DAY FOUR

Day FOUR of Hogwarts Camp!

House Points

• Gryffindor: 580
• Ravenclaw: 580
• Hufflepuff: 600
• Slytherin: 620

Sharing time

We had students share some of their favorite Harry Potter things…wands! If your child has something Harry Potter at home they would like to bring and share tomorrow, we’d love to have them show us.

Care of Magical Creatures

Guest Professor, Jack Oliver, who loves magical creatures and overlooked, often unloved animals as much as Hagrid, brought his collection of turtles, frogs, and snakes. A favorite of the day though was his bearded dragon!

In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Hagrid tries to convince the students how loveable the Blast-ended Skrewts were. No one was ever convinced.

Harry faced a Hungarian Horntail dragon, also in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Professor’s Jack’s bearded dragon looked like a baby Hungarian Horntail.

What we got to see today:

• Tweedle Dee: yellow bellied slider turtle
• Unnamed: yellow bellied slider turtle
• Peatrie: box turtle
• Bowser: alligator snapping turtle
• Sully: bearded dragon
• Unnamed: fire bellied toad
• Ned: ball python
• Alice: ball python
• Gracie: albino garter snake

**You may have noticed a turtle and frog don’t have names. Professor Jack offered our students the chance to name them! Tomorrow at Hogwarts Camp we will have a Naming Box. Everyone gets to submit their favorite two names for the turtle and frog. Make sure to let us know which name is for which animal.

Some facts we learned:

1. Dogs bite more people than snakes every year
2. There are only 5 species of snakes in Europe because it’s too cold and damp. So it was pretty magical to have a basilisk living in the basement of Hogwarts
3. Alligator snapping turtles are living today that were alive during the civil war. Some have musket balls lodged in their shells. They can live up to 200 years.
4. Snakes nose holes are actually heat sensors; they do not actually smell.
5. Bearded dragons wave when they are angry. If you wave at him he will wave back. It may seem friendly but it’s not. Their neck also turns black when they get angry.
6. Bearded dragons are actually great pets.
7. Turtles are not great pets.
8. Box turtles have a GPS in their brain. They know exactly where home is in their area. If you see an injured box turtle on the road. You can take it home and help it heal. Make sure to take it back to where you found it though so he can get back home.

Liquid Luck and Polyjuice Potion

In today’s potions class we experimented Polyjuice potion and created some liquid luck. Our Quidditch players were hoping their liquid luck would help them in their game tomorrow.

Hermione made polyjuice potion in a deserted bathroom in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets where Moaning Myrtle was always hanging out. Ron and Harry were transformed into Crabbe and Goyle while Hermione stayed in the bathroom because she had gotten a cat hair instead of Millicent Bullstrode’s hair.

In book six, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, liquid luck runs through the story on many levels with Ron and Professor Slughorn.

Spells and Dueling Practice

New spells were learned today and unforgiveable curses were banned at Hogwarts Camp with House Points being lost when they are used. Rictumsempra (tickling curse) and Impedimenta (confuses and disorients dueling partner for a few seconds) were the new spells. Many students were very excited about the possibility of a tickling spell.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was the first time Dueling Club was introduced by Professor Lockheart.

Kindness Card of the Day

On Tuesday, Hufflepuff was trailing in the House Points. This morning, Hogwarts Camp students realized how powerful acts of kindness were when they saw that Hufflepuff came from the back and secured the most points for their house.

Our students decided the bonus act of kindness today is: bring someone flowers or cookies who might be lonely.

Hogwarts Camp. Did you discover the world of Harry Potter as a child? Do you wish other children could experience the magic you felt as you read the books and hoped and dreamed of your own Hogwarts Acceptance Letter? Give them the gift of Hogwarts Camp!
Hogwarts Camp was founded by The Fear Family who had the same dreams you did! Hogwarts Camp includes a Hogwarts Acceptance Letter delivered via Owl Post, Hogwarts robes, creating a wand, Potions Class, Care of Magical Creatures, Quidditch Practice, Dueling Club, and the opportunity to win the House Cup. We also have discussions and daily kindness activities about how to be happy when you feel sad, being a supportive friend, and not giving up. You’ll find them still dressed in their robes, everyday at Hogwarts Camp! Make sure to sign up HERE for Hogwarts Camp future dates and other magical events!

DAY THREE

Day Three of Hogwarts Camp!

House Points

• Gryffindor: 440
• Ravenclaw: 460
• Hufflepuff: 500
• Slytherin: 490

(remember kindness acts are a great way to earn house points)

A new student joined us from Beauxbatons. Of course, the sorting hat came to tell her what house she would be in this week. She got to join Hufflepuff!

