BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Children may enjoy a wide variety of activities during their summers off from school, but a group of more than 70 children packed many activities into one day during a July 3 event at the Gov. Charley E. Johns Conference Center in Starke.
Edrick Hamilton, as part of his 12G mentoring program, offers an annual I Am STEM camp in Starke at the Starke Church of God by Faith Community Center. The camp, though, has always been about more than just science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Time is also devoted to children learning such skills as CPR and applying tourniquets from Bradford Fire Rescue and UF Health personnel.
This year, Hamilton collaborated with Caring and Sharing Learning School in Gainesville, which is also hosting an I Am STEM camp. That school brought some of its children to Starke for Hamilton’s event, which he moved to the conference center to accommodate the larger group.
It’s all about reaching as many children as possible, Hamilton said, adding that he wants to reach out to other groups in the future so that the event can grow every year.
Besides learning some life-saving skills, including how to use an automatic external defibrillator, children got up-close looks at fire and rescue vehicles and the equipment they contain.
The event also included a demonstration by Bradford County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Hiram Gonzalez and his K-9 partner, Waldo, and a program presented by Bradford Family Dentistry hygienists Shawna Burkhalter and Traci Waters.
“I’m just trying to provide them with as much knowledge as I can, especially during the summer,” Hamilton said, adding, “You don’t know what seed that’s sown is going to grow.”
Some of those seeds could grow and have a huge impact in the future.
“A kid may not be strong enough to perform (CPR),” Hamilton said, “but they can teach an adult how to do it. That’s how a life can be saved.”
This year’s I Am STEM camp in Starke began with approximately 10 children, but Hamilton said five to six more were expected to start attending the camp the week of July 7. He noted that the financial requirement seemed to be a hindrance to some families, but donations toward the program have enabled some families to send their children.
The camp, which is Monday-Friday for children in second-eighth grades, began June 16 and runs through July 25.
