BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Summer is a good time for fun and games, but why not complement with a bit of academic help as well?
That’s the question Concerned Citizens of Bradford County would ask regarding its annual summer camp.
This year’s camp, which is held at the R.J.E. Center, began June 3 and runs through June 28 and was designed for children at least 5 years of age (and kindergarten completers) through those who have completed the eighth grade.
From 7 a.m. until 6 p.m., children participate in various games and activities — indoors and outdoors — but they also work in reading and math labs.
“It’s not all play,” said Camp Director Alica McMillian, who is the president of Concerned Citizens of Bradford County.
Retired educators Norma Robinson and Glenda Ruise teach math and reading, respectively.
“My interest is keeping the kids on task with basic skills,” Robinson said. “That’s what they need. If they can’t do basic skills, they cannot do math at all.”
Robinson likes the fact that the camp exists, which means that some children can’t say they did nothing over the summer. Plus, they might take a bit of knowledge with them into their classroom when school resumes.
Any improvement is a step in the right direction.
“If they don’t remember but one thing, it’s good,” Robinson said.
The camp also consists of “Stepping Up” classes, which feature personnel from Meridian Behavioral Healthcare. One of the classes on June 10 featured the youngest group of campers listening to the story of “The Three Little Pigs” as a way of learning the value of patience when it comes to making decisions.
McMillian called the partnership with Meridian “a blessing.”
As of June 10, the camp consisted of 30 children, though more could still sign up — up to a maximum of 40.
The good news is that even if the camp reaches its maximum number, most of its attendees will have had their fee paid for, thanks to individuals, businesses and churches who donated enough money to sponsor 31 children to attend for free.
The camp cost is $160, with a registration fee of $25.
“I’ve always said, ‘It takes a village to raise a child,’” McMillian said. “It makes me feel good to see the community come together.”
Most of the camp staff is composed of volunteers who are members of Concerned Citizens of Bradford County — the organization that McMillian is the president of.
The camp is also made up of some teenagers who are serving as volunteer counselors, such as Az’rya Davis, Aiden Jackson and Jaquez Mitchell, all of whom attended the camp in the past.
Jackson is still age-eligible for the camp, but he would’ve been unable to participate entirely due to middle school football camp. However, he likes the idea of “helping out somewhere I grew up at,” so he wanted to be a counselor.
“As a volunteer, I’m really responsible for just making sure everything is going right and that no people are getting in trouble,” Jackson said. “I’m making sure that none of the kids get hurt, and I’m also making sure that everything is OK.”
Mitchell likes the fact that children are able to get some academic work in, saying, “It helps kids get their minds in the right place. They can learn more stuff, so when they go back to school, they already know what they’re going to learn about.”
Davis believes the camp is a benefit for a child’s entire family, saying, “It’s really good because parents who work don’t have to worry about their kids being home alone or with somebody untrustworthy,” Davis said.
McMillian said counselors are reminded to serve as examples to the younger children.
“They’ve got these little kids looking up to them. They’ve got to make right decisions,” McMillian said, adding, “To some of these little kids, they’re heroes. They look up to them that much.”
Mitchell embraces that role, saying that as the children get older, they may remember him as one of their mentors.
“They’re going to be like, ‘This is the guy who taught me how to do this. I want to be just like him,’” Mitchell said.
Concerned Citizens of Bradford County has been offering the camp since the Starke Recreation Department was dissolved in 2008. Since then, McMillian has had the opportunity to meet fellow campers who are now adults. She enjoys catching up with them and hearing such things as how they went to college or how they’re now married with families.
“It makes you feel good to see that,” McMillian said. “They’re living productive lives. Perhaps this program did something to help with that.”
That’s why it’s so important to make sure the camp is a positive experience for all who attend. That’s not an easy task, McMillian said, considering the children come from all walks of life, but that’s the goal, nonetheless.
“We need to make sure that each day they come is the most enjoyable day they have,” McMillian said. “We’ve got to love them and work with them.”
