price: 895 USD

Options:Complete Program (Materials + Curriculum)

Complete Program (Materials + Curriculum)

Curriculum Print & Digital

Refill Kit

Product variants

Quantity

In stock! Our hand-packaged kits currently ship in 2-3 weeks.

Make like a mole and dig into Dirt Camp!

Roll up your sleeves and dig into the fascinating world beneath our feet. Uncover the origins of dirt and distinguish between dirt and soil. Explore the roles of a soil engineer by digging like a mole and building like a beaver. Investigate global practices of using dirt and soil for dyeing clothes and constructing homes. Plant your very own mini cat grass farm and witness the interconnectedness of trees through an underground network of fungi. In a multi-subject integration approach, learners collaborate, engineer and reflect, gaining a holistic understanding of the importance of soil.

Grades: 1-3
Students: Up to 30
Contact Hours: 12+

Subject Targets:

Earth Science, Life Science, Physical Science, Engineering Design, Math, English Language Arts

Reusability and Expansion:

Refill Kit Available: This product offers affordable refill kits. See the materials tab for details.

Settings & Tech Requirements

Recommended Settings:

Summer Camps
Classrooms
Out-of-School Time Programs

Tech Requirements:

Optional: A computer and projector to share the activity tutorial videos.

Curriculum Topics

Each Activity Includes:

Schedule
Materials List
Topic Background Information
Step-By-Step Directions
Optional Extension Activities

Curriculum Topics:

Characteristics of Dirt
Where Does Dirt Come From?
Dirt vs. Soil
Weathering
Animal Soil Engineers Above and Below Ground
Bug Hunt: Tunnelers, Decomposers and Hunters
The Wood Wide Web and Fungi
Dying with Mud
Building with Dirt
Plant a Mini Cat Grass Farm

Professional Development

Product Orientation:

Half-hour free webinar orientation for purchases of $500+
One-hour free webinar orientation for purchases of $1000+
Additional training available for purchase

Materials

Complete Program Includes:

Dirt Camp comes with all the supplies needed for 30 students to complete 12 one-hour activities:

Instructor Guide: 1
Printed Student Journals: 31
Burrowing Animal Cut-Outs: 31
Bug Guides: 6
Sheet of Labels: 1
Large Storage Tub: 1
Small Storage Tub: 1
Hard Plastic Containers (6 quart): 12
#2 Pencils (12 pk): 3
Bucket with Lid (2 gallon): 2
Clay (8 lb bucket): 1
Children's Scissors: 5
Colored Pencils (12 pk): 10
Deli Containers with Lids (16 oz, 50 pk): 2
Food Coloring (4 color pack): 1
Ice Cube Trays: 15
Index Cards (3”x5”, 100 pk): 1
Index Cards (4”x6”, 100 pk): 1
Magnifying Glasses: 10
Markers (8 pk): 1
Measuring Cup: 1
Measuring Scoop: 6
Paintbrushes (30 pk): 1
Pail Opener: 1
Paper Plates: 100
Paper Towel Roll: 1
Pea Gravel (10 cups): 1
Pencil Sharpeners: 6
Pitcher: 1
Popsicle Sticks (1000 pk): 1
Rulers: 5
Seeds - Cat Grass (16 oz): 1
Skittles (2.17 oz): 1
Spoons: 50
Spray Bottles: 5
Straws: 250
Sugar Cubes (1 lb): 1
Topsoil (8 quarts): 2
Access to the Digital Resource Portal

Note: Educators will need to purchase sand separately.

Curriculum Print & Digital Includes:

Instructor Guide: 1
Printed Student Journals: 31
Bug Guide: 6
Sheet of Labels: 1
Access to the Digital Resource Portal

Refill Kit Available:

Looking to use your Dirt Camp program with the next group of soil specialists? This refill kit will get them up and running in no time!

Printed Student Journals: 31
Sheet of Labels: 1
#2 Pencils (12 pk): 3
Bucket with Lid (2 gallon): 2
Clay (8 lb bucket): 1
Colored Pencils (12 pk): 10
Deli Containers (16 oz, 50 pk): 2
Deli Container Lids (50 pk): 1
Food Coloring (4 color pack): 1
Index Cards (3”x5”, 100 pk): 1
Index Cards (4”x6”, 100 pk): 1
Markers (8 pk): 1
Paper Plates: 100
Paper Towel Roll: 1
Pea Gravel (10 cups): 1
Popsicle Sticks (1000 pk): 1
Seeds - Cat Grass (16 oz): 1
Skittles (2.17 oz): 1
Spoons: 50
Straws: 250
Sugar Cubes (1 lb): 1
Topsoil (8 quarts): 2

If you purchased your Dirt Camp before 2024, contact us for a refill for your 1st Edition.

