BY MELISSA PYLE
Telegraph Staff Writer
The Concerned Citizens of Bradford County just wrapped up its final week of summer day camp at the RJE Campus. It’s a milestone of 15 years for the successful program that provides a fun and nurturing environment for children from K-5 to 8th grade.
The program director is Concerned Citizens President Alica McMillian. McMillian serves as a volunteer, working tirelessly to make the program more than just a place to keep kids busy, but to do what the organization does best: invest in the future of Bradford County. The summer day camp program is a living, breathing example of part of the organization’s mission statement, which states, “We are an outreach organization dedicated to the needy, deprived, seniors and especially to the proper rearing of our children in order for them to become model citizens.”
During the month-long day camp children are taught lessons in math and reading through time at the computer lab, which is a fun-filled activity with interactive games. These games sharpen their skills from the previous school year without making the children feel like they are at school.
Students are also taught life skills such as cooking and character building.
McMillian says the character-building classes are provided by Meridian Health and are presented in a tangible way through the arts and crafts lessons. She said it’s important to include these lessons, so children become better citizens. She also believes the program shows them new things and keeps their beautiful minds sharpened. McMillian knows that many children don’t pick up a book all summer. She says many children spend too much time in front of screens during their long break.
The day camp gets them excited to learn, have social interactions, and even new adventures because the campers also take field trips. The biggest outing is going to the Jacksonville Zoo followed by lunch at the Golden Corral.
The program is already seeing some fruits from its labor in the youth volunteers who are now working alongside the adults to help train the new generation of campers. Once campers themselves, highschoolers Harmoni, Azariah, and Zyra all shared they’d learned skills to take with them in their own lives. They specifically mentioned learning integrity and how to treat others. This is at the heart of the Concerned Citizen’s stated goals.
The four-week program is available each summer in June. The one-time fee is $200 which covers all supplies and field trip costs. Breakfast and lunch are provided free through the school district. Fundraising helps keep fees low and provide scholarships to those that need them. McMillian said they set a goal to raise $10,000 for the camp this year, they exceeded that goal by raising $11,000.
If you are interested in this program or many of the others offered through the Concerned Citizens, you can find more information on their website at: www.concernedcitizensbradfor d.com or email [email protected].
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