Potions

Guest Professor Beth Jenkins came and taught Potions and Herbology. Hogwarts Camp students learned how to make a Love Potion.

Love potions can be fun but they are short lived. Lasting love for family and friends depends on the open heart of the giver of love.

“Powerful infatuations can be induced by the skillful potioneer, but never yet has anyone managed to create the truly unbreakable, eternal, unconditional attachment that alone can be called love.” -Hector-Dagworth Granger

Herbology

Herbology was all about Dittany. A plant introduced in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Hermione used it when Ron was splinched as they were escaping from the Ministry of Magic. She also used it to heal Harry when he was attacked and bitten by Nagini the snake when they were in Godric’s Hallow. Hermione used it a third time when they were burned at Gringotts trying to retrieve treasure from the LeStrange family vault.

Forgiveness is a great magical way to heal unseen wounds in the muggle world and the magical world. Giving and receiving forgiveness helps both the giver and the receiver with it’s great power.

In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry and Ron are mad at each other. Neither wants to forgive one another no matter how much Hermione begs them to make amends and be friends again. It’s not until they forgive each other that everything improves, they feel happier and more hopeful, and we all breathe a sigh of relief; grateful they have each other (with Hermione) to face what lies ahead.

The snitch appears

Quidditch lessons from yesterday turned into an official full practice today including the snitch showing up! We worked out the details of the game and everyone played hard. There were some breaks for drills and water and then they were right back at practicing dodging bluggers and scoring with the quaffle. Our Keepers, Chasers, and Beaters practiced for over an hour and still didn’t want to quit when it was time for Hogwarts Camp to end.

The snitch was caught three times by some persevering Seekers!

Dueling Club

Some Hogwarts Camp students preferred to battle it out with spells in the Great Hall. Once dueling club got under way, no one wanted it to end and everyone wanted a chance to challenge each other to a battle of the wands. Everyone is hoping there will be time for Dueling Club again tomorrow.

Acts of Kindness

Today’s Kindness Cards have upped the ante and challenged Hogwarts Camp students and parents on a new level. Remember, each act of kindness you do earns 10 points for your house. These points are based on your good word. Bring honor to your house. Our double bonus kindness act today is: give your time to a soup kitchen.

Canned food delivered to a shelter, God’s Kitchen in downtown Clover, or Clover Assistance will also count for giving time at a soup kitchen.

Hogwarts Camp. Did you discover the world of Harry Potter as a child? Do you wish other children could experience the magic you felt as you read the books and hoped and dreamed of your own Hogwarts Acceptance Letter? Give them the gift of Hogwarts Camp!
Hogwarts Camp was founded by The Fear Family who had the same dreams you did! Hogwarts Camp includes a Hogwarts Acceptance Letter delivered via Owl Post, Hogwarts robes, creating a wand, Potions Class, Care of Magical Creatures, Quidditch Practice, Dueling Club, and the opportunity to win the House Cup. We also have discussions and daily kindness activities about how to be happy when you feel sad, being a supportive friend, and not giving up. You’ll find them still dressed in their robes, everyday at Hogwarts Camp! Make sure to sign up HERE for Hogwarts Camp future dates and other magical events!

DAY TWO

Day TWO of Hogwarts Camp!

HOUSE POINTS

• Gryffindor: 210
• Ravenclaw: 240
• Hufflepuff: 150
• Slytherin: 220

(scroll down for important info about House Points!)

Wands were the first thing on the agenda today. Everyone wanted to get theirs finished in time for our spells and charms class.

We can’t get over how fantastic these look!

Spells Class

Professor Miriam brilliantly led Hogwarts students through their spells and charms class. They practiced each spell. Ask them about their lumos and nox practice as well as their alohamora practice.

An excellent question was asked by one of our intelligent Ravenclaw students when we were learning the Expecto Patronum spell. She wondered if, since the spell makes you feel better, if you could use it on yourself when you feel sad.

The thing about Expecto Patronum

We talked about being sad and how the Expecto Patronum spell works: the spell itself doesn’t work. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Mad Eye Moody talks about curses as he teaches the students. He says that the curse itself doesn’t work. The person casting the curse has to really mean the curse for it to work. Spells are the same way. They depend on the person who is casting the spell.

With the Expecto Patronum spell you have to focus on a happy memory in order for it to work.

We asked the students, if that’s the case, and you’re sad. What could you do when you’re sad or mad?

Everyone said they could focus on a happy memory.

