Summer camps keep children's minds learning

Three area youth organizations are focused on overcoming students' summer learning slump through day camp programs with a variety of educational and social activities.

The Salvation Army, Cape Area Family Resource Center and the Boys & Girls Club are collaborating for the first time this year on their summer offerings to provide a greater opportunity to students involved in their respective programs.

"This is something that should be done because we're three agencies with the same mission, to help the kids," said Julie Trapp, director of the Salvation Army's summer program.

The Salvation Army program, which is open to children age 6 to 11, and Family Resource Center program, which is open to children of kindergarten age up to 16, both begin June 14. The Boys & Girls Club program, available to children kindergarten age to 18, is already underway. Registration is open for all three programs.

Each program runs five days a week, although for varying lengths of time.

Shelly Moore, executive assistant at the Boys & Girls Club, said her program will consist of core classes in math, science, reading and writing, as well as classes in technology, visual and performance arts, health, physical education and career advancement.

Around 70 children are currently participating in that program.

"We feel like we make it fun. The kids don't realize they're in a learning situation," Moore said. "We try to keep their minds alert, so when they go back to school they won't have to break themselves down again and it will be less work for teachers."

As part of the collaboration between the three organizations, the Boys & Girls Club is sending representatives to provide duplicate classes at the Salvation Army and Family Resource Center. Outside of that, those two organizations have planned arts and crafts activities and trips to the swimming pool and movies.

The Salvation Army will also hold Bible class as well as take trips to the library. According to Trapp, many of the children in her program are low-income, and summer activities are a vital part of their lives.

"It keeps kids off the street and gives them something to do while they're out of school," Trapp said. "A lot of these kids don't get the chance to go to a real movie theater or swimming outside of us."

The three organizations have planned a joint trip for later this summer, perhaps to Memphis, Tenn.

cclark@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128