 | A new day camp sponsored by the Upper Canada Leger Centre for Education and Training is providing summer fun while helping children retain the learning gained over the past school year. The ReadE for Summer program is being offered in Cornwall, Chesterville and Brockville to students aged 6 to 12 from July 4 to August 26.
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Brockville - Jul. 28, 2011 - A new day camp sponsored by the Upper Canada Leger Centre for Education and Training is providing summer fun while helping children retain the learning gained over the past school year.
The ReadE for Summer program is being offered in Cornwall, Chesterville and Brockville to students aged 6 to 12 from July 4 to August 26. The free day camp, run in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Cornwall/ SDG, provides entertaining activities such as craft sessions, movie days, and trips to Upper Canada Village, combined with educational games and activities designed to keep students’ math and language skills sharp over the summer months.
“It’s a great experience for the kids,” said Camp Counselor Rob Fullarton, a certified teacher who is working with the program at Commonwealth Public School in Brockville. “The kids get to go on trips they may not otherwise experience and they’re meeting new friends. And academically, they build on their math and language skills in a fun way.”
The free program is offered in week-long blocks with many students enjoying the program so much they stay for a second week, said Fullarton. Activities are planned around “theme days” which provide guidelines for the kinds of activities campers will enjoy. For instance, one theme day entitled The Wild, Wild West saw students create their own “wanted posters” during a craft session, said Fullarton.
Each day begins with “ice breakers” - fun games designed to get the kids feeling energized and ready for the day - such as freeze tag, and musical hoops.
Later in the morning, the campers turn to crafts or educational games. Students may craft their own flying saucers out of paper plates, crayons, buttons and construction paper. Educational games such as math bingo and Boggle help students build math and language skills during friendly competitions.
The camp also offers special activities. Mondays are movie days, where students watch fun DVDs such as Alvin and the Chipmunks. Wednesday’s schedule includes afternoon swims at the Brockville YMCA. Students attending the camps also experience free day trips to places including Upper Canada Village and the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau.
Students say they are having a blast.
“It’s really fun and it’s a lot better than staying at home playing my video games,” joked Bradley Dean, 8, of Brockville. “I’d probably be doing that if I wasn’t here.
“You get to do a lot of crafts, get to go swimming, go to the gym and you’re learning new things.”
The program is also offered at the Boys and Girls Club of Cornwall/SDG in Cornwall, Central Public School in Cornwall, and Chesterville Public School.
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