Hogwarts students shared what some of their happy memories would be when they are sad. They included being with their family, the first time they made a friend in pre-school, their pets, and getting to be together at Hogwarts Camp.

Several said Hogwarts Camp, which made us so thrilled and honored to know that their time here could be something that would buoy their spirits when they think about it later.

Quidditch

Quidditch practice was a favorite for many students today! Everyone had a chance to do drills as seekers, keepers, beaters, and chasers trying to dodge bludgers and score goals with the quaffle. We saw some promising talent during practice!

Stars

Astronomy class led to a great discussion about the North Star. We talked about how constant and unmoving it is and why people use it as their guide.

Professor Mike asked who in their lives are their guides. Parents were a big answer! We asked what truths their parents have taught them. Answers included the golden rule, the Bible, and always being kind to others no matter who they are.

When asked about what the Dursley’s guiding principles were in their family, our students said: trying to be normal, fitting in, no being nice to Harry, worrying about what other people say about them.

We had a great discussion about what principles guide their lives and how parents teach and help us to know which way to head.

Harry Potter’s Birthday!

Michelle York brought us cupcakes for Harry Potter’s birthday today! She made edible snowy owls and howlers to top them. It was perfect timing. We sang Happy Birthday to Harry Potter and ate some cake to celebrate.

Our kindness card for today:

Kindness cards are an excellent way for students to earn points for their house! For each act of kindness they do on their card for the day, they earn 10 points for their house. There is one act of kindness on the card that is the most challenging. If they do that one, they get double points for their house (20 points).  Today’s bonus kindness is: visiting a nursing home.

Hogwarts Camp. Did you discover the world of Harry Potter as a child? Do you wish other children could experience the magic you felt as you read the books and hoped and dreamed of your own Hogwarts Acceptance Letter? Give them the gift of Hogwarts Camp!
Hogwarts Camp was founded by The Fear Family who had the same dreams you did, read each book as it rolled off the presses, and dressed up in robes and carried a wand to the opening night of every movie. You’ll find them still dressed in their robes, everyday at Hogwarts Camp! Make sure to sign up HERE for Hogwarts Camp future dates and other magical events!

DAY ONE

Day one of Hogwarts Camp!

Our Hogwarts Common Room was decked out and the Great Hall was filled with floating candles.

The only thing we needed were awesome students to come through Platform 9 and 3/4 to spend the next three hours with us. We couldn’t wait! We had poured everything into this moment.

As a family, we talked about what an ultimate Hogwarts Camp would look like (one our kids would have loved when they were younger because we loved the magic of Harry Potter’s world). From these wishes, we created an incredibly fun experience today!

Hogwarts Camp is so exciting

Our first students arrived 15 minutes early! We love that kind of enthusiasm and “I-can’t-wait” excitement for Hogwarts Camp to begin!

Sorting, Wands, Robes, and House Points

Today was filled with sorting, wands, runes, trivia, and house points.

HOUSE POINTS FOR TODAY:

• Gryffindor: 50
• Ravenclaw: 50
• Hufflepuff: 40
• Slytherin: 60

Sorting into houses came first, of course. It was the moment everyone was waiting for!

Next up was getting fitted for Hogwarts robes and choosing a wand.

Ancient Runes

Before each person created their wand, we learned about ancient runes (the evolution of writing and communication). Each person got to practice writing their name and basic sentences in an ancient alphabet.

Taking what students learned in ancient runes, some of them used those characters to burn their name into their wand, write letter to symbolize a phoenix, and other creative design work.

Students spent a lot of time sanding and choosing just the right design elements they wanted to burn into their wands, then topping it off with a perfect mixture of stains to make each wand unique.

I love how each wand turned out! Aren’t these awesome!?!

During a Harry Potter trivia game students vied for house points (one of many ways to earn points toward winning the house cup on Friday).

Professor Mike read a few pages from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets to an audience who wanted more when he finished.

The Best Magic

In the end we talked about how some of the best magic (and most powerful) is the goodness and kindness we show to each other. One of the reasons we love Harry Potter so much is not because he’s the smartest and the best wizard but because he values friendship, loyalty, showing bravery even when it’s scary, and being there for his friends when they need him.

Hogwarts Camp. Did you discover the world of Harry Potter when you were younger? Do you wish other children could experience the magic you felt as you read the books and hoped and dreamed of your own Hogwarts Acceptance Letter? Give them the gift of Hogwarts Camp!
Hogwarts Camp was founded by The Fear Family who had the same dreams you did, read each book as it rolled off the presses, and dressed up in robes and carried a wand to the opening night of every movie. Make sure to sign up HERE for Hogwarts Camp future dates and other magical events!