Standards & Alignment

Habits of Mind:

16 thinking habits developed by Art Costa and Bena Kallick to empower students to succeed in a 21st-century learning environment.

Applying Past Knowledge to New Situations
Creating, Imagining, and Innovating
Finding Humor
Gathering Data Through All Senses
Listening with Understanding and Empathy
Managing Impulsivity
Persisting
Remaining Open to Continuous Learning
Responding with Wonderment and Awe
Striving for Accuracy
Taking Responsible Risks
Thinking & Communicating with Clarity and Precision
Thinking About Thinking
Thinking Flexibly
Thinking Interdependently

21st Century Skills:

A set of widely-applicable abilities essential for success in the information age.

Communication and Collaboration
Creativity and Innovation
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Flexibility and Adaptability
Initiative and Self-Direction
Information, Media, and Technology Literacy
Leadership and Responsibility
Productivity and Accountability
Social and Cross-Cultural Skills

Common Core State Standards for Mathematics:

CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.G.A.2: Compose two-dimensional shapes (rectangles, squares, trapezoids, triangles, half-circles, and quarter-circles) or three-dimensional shapes (cubes, right rectangular prisms, right circular cones, and right circular cylinders) to create a composite shape, and compose new shapes from the composite shape.
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.2.G.A.1: Recognize and draw shapes having specified attributes, such as a given number of angles or a given number of equal faces. Identify triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons, and cubes.

Next Generation Science Standards:*

K-2-ETS1-1: Engineering Design
K-2-ETS1-2: Engineering Design
K-2-ETS1-3: Engineering Design
3-5-ETS1-1: Engineering Design
K-ESS2-2: Humans & Their Environment
K-LS1-1: Energy Flow in Organisms
1-LS1-1: Structure and Function
1-LS1-2: Growth and Development
2-LS4-1: Biodiversity
2-PS1-1: Investigating Properties of Matter
2-PS1-2: Analyzing Properties of Matter
3-PS2-2: Forces and Motion
LS1.A: Structure and Function
LS2.A: Interdependent Relationships
3-LS2-1: Ecosystem Interactions
3-LS4-3: Adaptation
3-LS4-4: Ecosystem Dynamics
NGSS Core Idea ESS1.C: The History of Planet Earth
NGSS Core Idea ESS2.A: Earth’s Materials and Systems
NGSS Core Idea ESS2.C: The Roles of Water in Earth’s Surface Processes
NGSS Core Idea LS1.A: Structure and Function
NGSS Core Idea LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics
NGSS Core Idea LS4.C: Adaptation
NGSS Core Idea PS1.A: Structure and Properties of Matter
NGSS Core Idea PS1.B: Chemical Reactions

* Next Generation Science Standards
and NGSS is a registered trademark of WestEd. Neither WestEd nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards were involved in the production of this product, and do not endorse it.

About the Author

Beth Schadd

Hailing from Wisconsin, Beth Schadd moved to Idaho in 2008 in search of adventure and a Master’s degree in Environmental Science and Education from the University of Idaho. As an educator, she has worked with children of all ages in the outdoors and the classroom, as well as coaching various sports.

Beth has developed experiential curriculum for science centers, museums, day camps, and outdoor programs. In 2013, she traveled to China to lead outdoor and adventure camps. Prior to moving to Idaho, Beth worked in labs studying mosquitoes and environmental health, and managed clinical trials. Though she will always be a Cheese Head at heart, she has embraced the great outdoors of the West, enjoying snowshoeing, mountain biking and backpacking, and has become an avid stand up
paddleboarder.

Shipping Information

Payment and Return Policy

Thank you for choosing PCS Edventures! We want to make your shopping experience with us a pleasant one. The following is our general policy concerning payment, returns, product shipping, and warranties.

Payment Information

We accept Purchase Orders (POs)*, checks, VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover as forms of payment. During payment processing, we will verify your billing and shipping address. Please be sure that you enter your information accurately.

*Purchase Orders are subject to review by PCS Edventures. We reserve the right to accept or reject any Purchase Order at our discretion.

Shipping

PCS Edventures does not include the cost of shipping in its product pricing. Your shipping rate will depend on your delivery location.

We ship through Federal Express or United States Postal Service. Please provide a physical address for shipping. We are unable to ship to PO Boxes.

If your order requires expedited shipping, please contact our office at sales@edventures.com or (800) 429-3110.

