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Submitted Photo Children reading outside during last year’s summer camp at The Literacy and Learning Center.
The Literacy and Learning Center is gearing up for its annual summer camp.
Though the theme is not yet decided, senior program manager Anna Norton said they are hard at work at the center.
“Typically, we base our theme on a book,” Norton said. “This year, we will have two weeks of summer camp. One is for kindergarten through third grade and the other is fourth grade through sixth grade. We will probably have the same theme for each age group.”
During the camps, children are immersed in hands-on learning, according to Norton.
“We usually take them on one walking field trip each day,” Norton said. “Last year, we went to the Mills Creek Bridge behind the Recreation Park. We will do a combination of that and make use of the other organizations around town. Then, we do a kind of a split between science-based activities, arts and crafts-based activities and arts and crafts stuff. We want to get them outside as much as possible.”
With the lack of summer childcare in Highlands being an issue, Norton said this is one program that allows parents to have a place for their children.
“In my research, there are not a lot of places that offer camps,” Norton said. “I believe this camp is pretty critical in keeping the kids active and engaged. There is also that summer slide that we can help kids stay away from. It keeps them engaged beyond their iPhones.”
Leading up towards the camps, Norton said she is always trying to find new activities.
“I am always looking around to try and find different things that can be used,” Norton said. “I’m a big recycler anyway, but I start looking at things that can be repurposed.”
TL&LC director Bonnie Potts said they are excited to see the kids back again for the summer.
“We like to keep up with them after the school year is over,” Potts said. “We usually get a mix of kids that are here and kids that are visiting from other cities and towns. So, it is nice to reconnect with those kids that are coming from out of town.”
The TL&LC summer camps are free to attend. For more information or to register, visit maconncliteracy.org.
- By Christopher Lugo