Tax

Sales tax is automatically applied to any transaction that will ship to the states listed below. If you are tax exempt, please contact us at sales@edventures.com or (800) 429-3110.

Idaho: Sales tax is added, unless proper documentation for your exempt status is provided. This is required by the State of Idaho.

California: Sales tax is added to all transactions. This is required by the State of California.

Washington: Sales tax is added to all transactions. This is required by the State of Washington.

Georgia: Sales tax is added, unless proper documentation for your exempt status is provided. This is required by the State of Georgia.

New Jersey: Sales tax is added, unless proper documentation for your exempt status is provided. This is required by the State of New Jersey.

United States Customers: Please provide your organization’s Tax Identification Number or tax-exempt certification form as described in IRC Section 501 (c)(3) of the Code.

Order Fulfillment

Many products are assembled and packaged after an order is received. Typical order fulfillment time is approximately 2 weeks from your order date.

The products listed on our website contain materials that may be discontinued by our vendors without notice. Lead times to receive materials from our vendors may extend significantly due to a variety of factors. A sales representative will contact you within 48 hours if your order has been impacted by these issues or any other reason.

If your order requires expedited shipping, please contact our office at sales@edventures.com or (800) 429-3110 so we can try to accommodate your request. If you need delivery outside the continental United States, please contact us for shipping costs. We do not ship to PO Boxes.

Partial Fulfillment

PCS Edventures products are designed to be ready-to-use and accessible for any educator. This often requires some components to be sourced from third-party vendors. Occasionally, this may cause delays in order fulfillment.

In such cases, orders may be partially fulfilled to meet deadlines. A PCS Edventures representative will contact you if your order is subject to partial fulfillment. After the initial shipment, any delayed components will be shipped to you as soon as possible.

Return Policy

To return a product, you must first obtain a Return Merchandise Authorization ("RMA") number from PCS Edventures. To receive an RMA number, contact PCS Edventures at (800) 429-3110 within fifteen (15) business days of receipt of your product(s). Returned items must be received by PCS Edventures within thirty (30) calendar days after issuance of the RMA number or the return right will be forfeited and the RMA number becomes null and void.

All returned items must be returned postage prepaid and insured by you, in original packaging, in "as-shipped" condition, unopened and with all parts, accessories, and written materials included.

PCS Edventures may charge a restocking fee for returned items of up to thirty percent (30%), depending on circumstances. There may also be a product damage or missing-item fee in an amount determined by PCS Edventures for any product that is damaged, or is missing the original box, contents, accessories, and/or manuals (i.e., any product not in "as-shipped" condition).

These fees will apply unless the item was defective or damaged when shipped, you received the wrong item, or the fee is prohibited by law.

If you paid by credit card, you authorize PCS Edventures to debit your credit card for the amount of any fees required by PCS Edventures pursuant to this Return Policy.

PCS Edventures Warranty Information

1. LIMITED WARRANTY. PCS guarantees our products with a 30-day limited warranty against material or workmanship defects and will accept any defective item for refund or exchange. Unused or defective merchandise may be returned within 30 days after purchase for an exchange. THIS IS THE ONLY GUARANTEE OR WARRANTY BEING OFFERED BY PCS RELATING TO THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES YOU PURCHASE OR RECEIVE FROM PCS. PCS MAKES NO OTHER, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL, REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS, WHETHER IN WRITING, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR ANY WARRANTY ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE COVERED BY THE LIMITED WARRANTY, PRODUCTS AND SERVICES PROVIDED BY PCS ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND BY PCS. Manufacturers of non-PCS branded products may provide other warranties. Warranty claims for non-PCS branded products will be handled by their respective manufacturers.

2. Exclusivity of Remedy; Limitation of Liability. YOUR SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY, AND PCS' SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE LIABILITY, FOR ANY BREACH OF WARRANTY SHALL BE YOUR RIGHT TO RECEIVE A REPLACEMENT PRODUCT. IN NO EVENT SHALL PCS BE LIABLE FOR SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS OR LOSS OF BUSINESS, EVEN IF IT HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, NOR SHALL THE AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF PCS, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, WARRANTY, TORT, PRODUCT LIABILITY, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHER THEORY, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR THE PURCHASE OR USE OF ANY PRODUCTS EXCEED THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE PRODUCT. ANY LEGAL ACTION AGAINST PCS FOR BREACH OF THESE TERMS OF SALE, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTIES, MUST BE INSTITUTED WITHIN ONE YEAR AFTER DELIVERY OF GOODS.

3. Governing Law. The warranty terms are governed by the laws of the State of Idaho and the state courts of Idaho.

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Dirt Camp